# Tell me about your church service **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714 "2005-04-10T23:27:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/1 "2005-04-10T23:27:52Z")
At the [Cathedral of Hope](http://www.cathedralofhope.com) we start with announcements, then there is a processional hymn where the clergy enter. Next is a musical piece, followed by a choral gradual. There is a reading from the Gospels which is followed by the Gloria. Next is a sermon, which is at least 20 minutes and includes clips from movies. Holy Communion follows. There is usually prayer and song before and after Holy Communion. We stand and hold hands up high at the end of Holy Communion. There is a last hymn at Benediction. The service is online should anyone wish to watch. What order of worship does your church follow? Is it available online? ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/2 "2005-04-10T23:43:30Z")
My church’s typical service goes something like this: Church announcements Passing of the Peace (shaking hands and greeting other parishioners) Call to Worship (a responsive reading) Opening Prayer (in unison) Hymn Offering (feed that collection plate!) A lay person reads from Scripture Sermon Holy Communion and recitation of the Lord’s Prayer Hymn Blessing and dismissal by the Pastor ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/3 "2005-04-11T01:15:23Z")
I’m Catholic. This is the formula for all Catholic churches throughout the world. Today, all parishes heard the same 3 readings, said basically the same responses, with language differences. Before Vatican II, the responses were mostly Latin, so it was even more uniform. It looks confusing, but isn’t really. Entrance Hymn _(Stand)_ Opening Prayers 1st Reading (Old Testament usuallly) _(Sit)_ Responsorial Psalm 2nd Reading (New Testament) Alleluia _(Stand)_ Gospel Reading Homily (Sermon) _(Sit)_ Profession of Faith Intercessory Prayers Collection - Song Sign of Peace (Say hi to your neighbor) Lamb of God Eucharistic Prayer _[Kneel)_ Lord’s Prayer _(Stand)_ Communion - Song _(Kneel)_ Closing Prayer _(Sit)_ Announcements Recessional Hymn StG ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/4 "2005-04-11T01:36:35Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > I’m Catholic. This is the formula for all Catholic churches throughout the world. Well, it’s the formula for those churches (the vast majority) where the Novus Ordo missal is used. In those parishes where the Tridentine rite is offered, the mass is all in Latin. See [here](http://www.truecatholic.org/masstrad.htm) for the text. Various parts of the mass (the Introit, Collect, Epistle, Gradual, Alleluia, Gospel, Offertory, Secret, Communio and Postcommunion) change from day to day according to the Sunday, feast etc. ---
**Author:** ![SCCajun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@SCCajun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCCajun)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/5 "2005-04-11T02:34:53Z")
Traditional Fundamental Baptist Church. We generally use the following order of service for the morning: Hymn Number 1 Hymn Number 2 Announcements Prayer (sometime with congregational requests before) Hymn Number 3 Offering Hymn Number 4 Scripture Reading Special Music Sermon Invitation Closing Prayer Sometimes we switch the second Hymn to after the Prayer, and sometimes we have the Scripture Reading before the fourth Hymn. SCCajun ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/6 "2005-04-11T02:37:04Z")
Hmm let’s see. Choir sings/worship Announcements, if any Prayer (If there’s gonna be a message in tongues or a prophecy, it’ll probably happen here) Offering Choir sings again Sermon Altar Call A typical Sunday morning service goes from about 11am-12:30ish pm ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/7 "2005-04-11T03:17:25Z")
Episcopalian. Our services are laid out in the Book of Common Prayer. Our service is more or less the same as the same order of service outlined above by StGermain in the Catholic Church. All churches in the Anglican community and all Catholic churches hear the same Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel on any given Sunday. I believe the Lutheren Church does the same. Generally, Episcopalians stand to sing, sit to listen, and kneel to pray. The Prayers of the People are said standing. The general order is: Procession with hymn The Collect of the Day The Lessons: 1st Reading - usually, but not always from the OT Psalm - read responsively 2nd Reading - usually, but not always from Paul’s Epistle Anthem by choir Gospel - all stand, read by priest Sermon The Nicene Creed -said standing The Prayers of the People - here go any special requests for prayer The Peace Announcements Offertory with hymn General Confession Absolution of Sins Communion The Great Thanksgiving The Lord’s Prayer The Breaking of the Bread The Blessing Recession with hymn Finally, drink coffee and yak it up in the parish hall. The service takes about an hour. At my church we tend to dress for church - men in jackets, women wearing their pearl earrings. Very few people in blue jeans, although it is entirely up to parishioners what to wear. My husband grew up in the Catholic Church. The only difference between the Episcopal Service and the Catholic Service that took some time for him to get used to was the Coffee Hour after the service. He was used to heading straight for the parking lot. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/8 "2005-04-11T03:55:08Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Eucharistic Prayer _[Kneel)_ > Lord’s Prayer _(Stand)_ > Communion - Song _(Kneel)_ All the masses I’ve been to, the only time we’ve knelt is after communion (during the song), and that’s if we’re in the pews (last church I went to we sat in loose chairs in the back, couldn’t really kneel… it’s a smallish church but lots of people go there). This was a Catholic church also. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/9 "2005-04-11T04:25:01Z")
LDS. Opening hymn Prayer by member of the congregation Announcements/business Hymn for the Sacrament (Communion) Sacrament blessed and passed around A youth speaker, 5 minutes Two or more speakers from the congregation, on assigned topics (for example coming to Christ through repentance, etc.) Perhaps a rest hymn or musical piece by a member of the congregation between talks Closing hymn Prayer It’s a three-hour meeting block, and that’s the main meeting with everyone together. In the rest of the time, there are classes for children, teens, and adults–one hour of Sunday School by age group and one of inspirational-type classes by gender (for example I teach some of the teenage girls, and today it was about family stuff). ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/10 "2005-04-11T12:41:43Z")
