A tale of two churches.
We were invited to attend two pre-Christmas church services which we gladly accepted. Both churches believe in personal salvation and adult baptism although they are different denominations. One church was in a rural area. It was quite a drive to get there. Narrow country lanes. No signs. The only way you knew you were near the church was a lit Nativity Scene beside the road. The church was old. The seats were wooden pews. They had to borrow a pianist from another church because theirs was sick with cancer.
The other church was a modern urban church. Surrounded by houses yet on a major street. The signs outside left no doubt as to where you were and where the church was. Both evenings were cold. A bit colder the night of the rural church and a bit snowier on the night of the urban church.
Both sang numerous Christmas carols and both had a brief message. The rural church served a meal at the end of the service while the urban church held a candle light service. The rural church didn't do much advertising while the urban church handed out flyers. One pastor was from Jamaica and the other from the Dominican Republic.
The rural church had almost no decorations while the urban church was festooned with well lit Christmas trees and lights in the shape of reindeer.
The Rural church was packed. 150 people in attendance. The urban church was pretty much empty. It had around 30 people.
I guess there is something about tradition after all.
The other church was a modern urban church. Surrounded by houses yet on a major street. The signs outside left no doubt as to where you were and where the church was. Both evenings were cold. A bit colder the night of the rural church and a bit snowier on the night of the urban church.
Both sang numerous Christmas carols and both had a brief message. The rural church served a meal at the end of the service while the urban church held a candle light service. The rural church didn't do much advertising while the urban church handed out flyers. One pastor was from Jamaica and the other from the Dominican Republic.
The rural church had almost no decorations while the urban church was festooned with well lit Christmas trees and lights in the shape of reindeer.
The Rural church was packed. 150 people in attendance. The urban church was pretty much empty. It had around 30 people.
I guess there is something about tradition after all.
70-79, M
