Don’t look for a “Welcome ‘Behind the Curtain’ Part 1” This is a continuation of my girlfriend’s Welcome “Behind the Curtain” from her blog Jersey Girl Gets Real. You should read it. It’s about Rosh Hashanah services. This is about services at my church. Just an average Sunday at Greater Works Ministries.
Growing up going to church meant it was Easter or Christmas. Mom was a Methodist and Dad was Catholic. Grandma Himelright would have loved for me to go to Saint Agnes every Sunday, but neither Mom or Dad were that focused. Dad worked 6 days a week and Sunday was his day off. But when we did go it was very simple, in and out all in about an hour.
Catholics have a very formulated and ritualized service. Everything has a preciously controlled time and way of doing things. There is little variation and the homily is the only “free form” part of the service. And you get a snack (aka communion) at every service – assuming you’ve been to confession. Methodist are a less rigid but still they have a set order to their services. Snacks are once a month. In both you walk to the alter to get communion and the offering plate is passed around by ushers.
In 2003 my Beloved & I bought a house form the Nortons that was the original meeting place of Christ Temple Church. Pop Norton would stop by the house about every 6 months and invite us down to the church. In August 2006 we finally went to a service at Christ Temple, which is now called Greater Works Ministries (GWM). Having never been to a Pentecostal/Apostolic service – it was quite an eye opener. We still go to GWM and here’s how a typical service goes. If you want to see a typical service watch TD Jakes (The Potter’s Touch) on one of the religious channels. Our services are similar – just smaller.
First everyone is either Sister or Brother. Or if they hold a position, Deacon, Elder, Pastor – you use their title. So I am Sister Tacie, which makes me giggle. Service starts at 10:45 – approximately. We sing a song or 2 – normally 1. Then we have a prayer and a scripture reading. This runs about 20 minutes or so. Next we have Praise & Worship (P&W), which is singing. P&W can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the number of songs sung and/or who’s leading P&W. Next comes the sermon… except we don’t call it a sermon. It can last from 20 minutes to an hour and a 1/2 depending on who the speaker is, what the message is and/or how the congregation reacts. Speaking in tongues is not uncommon. Next comes Alter Call (AC). This is when you go to the alter for an individual blessing. This can last 10 minutes to 45 minutes (sometimes more) depending on how many people want a blessing, if everyone is blessed as a group or individually, and if anyone has an issue that is released. Then comes the offering. Most times we have 1 offering, occasionally we have 2. After the offering comes the reading of the upcoming events and other events that we are invited to participate in. Then comes dismissal. Also Pastor Avery doesn’t stand in the back and greet everyone as they leave, because honestly everyone doesn’t just file out of the church after service. We move around in the sanctuary and greet each other, so it’s easier for the Pastor to move around the sanctuary to greet people. Service runs anywhere from and hour and a 1/2 to 3 hours. Sometimes even longer.
Communion and the offering are completely opposite from the Catholic/Methodist way. For the offering you take your money to the alter – which is where the baskets are held. We also don’t use plates – we have baskets. Communion is also backward. Our communion is delivered. And it is given at Pastor’s discretion and at the holiday’s. The Deacon’s and Elders lead the communion and there are a group of ladies that assist. There are special trays that hold the communion wine or grape juice (for the kids or those who don’t want wine) in these cute little cups. First they pass the communion wafer and then they come back with the wine. Pastor or one of the Elders gives the blessing and then we snack and another blessing and we drink. And then the ladies come back around with the trash can.
Speaking in tongues – this is interesting. I wasn’t sure about it – was it real or were people just pretending? Our first visit there was a woman who was speaking in tongues. One of our congregants speaks in tongues on a regular basis. It’s not just a quick babble either. She can go on for quite a while. And no she’s not crazy or demented. She is a very normal employed mother of 3. She is just blessed with the ability to speak this language and prophesize about our church. Knowing the lady that speaks in tongues – yes, it’s real. Her recent message has been interesting. She’s spoken the same message twice. Although I don’t understand the words, the words were the same and the tone was the same.
Another great thing about our church is … most people are related to one another. They are either sisters or brothers or aunt or uncles or grandparent or in-laws or cousins. David & I have been adopted. It is “a come as you are” church. If you wear your best clothes or your old jeans you will be welcomed. It’s prefered, if you can, to have you put on your finest. It’s also realized it’s more important for your butt to be in the pew than what is covering said butt. We have 2 of our senior ladies ALWAYS wear a hat to service. Mother McMillan would not be caught without her hat. And she has some of the COOLEST hats!
When David & I first went to GWM we were greeted like we belonged. It was one of the warmest receptions I’ve received. Remember David & I knew Pop Norton, and vaguely knew his one daughter Catherine. That was it. We felt right at home. This is a credit to our Usher’s. Every guest is greated at the Sanctuary door by an Usher and is escorted to a seat. We have awesome Usher’s. They are very professional and are one of the whole reasons David & I went back to GWM. As a testament to their abilities, they have been asked to help with services at other churches.
From Wikipedia: Pentecostalism is a renewal movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit.[1] The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, a Greek term describing the Jewish Feast of Weeks. For Christians, this event commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ, as described in the second chapter of the Book of Acts.[2] Pentecostals tend to see their movement as reflecting the same kind of spiritual power, worship styles and teachings that were found in the early church. For this reason, some Pentecostals also use the term Apostolic or full gospel to describe their movement.