Church of England here 10:30am Greeting Confession 20-30 minutes contempory praise and worship (which may include tongues, prophetic words, the gifts of the Holy Spirit generally) Led Prayers Time of Testimony Notices Reading (not usually from the church calendar - we are working through John at the moment) Sermon - up to 30 minutes Youth and children return from their respective ministries Final Blessing and Notices Final Praise songs and Offering 12:15ish Of course, this is only one of the services our church offers on a Sunday morning, and is held in a School Hall (so add at least an hour at each end for setup/pack down). There is also a Book of Common Prayer service, and another Family Worship service, more formal than the above. And we are are a fairly charismatic CofE church. Si ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/11 "2005-04-11T14:50:47Z")
I go to one of those shorts and sandals wearing joints, very relaxed. Rock-n-Roll worship set. 30 minutes. Announcements (often includes some funny video clip of our pastor making a fool of himself–like the time he belly flopped into the local pool–all 250lbs of him, then had the water pumped out of his mouth with the classic pushing in of the legs, a la Bugs Bunny). Message–About 45 minutes. Break between services. The 1st service people meet up with the 2nd servicers and hang out in the lobby munching on dognuts, bagels, and drinking the coffee, OJ, or milk. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/12 "2005-04-11T16:19:32Z")
Unitarian… Opening announcements Lighting of the candle Song while everyone takes their kids to RE Then its freeform. Sometimes there are readings and a sermon. Sometimes we have guest speakers. The readings are seldom from the bible - poetry, essays, snippets of prose. Sometimes the choir just sings. Sometimes the kids do something. The minister only does about 2 services a month - none in the summer - the rest are congregation lead. And the break between services - with coffee. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/13 "2005-04-11T21:33:18Z")
Southern Baptist. We’re televised so this is timed to the second. Big countdown clock in the balcony for the pastor. Announcements Prelude - organ, choir and pastor enter from sides Call to Worship - choir Opening Hymn - congregation Worship Welcome - pastor Howdy, Neighbor - congregation Choir Anthem - Song of Praise 2nd Hymn - congregation Special Music - solo or orchestra Offeratory Hymn - congregation Offeratory - with special music/solo Message - pastor Invitation - congregation Benediction - Doxology 1 hour. ---
**Author:** ![MidnightRadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@MidnightRadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MidnightRadio)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/14 "2005-04-13T06:43:54Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > My church’s typical service goes something like this: > > Church announcements > > Passing of the Peace (shaking hands and greeting other parishioners) > > Call to Worship (a responsive reading) > > Opening Prayer (in unison) > > Hymn > > Offering (feed that collection plate!) > > A lay person reads from Scripture > > Sermon > > Holy Communion and recitation of the Lord’s Prayer > > Hymn > > Blessing and dismissal by the Pastor Where do you go, if you don’t mind my asking? > [@si\_blakely](#): > > Church of England… > …may include tongues… Really? > [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > …munching on dognuts… :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/15 "2005-04-13T13:20:50Z")
Eastern Orthodox, so the pattern of worship is quite fixed: Great Litany Antiphons Little Entrance with the Gospel Trisagion hymn Prokeimenon (similar to a Gradual) and Epistle Alleluia and Gospel Augmented Litany, Litany of the Catechumens, and two Litanies of the Faithful Cherubic Hymn Great Entrance with the bread and wine Litany Creed Anaphora (Eucharistic prayer, said silently), including singing the Sanctus and Benedictus, Tebe Poyem, and a hymn to the Mother of God Litany Lord’s Prayer Communion of the Clergy Communion of the Faithful Final litanies and closing The liturgy is much less regimented than a service of the traditional Latin rite (i.e. Tridentine or Anglo-Catholic). There’s no pews, so people are free to move around, chase after kids, light candles, etc. during the service (everyone stands). The whole thing lasts around 1.5 to 2 hours. Full text [here](http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/liturgy/liturgy.html). The above is only the Sunday morning service. Saturday night there’s a Vigil, consisting of Vespers and Matins, which lasts around 2.5 to 3 hours. ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/16 "2005-04-13T13:29:09Z")
Quote: Originally Posted by RancidYakButterTeaParty …munching on dognuts… Well, that’s only after we get the snakes out of the way… ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/17 "2005-04-13T13:57:56Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > Hmm let’s see. > > Choir sings/worship > Announcements, if any > Prayer > (If there’s gonna be a message in tongues or a prophecy, it’ll probably happen here) > Offering > Choir sings again > Sermon > Altar Call > > A typical Sunday morning service goes from about 11am-12:30ish pm We’re probably same denomination. Does your opening praise & worship time go 20-30 min? At my church, first Sunday of the month we close with Communion. Yours also? We go 10 am to almost Noon. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-church-service/298714/18 "2005-04-13T18:40:32Z")
ECLA Lutheran, so we go by the Lutheran Book of Worship. Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness Opening Hymn Kyrie Hymn of Praise Prayer of the Day Old Testament lesson - sometimes we skip this, or the next Epistle - see above Gospel Sermon Hymn of the Day Offering Prayer of the Church (congregation offers its own petitions) Passing the Peace Words of Institution and Eucharist Closing Prayers Announcements and Benediction Closing Hymn About an hour and change. We have a Contemporary Worship as well, but I don’t care for it. Regards, Shodan