MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL On Christmas Eve my partner and I visited her Mom for Christmas and for the first time in 5 years I went to a religious service. It was at Peace Lutherin Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Keeping to topic, The Marqee stated four service arrangments starting at 3:30pm, 5pm (which we went to had 400 +/_ in attendance), 6:30, and 10pm. The congregation consisted of mostly young married families, with an abundance of happy, smiling, and polite children. The older peole was consistance with the senior citizen population. What surprised me was the number of single young men and ladies, youth groups I assume. The first thing the minister came in and lite candles then welcomed everyone then explained what the services would consist of: This is a candle lite service explained how to lite your candle without making a mess, then ask everyone to stand and greet everybody that was in handshaking distance to each other to welcome each other and wish them a Merry Christmas.He also explained that they were offering communion the passing of the bread and wine and if we were baptized christains we were expected by Jesus to accept his gift to us. It was a very pleasent occasion and there was much singing. I don't see how God could or would reject any service deticated to his son out of love. This is my story and As we were leaving the parking lot was beginning to fill with the next group for the 5pm service. I also understand now why they pass the plate...they have bibles, song books and sermon topics placed on the back of the pews. One did not have to bring their bibles song books or anything the church supplys everything. Yes, Babylon the great is alive and well with happy go luckly people. got to go daughter just called from california.
Babylon the Great Alive and Well
by rekless 7 Replies latest jw friends
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garybuss
Welcome back. I've been wondering how you are doing. How about we have coffee or lunch some day?
Sioux Falls has the distinction of having an ex Witness elder as a pastor. And let me tell ya, he's a great guy! :-)
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Seeker4
Hey, Rek,
I just posted a similar post. It was fun, going to my first Christmas Mass, but I probably won't be joining a congregation anytime soon! Merry Christmas.
S4
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Quandary
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
I went to my first ever Christmas Eve Mass yesterday with someone who at this point in my life, I consider to be one of my best friends. What a beautiful church!! I must admit that upon entering the church and taking my seat, I pondered on all the beautiful artwork, statues and stained glass windows and a very peacful and tranquil feeling came over me. I thought the services were absolutely beautiful! CONTRARY to Watchtower propaganda, Catholics DO KNOW their Bibles and their religious services are based in the Bible. There was a reading from Isaiah, Titus and Luke, and guess what? The reverend actually was able to give very concise, practical counsel on how Christians can benefit from Christ's teachings. I thoroughly enjoyed listening and singing along with the choir to my favorite Christmas Caroles, "Come All Ye Faithful", "Silent Night" and "Joy to the World". After all these years of having to be alone in my car, or taking a seat in a mall during the Christmas season in order to enjoy hearing these masterpieces, I was able to enjoy them with a live orchestra and truly angelic voices from the choir. Although Im still in this God forsaken organization for the same reasons as others in this community, I look forward to the time, hopefully in the near future, when I can explore freely, without having to look over my shoulder, all that is out there in this world's marvelous variety of religous cultures which thank God, will not be going away anytime soon!
Q
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observador
Nice to know that the "Great Harlot" is OK.
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greendawn
I think the point is that the JWs are just as much part of Babylon the great despite their claims to the contrary. They may hysterically protest: "oh but we are trying to expose Babylon" but they are just being smart they are in fact manouvring to divert attention away from the fact that they are part of it.
And after all what is Babylon the great? Most likely it is all those people in all Christian religions and beyond that oppose the development of a genuine spiritual culture and align themselves with the culture of the instincts. They and their opposite number exist everywhere side by side. -
DannyHaszard
Churches unite to door knock in Feilding
Manawatu Standard, New Zealand - 1 hour ago
... "It immediately separated us from the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons because people do not like that sort of approach at their door.". ...Churches unite to door knock in Feilding
27 December 2005
By ANNA CHALMERS
Pastors are resorting to door-knocking in an effort to curb the growing exodus of Kiwis from churches.
Around 600 Feilding residents received a cookie, tea bag and leaflet announcing planned visits to their homes, organised by churchgoers in the region, Open Air Campaigners national director Lew Meyer said. "It immediately separated us from the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons because people do not like that sort of approach at their door." OAC, an evangelical ministry, has been joined by Feilding Baptist and St Paul's Presbyterian in the campaign. The programme – which included asking residents if they needed help as well as discussing faith – had been a success and the group hoped to roll it out nationwide, Mr Meyer said. The visits had found that many people no longer saw churches as relevant. "Or they see them as always bleating for money, or always condemning." Mr Meyer said every second home had someone with a church background who had given up attending. Victoria University religious studies professor Paul Morris said churches were faced with dwindling attendances and were working hard to become relevant. The 2001 census showed a 4 per cent decrease in New Zealanders who identified as Christian, while 30 per cent of the population – an 18 per cent increase – said they had no religion. The main denominations were Anglican, Catholic and Presbyterian, but only Catholics had not declined in numbers. Feilding Baptist minister David Jensen, instrumental in the campaign, said "the low key" visits were well received. But Mr Morris doubted such an approach would be effective in cities such as Wellington. "As a method it's so heavily identified with more marginal churches." -
Apostate Kate
I love my church and church family. There is no comparison to the Kingdom Hall. My church family are there because they love God and want to help make the community a better place.
After I was free from the Watchtower, I heard a pastor on a local radio station from www.calvarychapel.com . I connected with what he was saying. I researched him and the church for doctinal beliefs. Searched for errors. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me! I agreed with their doctrine and went, alone, nervous, not knowing what to expect.
There I grew and learned what a real functioning church was. Helped with different charities funded by the church. I loved the sweet peaceful feeling I felt when I first started going. So different from the feeling of total stress and emptyness I felt at the KH.
Love to all~Kate