# Did you attend church today? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 12, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505 "2010-09-12T14:31:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/61 "2010-09-13T03:12:26Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Yes. Mass was from 11:00 to 12:15 or so. Homily (sermon) was 10 minutes. Like the other Catholics, our Gospel reading was the lost sheep/coin parable. Now that’s interesting. I’m assuming all the US Catholics had the same Gospel reading today because they use a standardised prayer guide (Mass guide? whatever it’s called) as a framework for the service. I’m curious to know what Gospel reading the non-US Catholics did ( **Cunctator** and **trupa** , I’m looking at you, and others can feel free to join in). ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/62 "2010-09-13T03:29:50Z")
Yep. From 9am to 12. We don’t have sermons exactly, we have people speak and everyone gets a turn sooner or later. And I didn’t go to choir afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/63 "2010-09-13T03:38:02Z")
Yes (I play the bass and guitar in the choir). 70 minutes. The same as all Catholic masses: forgiveness (from the Gospel of 99 sheep/coins and Prodigal Son) ---
**Author:** ![ladysorrowfree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@ladysorrowfree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladysorrowfree)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/64 "2010-09-13T03:42:12Z")
Yes (I sing in the choir and occasionally serve as cantor). 11:30 to 12:45. The topic this week was forgiveness, and the importance of each human soul to God. ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/65 "2010-09-13T03:55:31Z")
No. When I was a kid I used to go to a Presbyterian sunday school in which we got to do fun things like chase the teachers around with kichen knives while pretending to be zealots. My mother, who was agnostic at the time, later said she sent us to the Sunday school to teach us good manners. Fast forward about 35 years: I’m not an atheist, but I’m in a weird position where I believe there’s something up there and I can’t trust it. It’s been out to get me since I was born. My sister, however, is still a Presbyterian and still goes to church. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/66 "2010-09-13T03:56:49Z")
Yes - 10.30 to about noon. Don’t know what the Gospel or homily were, because was with Piper Cub at the children’s liturgy. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/67 "2010-09-13T03:58:22Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > > [@StGermain](#): > > > > Yes. Mass was from 11:00 to 12:15 or so. Homily (sermon) was 10 minutes. Like the other Catholics, our Gospel reading was the lost sheep/coin parable. > > Now that’s interesting. I’m assuming all the US Catholics had the same Gospel reading today because they use a standardised prayer guide (Mass guide? whatever it’s called) as a framework for the service. I’m curious to know what Gospel reading the non-US Catholics did ( **Cunctator** and **trupa** , I’m looking at you, and others can feel free to join in). Our gospel yesterday morning was also the lost sheep/lost coin parable, which the visiting missionary priest cleverly worked in to his homily. The lectionary is the same everywhere in the world for all Latin rite Catholics. So yesterday we all got the readings for 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C (there’s a three year cycle in the Sunday mass lectionary). ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/68 "2010-09-13T03:59:58Z")
Whoa, looks like I’m going to win the “excessive amount of time at church” award. 7:30 Prayer 8:15 First service 9:30 Discipleship classes 11:00 Second Service 1:00 Baptism Then Awana training in the evening. Sermon was about our own responibilities in giving in to temptation and the various lies we choose to believe that lead us to sin. For example that we need something, that our cravings can’t be resisted, etc. Discipleship class was about kingship. We started with the question of “what does the word king bring to mind?” I’m afraid I thought of Elvis and then Richard Petty. Much laughter and then to the serious study… Most members of our local congregation go to only one of the services, but I’m on a prayer team that is available for special requests for prayer–I often end up staying for both services if our pastoral staff appears to want assistance in ministry. A most excellent and blessed Sabbath. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/69 "2010-09-13T04:01:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Dangerosa, could you explain about yearly Water Communion? I can’t think of what that might be. I believe, but don’t take my word on it, that that’s an LDS thing. More details than that, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/70 "2010-09-13T04:32:32Z")
I’m United Methodist, and our lesson/sermon was on the lost sheep/lost coin as I mentioned above. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/71 "2010-09-13T05:19:09Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Dangerosa, could you explain about yearly Water Communion? I can’t think of what that might be. > > I believe, but don’t take my word on it, that that’s an LDS thing. More details than that, I don’t know. Well, I’m LDS (and Dangerosa isn’t) and I have no idea what a yearly Water Communion might be. We do use water instead of wine at communion, if that’s what you’re thinking of. But we have communion every week. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/72 "2010-09-13T05:43:44Z")
Nope! I enjoy sleeping too much. ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/73 "2010-09-13T09:35:38Z")
No ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/74 "2010-09-13T09:44:39Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > > I couldn’t help but notice: many (if not most) of those who _did not_ attend belittled those (or at least the choice of those) who \*did \*attend, either by direct statement or implication. > > > > Of those who _did_ attend, not one spoke disparagingly of the other group. > > > > Just an observation. > > mmm > > Frankly, I don’t see any belittling of those who attended or of their choice. Most were just strongly stating their preference for what they did. One person quote their children who clearly seemed like they wished they hadn’t gone. > [@](#): > > Nope. Played World of Warcraft instead. Much more productive. > [@](#): > > Are there any religious bodies anywhere that venerate the Creation rather than fairylands of their own imagining? > [@](#): > > Can’t think of a bigger or more pointless waste of time. > [@](#): > > Nope. I used to be a fundie Christian when I was younger and more naive, but not anymore. mmm ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/75 "2010-09-13T10:48:02Z")
As a previous poster said, no wedding or funeral means no church. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/76 "2010-09-13T10:58:34Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > > > Frankly, I don’t see any belittling of those who attended or of their choice. Most were just strongly stating their preference for what they did. One person quote their children who clearly seemed like they wished they hadn’t gone. > > > [@](#): > > > > Nope. I used to be a fundie Christian when I was younger and more naive, but not anymore. > > mmm All but the one that says “biggest waste of time” is not belittling to the people who chose to go. That one is indeed kinda snarky. One thought WOW was more productive. Not belittling, just their own opinion. One said their were a fundie when younger and more naive. They felt that moving toward whatever religious beliefs they hold now was from an act of maturing through life. They didn’t say they weren’t religious now, though they didn’t go to church. One asked if any religions venerate the Creation. Yes, they were a bit snarky about the other “fairlylands” but clearly had a religious point of view that they thought was important. Plus, in the part you quoted, didn’t even say they didn’t go to church. These quotes, as I said, strongly support their own opinion, but can hardly be called belittling those who chose to go. Would you say it was belittling in some who went waxed positive about how wonderful the experience was and felt it was the most important part of their week? If anything, your “observation” that those who went to church were not belittling and those did seemed to be more belittling can be taken as snarky too, if we wanted to read that deeply into people’s comments. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/77 "2010-09-13T11:49:47Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Dangerosa, could you explain about yearly Water Communion? I can’t think of what that might be. I’m Unitarian. Unitarians don’t generally have universal rituals (lighting the chalice would be probably the only one), but a Water Communion is one that is often used, and often used on opening Sunday. Water is the “stuff of life” - necessary for life. It unites us. Because UUs are big on social justice (my congregation particularly so) we are reminded that all over the world people don’t have easy access to clean water. We think about thirst, and how sometimes we are spiritually parched. We bring in water from our summer travels or a place we love - that goes into bowls and is sterilized to use in dedications thoughout the year. We cleanse hands in a community bowl and take a sip back with us. Then, we drink as a community. (At least that was this year. Not being big on rituals, it changes a bit from year to year). This year we also tied it to a special collection for flooding victims in Pakistan. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/78 "2010-09-13T12:10:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Fair turnabout, I’d say, for the majority of America, where the church-attenders by and large disparage the non-attenders. My experience is different - I have never seen an instance where the majority of American church-goers disparaged those who didn’t attend. > [@](#): > > Given the history there, and given an environment like here where the non-attenders _can_ turn the tables, I can’t really begrudge them. Just part of the thread-shitting any mention of religious belief triggers on the SDMB. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/79 "2010-09-13T12:47:20Z")
Chronos - I wonder why its “fair turnabout” when the vast majority of religious SDMB posters don’t disparage non-attenders or atheists? I understand the need to poke - my minister was poking and Fundamentalists during our sermon. But the people you are likely to offend here seem, by and large, to be fairly respectful of your position. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505/80 "2010-09-13T13:04:49Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > > [@Chronos](#): > > > > Fair turnabout, I’d say, for the majority of America, where the church-attenders by and large disparage the non-attenders. > > My experience is different - I have never seen an instance where the majority of American church-goers disparaged those who didn’t attend. You should try hanging out on my parenting message board. It is as Christian-friendly as the SDMB is atheist-friendly. My personal experience is that whenever either group feels that it has strength in numbers, you’re going to have some members of the group that feel free to disparage the other one. Although I have really seen very little disparaging/belittling in this thread. Mostly it’s just people talking about either 1) their churchgoing experience, or 2) how they are happy not to have had a churchgoing experience. I don’t see how someone saying, “I haven’t been to church in 20 years and this makes me pleased” is disparaging any other person. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-attend-church-today/553505.md?page=5)