Can you tell me about your worship style? What does your worship consist of?
Anonymous,
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3 Responses to “Can you tell me about your worship style? What does your wor…”
Fernando Ramos
2007-10-15 01:27:41
I think by "worship style" you are referring to our "worship services" every Sunday. There seem to be two predominant "worship styles" in Christianity. A week ago I visited an Evangelical Church. Their worship services included a rock band and a pastor who used fiery language to excite his congregation. Additionally, many of the worshipers stood up and swayed their hands back, clapped, and shouted "hallelujah" during the sermon.
Other religions adopt a more conservative, reverent approach. I once attended a Catholic mass and saw this type of worship. There was no shouting, rock band, or clapping. Instead, the priest read calmly from the scriptures. I think many Protestant denominations (Methodists, Presbyterians, etc.) also adopt this quieter form of worship.
I think there's beauty in both forms of worship, but I personally prefer the reverent approach. That's how the Mormons worship. There is no clapping or rock bands. Instead, members speak calmly to each other and preach the word of God.
Mormon worship services last three hours and are divided into three parts. First, we hold a "sacrament meeting" in which we partake of the Lord's Supper. Additionally, during this first hour members of the congregation prepare sermons and teach each other. Second hour we attend "Sunday School," in which an assigned teacher explains scriptural passages and teaches gospel principles. Third hour, men and women separate so they can learn how to apply gospel principles to being good mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers.
I don't know how other churches pass the sacrament, as I have never been. As far as the meetings, on Sundays we come in at the designated meeting time (i.e. 9:00, 11:00, 1:00) and we open with a prayer that is usually given by a member of the congregation who was asked by the bishop. The prayer is followed by an opening hymn. After that one of the bishop's counselors will read announcements pertaining to the ward (congregation) and announce the people being released or being called to various positions in the ward. If there are any changes in the stake positions a member of the stake presidency will come to the podium and announce them. All releasings and callings of church positions are confirmed by a vote from the congregation.
After the announcements usually there are a few talks (sermons) given by predetermined members of the congregation and an intermedial hymn. At the end of the meeting usually there is a closing hymn and a benediction.
After that everyone goes to Sunday School classes for approximately one hour and then goes to either primary, priesthood, relief society, or young women's classes for approximately one hour.
In total the entire Sunday meetings are about 3 hours long.
Sonia
2008-02-06 09:18:12
I cannot speak for other meeting houses but at my ward a typical Sunday "service" is as follows.
10:30-11:15am: This is where we respectively have our various society meetings. The women attend relief society. The men attend priesthood meetings. There is also a meeting for young women. As most boys who are no longer young enough to attend primary (will explain what that is in a moment) generally attend the priesthood meeting.
11:30-12:15am: We all attend our relevant Sunday school lessons. Investigators (those being taught by the missionaries/invited to attend by a member) and recent converts (those who have a been a member for less than twelve months) attend gospel principal classes. The "older" members attend Sunday school. In these classes we look at a different set of scriptures each week.
During these two sessions, children ages 3+ also attend Sunday school/primary classes. For those children not of school age, there is a nursery. For children aged 4 up to around the age of twelve there is a primary class.
12:30-1:30am: This is our Sacrament meeting. Everyone attends this (including the children. Although a room is available if, for whatever reason, you need to take your child out of the meeting). The meeting starts with a welcome from either the bishop or one of his counsellors. Then we have our opening song and prayer. If there are any announcements to be made, these come next.
Following that is another hymn during which the bread for sacrament is broken and prepared. Then comes sacrament.
Following sacrament comes two talks (or sermons if you like) from various members. Then we have our intermediary hymn. Then a final talk before our closing hymn and prayer.
On the first Sunday of the month however (again this may change from meeting houser to meeting house) we have our fast and testimony meeting. All those who are able to will fast for twenty-four hours and during this meeting in place of the talks, members are invited to take the stand and bear their testimony.
Other religions adopt a more conservative, reverent approach. I once attended a Catholic mass and saw this type of worship. There was no shouting, rock band, or clapping. Instead, the priest read calmly from the scriptures. I think many Protestant denominations (Methodists, Presbyterians, etc.) also adopt this quieter form of worship.
I think there's beauty in both forms of worship, but I personally prefer the reverent approach. That's how the Mormons worship. There is no clapping or rock bands. Instead, members speak calmly to each other and preach the word of God.
Mormon worship services last three hours and are divided into three parts. First, we hold a "sacrament meeting" in which we partake of the Lord's Supper. Additionally, during this first hour members of the congregation prepare sermons and teach each other. Second hour we attend "Sunday School," in which an assigned teacher explains scriptural passages and teaches gospel principles. Third hour, men and women separate so they can learn how to apply gospel principles to being good mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers.
Hope this helps. If you ever wish to visit a Mormon Church, check out the website http://www.lds.org/basicbeliefs/meetinghouse to find the chapel nearest you.
After the announcements usually there are a few talks (sermons) given by predetermined members of the congregation and an intermedial hymn. At the end of the meeting usually there is a closing hymn and a benediction.
After that everyone goes to Sunday School classes for approximately one hour and then goes to either primary, priesthood, relief society, or young women's classes for approximately one hour.
In total the entire Sunday meetings are about 3 hours long.
10:30-11:15am: This is where we respectively have our various society meetings. The women attend relief society. The men attend priesthood meetings. There is also a meeting for young women. As most boys who are no longer young enough to attend primary (will explain what that is in a moment) generally attend the priesthood meeting.
11:30-12:15am: We all attend our relevant Sunday school lessons. Investigators (those being taught by the missionaries/invited to attend by a member) and recent converts (those who have a been a member for less than twelve months) attend gospel principal classes. The "older" members attend Sunday school. In these classes we look at a different set of scriptures each week.
During these two sessions, children ages 3+ also attend Sunday school/primary classes. For those children not of school age, there is a nursery. For children aged 4 up to around the age of twelve there is a primary class.
12:30-1:30am: This is our Sacrament meeting. Everyone attends this (including the children. Although a room is available if, for whatever reason, you need to take your child out of the meeting). The meeting starts with a welcome from either the bishop or one of his counsellors. Then we have our opening song and prayer. If there are any announcements to be made, these come next.
Following that is another hymn during which the bread for sacrament is broken and prepared. Then comes sacrament.
Following sacrament comes two talks (or sermons if you like) from various members. Then we have our intermediary hymn. Then a final talk before our closing hymn and prayer.
On the first Sunday of the month however (again this may change from meeting houser to meeting house) we have our fast and testimony meeting. All those who are able to will fast for twenty-four hours and during this meeting in place of the talks, members are invited to take the stand and bear their testimony.
I hope this helps.