Sitting anywhere for 2 hours is a recipe for dozing off as far as I'm concerned. I would think the typical church service wouldn't be the 2-hour ordeal the sunday meeting is, but I don't know for sure.
How long does the typical church service last?
by B_Deserter 11 Replies latest jw experiences
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prophecor
Its Longer, trust me. You have the singing of the band and or the choir, that alone can be a half hour ordeal, not my favorite part of the show. The public announcements, another five minutes. after about a half an hour of other than, things and you might get to the sermon. The time it ends depends on who's playing football for the day. Usually about forty five minutes. Passing the hat another twelve to fifteen minutes, providing they only pass it once. Altar call, and the bringing your life to Jesus, another fifteen minutes, easy. So there you have it. Over two hours of quality spent time, and cash. Don't forget to get your copy on DVD, CD or cassette to play for your friends and family who refused to show up.
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BFD
When I go to St. Mary's with my brother and his family it's usually about an hour. But with all the sit, stand, kneel, sit, stand, greet your neighbors, there's no time to fall asleep.
BFD
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GentlyFeral
My church experience is limited but varied.
Actually, it depends on the church. I don't know anything about Catholic services, but I have the impression that they are at most an hour and a half long, only about 20 minutes of which is taken up by a sermon. I know that's true of Episcopal services, which are closely modeled after Catholic ones.
Non-Fundamentalist Protestant services tend to be an hour or less, including songs, prayers, and announcements.
Maybe "Fundamentalist" is the wrong word. I suppose "charismatic" may be closer. Anyway, churches where they really get into "the Spirit" tend to have longer services -- 2 hours is typical. The sermon might last longer than 20 minutes, but if shouting, dancing in the aisles, and lots of good music don't bother you, it's a lot more fun.
In a dozen years of sporadic church attendance, I have never seen anything like a Watchtower study. Churches often do have something more like a book study, on a weekday evening. The last one I heard announced from the pulpit was in a Baptist church, and they were about to start studying The Purpose-Driven Life. Can't be too bad an idea -- if Jimmy Swaggart is against it, I'm for it -- maybe.
As many on this board can advise you, the safest place for the church-burnt to start attending again is probably a Unitarian Universalist church.
gently feral
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White Dove
About one and 1/2 hours. But it is done in so many parts with you standing and sitting and standing again and praying and singing that it really does seem to go much faster than one WT study, which feels like 4 hours. There is a lot more variety packed into 1 1/2 hours of Baptist and even more in Penticostal Assembly of God (tons of music, singing, dancing, and clapping) churches that I can't see anyone going back to the hall after that.
Chenoa
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White Dove
I've attended UU before and they are very cool and accepting of everyone whoever and whatever they may be. Very cool!
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parakeet
If you're looking for a new religion based on brevity of services only, try the Methodists. They're fast and to the point.
parakeet (NOT a Methodist) -
JeffT
My wife and I are members at an independent Christian Church. 1 1/2 hours tops. As noted before there is a lot singing, some announcements, passing the plate is well organized and doesn't take more than a few minutes, same is true for communion and alter call. Sermon is usually about 20 minutes. There's a lot going on and it is very unlike the two hour drill at the KH.
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truthsearcher
I often organize the services at our church (Baptist). Here is our typical service template:
Opening Hymn 3 minutes (stand)
Welcome and Announcements 3-5 minutes (sit)
Song set: a couple of choruses or hymn and a chorus: 5 minutes (sit or stand)
Scripture Reading/Prayer for offering: 3 minutes
Offering: 3 minutes
Song set: 5 minutes (stand) Dismiss the younger children for Junior Church (aka playtime in the basement for ages 3-6)
Sermon: 30 minutes (sit)
Closing Hymn: 3 minutes (stand)
Usually it adds up to around an hour. We get lots of excellent Bible teaching, and our music is a meaningful time of worship using live musicians (not canned music ala Kingdom Hall style). There is a good balance of corporate worship and teaching.
We also have Sunday School an hour before the service for 45 minutes, but less than half the congregation show up for that. It is more interactive, no music. The teen class is beside the adults, and we often hear them having a rip roaring good ol' time in there (plus they get donuts and other treats:) I never understood why the Witnesses didn't take more time to have activities for their kids and teens.
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gaiagirl
At the UU church I attend, services run from 55 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the number of announcements, particular music played, and the length of the sermon. After services are done we usually hang out and drink coffee and socialize (actually found out there are lots of jokes about UU's and coffee): A survey was given to leaders of various congregations in a large metropolitan area, asking what they would save if their church or temple was on fire. The rabbi of the Jewish synagogue said he would grab the scrolls of the Torah and make his escape. The priest of the Catholic church said he would try to drag the statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus out the door before they were consumed by flames. The minister from the UU church simply replied: The Coffee Pot