Sunday Worship on the Decline?

[Meryl]

When I was growing up, I and most of my peers were made to go to Church or Chapel on a Sunday.  I hated it. What made it worse, was the fact that 'The Addams' Family' and 'The Walton's' were on TV at the same time...and VCRs weren't invented then! 

Kidding aside...

Were you made to go to Church?  Did you enjoy it?  Do you still attend?

Unfortunately, many of my local parishes Churches and Chapels have been turned into flats, or demolished completely.  So sad.  Besides being beautiful, characterful buildings, they were a place for locals to meet, congregate and ground oneself with good morals...even though many members were hypocrites 

I really miss Chapel now.  Even though I joke, I did/do appreciate the lessons, stories and companionship that it provided me as a child/young teen....it was an extension of school in a way.

However.  Why are traditional Churches on the decline?  Do you think it's a case of not moving with the times?  Do you think they are stuck in the past?  Do you think the topics preached about are out-dated?


If a young, modern, music loving, non judgemental, intelligent Minister/Preacher/Vicar/Priest etc. came to town, would you give Church another go?

I would.  I miss Church in a spiritual/connective/community way...even though I haven't attended since I was 13.

I'm getting older!  I'm seriously thinking about joining the local Women's Institute as well 

It comes to us all.....I know that now!  We will become our parents/carers/mentors eventually



There is one difference though...I still ROCK!  (Musically speaking) 

 



 

[Søren]

I think it is as the traditional church isn't moving with the times. Younger me was made to go to church, can't remember what I thought of it, then pre-teen me was to another traditional english church and I hated it and secretly my mum did too. It was just very old fashion and the people very judgemental to even minor things and they really didn't understand me or disability which is little ironic , so we stopped a while.

I started going again at college and she went to some other one, I had long break after I left as couldn't find a similar place near me and been bit patchy since. Went today though and plan to go more if I can. Half the problem is I think finding a place you can fit into. More now too it seems people don't see church as a building but just who you join with so churches are getting sold.


But if more pastors were like this guy think i for sure would have connected with the message more XD
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i70qpvNSZY

[wildmaven]

Aug 11, 2019 9:31:04 GMT -8 Meryl said:

I'm getting older!  I'm seriously thinking about joining the local Women's Institute as well 

There's also the Red Hat Club. I've seen those women at restaurants and it looks like they're having a great time. 

I wonder if the massive scheduling of extra-curricular activities for children on weekends has made it so many can't go to church anymore because Johnny has soccer and Julie has dance, etc. 

[Meryl]

Aug 11, 2019 10:37:48 GMT -8 wildmaven said:

Aug 11, 2019 9:31:04 GMT -8 Meryl said:

I'm getting older!  I'm seriously thinking about joining the local Women's Institute as well 

There's also the Red Hat Club. I've seen those women at restaurants and it looks like they're having a great time. 

...and that's what it's all about! Passion, friendship, purpose, sharing, fun, love and laughter! Count me in    The Red Hat Club must be the equivalent of the WI in Britain 

[wildmaven]

Aug 11, 2019 10:52:25 GMT -8 Meryl said:

Aug 11, 2019 10:37:48 GMT -8 wildmaven said:

There's also the Red Hat Club. I've seen those women at restaurants and it looks like they're having a great time. 

...and that's what it's all about! Passion, friendship, purpose, sharing, fun, love and laughter! Count me in    The Red Hat Club must be the equivalent of the WI in Britain 

I met a lady 2 weeks ago who was proud to say that she had been voted Queen of the Red Hat Ladies in our area. She was a hoot. 

[Artemis]

I was never made to go as a child, which I'm really thankful for looking back. My parents didn't want to force that kind of thing on me, but at the same time, they would have taken me if I wanted to go. I just didn't feel any interest. I went to a few Sunday services with friends and their families and nothing really convinced me to keep going of my own volition.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from people in my age group is that they were forced to go and it was made into an unpleasant experience, so they don't go anymore and also don't make their kids go. There's a lot more "you can go if you want" rather than "if you don't go you're grounded."

I do think being slow to change with the times plays a role for sure. I know some are trying, but still struggling, and I know I've been really uncomfortable attending sermons or lectures that tell me how much people like me suck and will burn forever, and it's not a fantastic motivator to continue going. I know some are better about this, but they're generally smaller places (which isn't too surprising, bigger institutions are more resistant to change).

Would I give it another go if it was a better place? I can't say for sure, but I doubt it. I'm not really in any need of a new community and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. I feel safe and free in the ones I've already got. I can see why people like it for themselves, but I don't think it's for me.

That isn't to say I haven't also had pleasant experiences. I've gone to Midnight Mass a few times with my friend at her old church and that was pretty nice.

[Chani]

I loved Sunday school as a little girl and the youth group I went to as a teenager. My mom was really religious and it was important to her. I started going to church every Sunday when I was 17. It was really clique-y, but I just went for the sermons and holiday food. Then, at 19, I had a child out of wedlock and became a pariah. I stopped going and haven't set foot in a church since. I thought about going back after I lost my mom, but it never happened. Instead, as sort of a tribute to her, I make sure I spend at least 2 hours every Sunday "creating." She never wanted me to give up drawing, writing, painting, or playing trumpet, so that's my time with God now.

