Visiting Other Churches......Appreciating My Own Church

I have a friend that is a new Christian and is hungry for the word of God.  She has encompassed all religions and is now so mixed up on what she believes.  She wanted to try a co-workers church this past Sunday but didn't want to go alone, so I offered to go with her.  The church was a Free Evangelical Church which she said was right up her alley.   She loved the pastor and everything she heard.  I, on the other hand thought the entire service was, well, a jumbled up mess.  Of course you have to take into consideration that I am a cradle Catholic, who has only been to one other church in my entire life, which was a Lutheran church and since their service is so much like Mass I didn't feel uncomfortable in the least.

I will say this I came away from that service feeling like I had gotten NOTHING out of the service at all.  I realize that I'm used to a more structured service and was very uncomfortable with the casualness of  my co-workers service.  They did A LOT of singing and clapping of hands, they had a fully outfitted band, the songs were more contemporary, which I did enjoy, but there didn't seem to have a rhyme or reason to how they conducted the service.  I felt he jumped around a lot and could not connect his preaching to what he had just read in the bible.  I am not trying to criticize the pastor or his service, just comparing and contrasting the differences in the two churches.

This experience was eye opening to me.  I know Mass can at times be boring to some, because it's the same thing each week, but I have come to realize that no matter how boring people think Mass can be I for one, will never take the Mass for granted, it is beautiful, and it connects one to their religion in the deepest way.  When I go to Mass each week, I ALWAYS get something out of it.  I know in my heart of hearts that there is no other religion that I could be a part of.  I am a proud and devout Catholic who loves her religion!

Church Hopping

My good friend and I have been going to mass at the different Catholic churches in our area....I have to say I LOVE doing this!  We did notice that each church has their very own differences, some we liked, some not so much.  My friend would love to go to a mass where they don't sing, I have to agree with her I would like that as well.  The songs are so old and tired they need to be retired!!!

Why can't they play/sing contemporary christian music?  If they did that I'm sure more people would participate, maybe not so much in an older parish since the more mature attendees probably wouldn't like it.  I have to be honest, they have changed the mass so much from what it was like when I was a kid I figure that one more change couldn't hurt!

Last week I went to mass on Sunday and they had a wonderful men's group that had two guitar players and the music was upbeat and they sounded wonderful!  I would go to mass every Sunday just to hear them sing!!!  No really sure how to approach Father about this he seems like a bit of a stick in the mud!

Honestly, I probably wouldn't say a word to him....but we have a nun that is his pastoral assistant who might be able to put a bug in his ear...

I Finally Joined A Church!

This past Thursday I had a meeting with Sr. Annette to get registered as a parish member!  I am so excited!  I really like this church the people seem so nice!  I feel very comfortable with everything.  One thing I was a little nervous about was confession....the last I had heard was it was a face to face thing.  I grew up with the "closet" confessional where you couldn't see anyone....I did find out that there is still a "screen" between you and the priest which does make me feel better.

I am going to another Catholic church tomorrow night for Mass my friend want's me to experience "other churches"  I think it's a great idea to get another  perspective on the Mass.  But....I will be attending my own church on Sunday morning!