Protestantism

» Migisi - Best-dressed, worst mood

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We wear our Sunday-best at traditional services, but promote Wednesday Nights as a laid back, casual time of worship, and folks might be excited about attending. Just because the clothing is relaxed, does not mean the message has to be.
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I understand dressing appropriately. I certainly wouldn't wear pajamas to a job interview, or a swim suit to a baptism. But I wonder why every service - regardless of what day - isn't laid back, casual, relaxing, and comfortable.
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I had a Sunday-best dress as a young girl - back when most girls wore nylon mesh underslips to poof out their skirts. It was like sitting on cactus needles, or having a hundred chiggers under my skirt.
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Saturday night, I was forced to wear ~spiked~ hair curlers to bed so I'd have curly locks for church Sunday morning. Wrapping long wet hair around curlers is torture. Removing those curlers is child abuse.
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The shoes - slippery shiny patent leather buckle-ons. The shoe soles were like racing slicks - no tread, smooth, flat. I can't count how many times I slipped on the polished marble church floor - especially when it had rained. For traction, I stuck cloth tape on the soles. The cloth wore off quickly, but the glue remained forever. Everything stuck ... string, leaves, paper, gravel, the floor. Imagine a whole pack of chewed gum stuck to your shoe. The little girl anklet socks always worked their way down the foot and into the toes of my shoes. Bare heels + shoes = blisters. Bandaids wound up trapped in the socks in the toe of my shoes too.
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All Catholic females covered their heads in church back then. Every service, I had a lace doily bobby-pinned to my head. I'd lost (on purpose) my church headwear once, so Gramma bobby-pinned the church bulletin onto my head. Cute! She could've folded it into a paper hat. But no. There it was - page 2 and 3 draped over my head.
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If you have any, look at a bobby-pin. It's supposed to have a blob of plastic on both points to protect the scalp. Mine never did. The plastic blobs fell off after much use, and the bare sharp metal points stabbed and sliced the scalp. Whoever invented these pins must've known something about instruments of torture. BTW, Mom used the same bobby-pins to keep my hair curlers in my hair overnight too. I HATE bobby pins.
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Our church didn't have air-conditioning. Back then, clothes didn't 'breathe'. That glue on my shoes? After an hour and a half in a crowded church, my clothes were glued on with sweat.
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Hot, wet sweaty dress, an itchy mesh slip, sticky shoes, fallen socks, trapped bandaids, blisters, and doily (or church bulletin) headware. What a picture of comfort and fashion, ay?
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If my mother only knew then how much I HATED church.

-- posted by Migisi

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» Brian Tubbs - Best-dressed, worst mood

In response to Best-dressed, worst mood posted by Migisi:

Our culture overall is changing. Business attire has gotten more casual over the last 20-30 years, and that's now understandably taking place in the church as well. Our church is pretty casual. I dress up (coat and tie) on Sunday mornings, but not everyone does. And all of us are pretty casual Sun night and Wednesday night.

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» pink101 - What Goes On?

In response to Best-dressed, worst mood posted by BrianTubbs:
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I attended a family reunion the other day. It wasn't my family; but, I was invited.
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It was interesting to see the respect shown by some according to their dress while others had no such sense.
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It was also interesting to note that when an elderly woman walked into the room, certain of those present rose to their feet while others almost ignored her presence.
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What goes on in the minds of people that they dress or behave in certain ways to show their respect?
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What happens between Sunday and Wednesday? Is it that only the inner circle usually gathers on Wednesday?
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-- posted by pink101

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» Migisi - What Goes On?

In response to What Goes On? posted by pink101:
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What happens between Sunday and Wednesday? Is it that only the inner circle usually gathers on Wednesday?
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Or maybe some people must work on Sundays (gasp!!) and can't attend? Smart to offer another day/evening for church-goers. My old church offered Saturday nite Mass. Wednesday nite seems to work for many churches, as not much goes on in the middle of the week. Evenso, Bri remarks that attendance is small.

-- posted by Migisi

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» pink101 - What Goes On?

In response to What Goes On? posted by Migisi:

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Traditionally, Wednesday nights are for Prayer Meetings in Fundamentalist and Evangelical churches.

-- posted by pink101

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» Migisi - What Goes On?

In response to What Goes On? posted by pink101:
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Maybe that's why attendance is poor? And maybe that's what Brian meant when he said "Just because the clothing is relaxed, does not mean the message has to be."

-- posted by Migisi

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» pink101 - Extra Powerful

In response to What Goes On? posted by Migisi:
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I don't know.
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But, it looks to me as though the attendance problem is overcome with the idea of Small Groups.
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Individuals have social groups according to some special interest and or social status; meeting in homes--taking turns in their different homes. Generally, a church leader is in charge; but, leadership is shared and delegated. It's an excellent idea for growing unity amongst the faithful. Usually, there is a ritual of prayers in each meeting with various members participating; whereas, in formal Prayer Meetings held in the church facilities, all in attendance take turns giving prayers--on their knees. Prayers are personal and very revealing. An extra powerful sociological bond is formed under such conditions.
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Believe me, it is no incidental activity of small consequence; but, it is how the people are led.
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-- posted by pink101

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