I've been thinking of going back now that I live in a different area, but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe one day.

As for why they're in decline, I believe it's only partly due to them not keeping with the times. I was shocked to learn that I have ten churches in my small town. I only know the names of two after living here for two years and it's because I drive past them frequently when I'm running errands. Most of them don't bother with a website, let alone a social media presence. I think it would greatly benefit them to create online presences. Also, it couldn't hurt to make their sermons more visual for the younger crowd.

[Bugme]

Certain groups(Charismatics, Pentecostals and some Baptists) have kept up with the times and have a strong media presence plus modern music and life application type teaching. Song books and organs have been replaced with projected songs, guitars, drums and electric pianos. Services are spirited, exciting and pertinent.

[Shady]

In the UK at least, Christianity is on the decline. Fewer people identify as Christian, so church attendance is going to suffer. Of the Christians I know, very few are church going anyway because it doesn’t fit into their lives. I can’t say I’ve ever felt comfortable in places of worship, and I’ve never been to a service. I’ve been to one church wedding, and honestly it wasn’t nice compared to non-religious weddings I’ve been to. Not my cup of tea.

[Søren]

Aug 12, 2019 4:46:36 GMT -8 Bugme said:

Certain groups(Charismatics, Pentecostals and some Baptists) have kept up with the times and have a strong media presence plus modern music and life application type teaching. Song books and organs have been replaced with projected songs, guitars, drums and electric pianos. Services are spirited, exciting and pertinent.

I think this is why I enjoy the newer church i found with my brother and SIL. They have a facebook page, website, modern style music and varying sessions so if you can't make the morning you can go in the evening. Allow kids to join in too so could see my nephew dancing between the rows of chairs. Lot would be better to embrace modern tech and be less formal I think. 

[Joshua Farrell]

I know there are some areas of the world where church worship are generally on the decline, but atleast where I live, I haven't noticed a decline. Infact, numbers just for the time slot in my church building seems to have gone up on average between 50-75 more people than what it was 8 years ago.

[Inkjet]

Aug 12, 2019 8:50:41 GMT -8 Søren said:

Aug 12, 2019 4:46:36 GMT -8 Bugme said:

Certain groups(Charismatics, Pentecostals and some Baptists) have kept up with the times and have a strong media presence plus modern music and life application type teaching. Song books and organs have been replaced with projected songs, guitars, drums and electric pianos. Services are spirited, exciting and pertinent.

I think this is why I enjoy the newer church i found with my brother and SIL. They have a facebook page, website, modern style music and varying sessions so if you can't make the morning you can go in the evening. Allow kids to join in too so could see my nephew dancing between the rows of chairs. Lot would be better to embrace modern tech and be less formal I think. 

Just out curiosity on the tech... do you mean worship/preaching style, or actual tech? 

I worked for for a church for about 15 years, so I understand both sides of the coin pretty equally. 

[Søren]

Aug 12, 2019 19:46:04 GMT -8 Inkjet said:

Aug 12, 2019 8:50:41 GMT -8 Søren said:

I think this is why I enjoy the newer church i found with my brother and SIL. They have a facebook page, website, modern style music and varying sessions so if you can't make the morning you can go in the evening. Allow kids to join in too so could see my nephew dancing between the rows of chairs. Lot would be better to embrace modern tech and be less formal I think. 

Just out curiosity on the tech... do you mean worship/preaching style, or actual tech? 

I worked for for a church for about 15 years, so I understand both sides of the coin pretty equally. 

Bit of both I guess? Im not expert at all lol just things I witnessed.  

So using laptops to show lyrics on a screen, speakers, people playing keyboards and guitars and having a singer but knowing how to make it so one doesn't drown out the other. And virtual presence. Having people that understand it so it can be used properly. From experience of old churches I went to the leaders had set ideas and seemed unwilling to change that in any way or if they did use something simple like a screen to have text shown, they didn't change lighting so you can't read it easily. Or adjust volume for things between speaking and singing so you don't constantly get feedback.

[🍁🇨🇦 Tai Pan 🇨🇦🍁]

I had to go to sunday school but when I hit 11 years old my Mother asked me if I want to continue or go to church with her or give up both. I gave up both and my Mother never brought up the issue but I could it hurt her which now I deeply regret.

[• Ambrose •]

My aunt used to try and convince my mother to let me attend church with her stepsons. It didn't work out. Since I'm deaf, I couldn't understand anything they were saying at the church. As I grew older and moved into an apartment, I found a local church just down the road and started visiting it every now and then. The pastor realized I was deaf and gave me an exact copy of his sermons that he would read from every day. It was like reading closed captions while he talked. I appreciated the effort and the kindness and started going there a little more often. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep up the habit and then I moved away. I have yet to find a church who would do just that around here in Charlotte, but I hope I will soon. I'm not overly religious but I do know that churches are a good place to make friends, as long as they aren't being judgmental hypocrites.