Non-Denomination free essay sample

ChurchIn Him Church Glendale, Arizona Non-Denominational Service Attendance Paper Religion 315 Non-denomination, the not denominational denomination. In the past couple of decades the rise in non-denominational churches has been increasing greatly and are said to be the second largest group of Protestants (Moore, 2011). It is said that most that break off and become apart of this fast growing belief come from a protestant upbringing. The study shows that more people are determining on where to worship by how they like the nursery, if the worship music is good, is it close to home, rather than I am a Catholic I need to go to a Catholic Church. As of 2010, four percent of Americans fall into this non-denominational group (Thumma, 2010). As you probably guessed, non-denominational churches are churches that don’t align themselves under a denomination. To break that down even further they basically depending on themselves for everything, they do not have to answer to the higher up of a main denomination for what they decide to do. We will write a custom essay sample on Non-Denomination or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Non-denominational churches focus more on change (in a good healthy way) rather than tradition like other denominations (Yeakley, 2013). It is thought of as a freedom from traditional religion as we know it. As it continues to grow it is forming into its on denomination as the title suggests. Though not a denominations like Catholicism or Presbyterians more of new way to attend church, the way you want to, be as involved or not involved, and love God how you see fit. The United States is a fast pace country to live in and as we have less and less time each day this new way of worship is being created for those who want to worship in a less traditional sort of way. I decided to attend a non-denominational church to see what the new hype is all about. I was raised in and out of the Catholic Church as a child. Now as an adult I regularly attend a United Methodist Church. I got the idea to attend this sort of church, because a lot of my family members back home have left our local Catholic Church and have stuck out and found new churches. I knew I would be home for Easter weekend, and I decided to call a cousin and see if they would care if I attended Easter Service with their family. I was received with open arms and that’s where my journey began. I knew I had to attend this new church, and I had no clue on what I needed to wear. Usually when I go home and go to the usual Catholic Church I need to dress up, but at my new church here in St. Louis, casual is the norm. Also with it being Easter Sunday, I felt the need I needed to double-check the dress code. I was informed that anything I decided to throw together would be just right. With a sigh of relief I decide just to pack a nice outfit, I mean I was going to being in Arizona in March, which means high 80’s, nothing like the 12 inches of snow and 30 degree weather I would be leaving. Easter Sunday rolls around I put on my semi Sunday best and wait for a ride to church. I would be attending In Him’s 10:00 am service. I though ok this is good I should be out of there by 1115 then off to my family get together. No not quite my usual one hour service, I would come to find out that it was an almost two hour service. Definitely different then what I was use to, it reminded me of when I was a child and my Grandma would take me to Mass and it would feel like forever. As we arrived it wasn’t a huge set of church buildings. It wasn’t a cute little church like I attend now, no I was in awe this church was located in a local high school auditorium. The roads leading to the location had signs and balloons encouraging all those new and old to attend their Easter service. The parking lot had been transformed and there were attendants directing each car on where to park. There were tons of people arriving and all those that new my cousin would great her and bless her. As we approached the gate there was a stand with more greeters offering water and cookies. When I looked to my left there was a sign for V. I. P’s. I had to inquire what that was. I was told that all the first time visitors were encouraged to go to that tent and sign up to receive more information on the church. The youth were in a set of classrooms in another building. We finally made our way to the auditorium, and there were many people in what looked like the lunchroom for this high school. All sitting around tables just waiting to go be seated in the main auditorium. The band was still working on the sound details so we were not allowed to be seated yet. The pastors would walk around and welcome everyone. As I was told everyone was wearing just what was comfortable nothing to fancy, that make me feel better. Except for the fact that my younger cousin asked me if I was going skiing after church because I was like one of the few wearing Jeans and a cardigan. After a few more laughs it was time to make our way in and find our seats. For me at my church I have my side and few aisles that I mainly stick to every Sunday, so when we went two rows from the stage I was a little out of my element. As we walked in the lights were dim and the first thing you see is this huge beautiful painting of Jesus. Then you see the monitors on each side of the stage and then the band starts to welcome us. One thing about seating that I thought was different was they had ushers and ropes closing sections off. All the rows in the front had to be filled before the next section was to be opened. Great way to make sure you have everyone close to the front. The band leads us in to worship with three or four songs. The music was not like the worship music I have grown accustomed to in the past couple of years. This was a full band there was two bass, two electric, an acoustic guitar, drums, keyboardist, sax, trumpet, and one main female amp; male vocalist with 4 background singers. Not to mention during one song there was even an individual that came out and began to rap. Not my normal Catholic or Methodist Sunday worship. Coming from a mainly white church to join and view this mainly Hispanic church was a real big difference. You can tell when the pastor took the stage that he connected with his audience and could crack jokes being he was Hispanic also. I am Hispanic but I have not been around my own ethnicity and culture in years being that I am in the military and that I do not live any where close to my family or friends. Like any service we started with a prayer and welcoming. Then the pastor told us a quick story to bring us into his main sermon. He wanted us to remember Jesus and that this was the day he died for our sins. How we will never really feel the pain Jesus feels due to all the sins we commit. He took out a hammer and that beautiful painting that I mentioned that I saw when I walked in began to be destroyed. He said that the pain we feel as he strikes that beautiful painting is just a percentage of what Jesus feels. I began to cry because no matter what denomination I am attending, Jesus is Jesus and to think about such a powerful thing like that made me weak. He continued to destroy the painting breaking it into a million pieces it seamed. He finally was finished he had helpers to break the pieces even more, then he invited us to the stage to gather a piece of this painting as a reminder of the pain and suffering Jesus went through. How he took our sins, and forgave us from all of the bad in our lives. I walked up there took my piece and just held it in my hands the rest of the service as a clear reminder as to why I am Christian. Like with the Catholic and Methodist churches I have attended taking communion is routine. The pastor said that they do not usually do it there because we should give thanks and break bread at each meal that we receive. Though it was Easter there would be an exception and together we would take the communion. Yet it was different it wasn’t a single file line receiving the bread and wine from the pastor they handed trays and you took as it went by. It was really evident that it wasn’t a direct correlation that the bread and juice was the body and blood of Jesus, like I am use too. When service was about to end, the pastor called his wife to stage to give the final prayer of service she is also one of the pastors on staff there. With that being said women are a big part of the this ministry. The lead member of the worship team was a female as well. There were females in all jobs from arriving to departing the service. It was a nice thing to see knowing that the churches are becoming more and more open to the thought of women running the church. I was able to see they believe in the Holy Trinity and â€Å"new birth† (salvation), baptism, and divine healing (In Him Church, 2013). Just like most other churches, except they didn’t report up to a bigger church. They only looked at what was best for them and what suited them to work. I asked why they were in a high school, I was told that they had a building but due to financial issues they had to move. If they would belong to a bigger church they would never really have to worry about that, the bigger church would help with building cost. They didn’t see that as a downfall they loved their church and it didn’t matter if the s (Yeakley, 2013)ervice was held outside in the blazing sun they were there for Jesus. When I take a step back and think about this new wave of churches that are becoming more and more popular in America, I think about future generations.