Don’t look for a “Welcome ‘Behind the Curtain’ Part 1”\u00a0\u00a0This is\u00a0a continuation of my girlfriend’s\u00a0Welcome \u201cBehind the Curtain\u201d\u00a0from 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.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 Dad worked 6 days a week and Sunday was his day off.\u00a0 But when we did go it was very simple, in and out all in about an hour.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Catholics have a very formulated and ritualized service. Everything has a preciously controlled time and way of doing things.\u00a0 There is little variation and the homily is the only “free form” part of the service.\u00a0 And you get a snack (aka communion)\u00a0at every service – assuming you’ve been to confession.\u00a0 Methodist are a less rigid but still they have a set order to their services. Snacks are once a month.\u00a0 In both you walk to the alter to get communion and the offering plate is passed around by ushers.<\/p>\n
In 2003 my Beloved & I bought a house form the Nortons\u00a0that was the original meeting place of Christ Temple Church.\u00a0 Pop Norton would stop by the house about every 6 months and invite us down to the church.\u00a0 In August 2006 we finally went to a service at Christ Temple, which is now called Greater Works Ministries (GWM).\u00a0 Having never been to a Pentecostal\/Apostolic service – it was quite an eye opener.\u00a0 We still go to GWM and here’s how a typical service goes.\u00a0 If you want to see a typical service watch TD Jakes (The Potter’s Touch) on one of the religious channels.\u00a0 Our services are similar – just smaller.<\/p>\n
First everyone is either Sister or Brother. Or if they hold a position, Deacon, Elder, Pastor – you use their title.\u00a0 So I am Sister Tacie, which makes me giggle.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 P&W can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the number of songs sung and\/or\u00a0who’s leading P&W.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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\u00a0 (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.\u00a0 Most times we have 1 offering,\u00a0occasionally we have 2.\u00a0 After the offering comes the reading of the upcoming events and other events that we are invited to participate in. Then comes dismissal.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Sometimes even longer.<\/p>\n
Communion and the offering are completely opposite from the Catholic\/Methodist way.\u00a0 For the offering you take your money to the alter – which is where the baskets are held.\u00a0 We also don’t use plates – we have baskets.\u00a0 Communion is also backward. Our communion is delivered.\u00a0 And it is given at Pastor’s\u00a0discretion and at the holiday’s.\u00a0 The Deacon’s and Elders lead the communion and there are a group of ladies that assist.\u00a0 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\u00a0wafer and then they come back with the wine.\u00a0 Pastor or one of the Elders gives the blessing and then we snack and another blessing and we drink.\u00a0 And then the ladies come back around with the trash can.<\/p>\n
Speaking in tongues – this is interesting.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 It’s not just a quick babble either. She can go on for quite a while.\u00a0 And no she’s not crazy or demented. She is a very normal employed mother of 3.\u00a0 She is just blessed with the ability to speak this language and\u00a0prophesize about our church.\u00a0 Knowing the lady that speaks in tongues – yes, it’s real. Her recent message has been interesting. She’s spoken the same message twice.\u00a0Although I don’t understand the words, the words were the same and the tone was the same.<\/p>\n
Another great thing about our church is … most people are related to one another.\u00a0 They are either sisters or brothers or aunt or uncles or grandparent or in-laws or cousins.\u00a0 David & I have been adopted.\u00a0 It is\u00a0“a come as you are” church.\u00a0 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.\u00a0It’s also\u00a0realized it’s more important for your butt to be in the pew than what is covering said butt.\u00a0We have 2 of our\u00a0senior ladies\u00a0ALWAYS wear a hat to service. Mother McMillan would not be caught without her hat. And she has some of the COOLEST hats!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
When David & I first\u00a0went to GWM we were greeted like we\u00a0belonged. It was one of the warmest receptions I’ve received.\u00a0 Remember David\u00a0& I knew Pop Norton, and vaguely knew his one daughter Catherine.\u00a0 That was it.\u00a0 We\u00a0felt right at home.\u00a0\u00a0This is a credit to our Usher’s.\u00a0 Every guest is greated at the\u00a0Sanctuary door by an Usher and is escorted to a seat.\u00a0 We have awesome\u00a0Usher’s. They are very professional and are\u00a0one of the whole reasons David & I went back to GWM.\u00a0\u00a0As a testament to their abilities, they have been asked to help with\u00a0services at other churches.\u00a0<\/p>\n