[Russ_Boston]

If you read the other posts on the thread then applause at church isn't a TV thing at all. You may not like it but it happens at many churches of all denominations.

Walking out of a performance - well that's discussed on another thread.

[jerseygirl008]

I think that is true English. . . The style of worship is up for grabs, take it or leave it. It is all about the message and whether or not you feel spiritually fed during and after the service. I figure, if you walk away feeling energized, happy, spiritually fed, then it was a good service for YOU. I try not to judge the style of worship but the way I FEEL while I am worshiping. If it feels good for me, I'll be going back. If not, I will move on to experience another until it feels right, for me.

Fumar: I can't imagine what these services must be like. I will def. attend when I am there next month just to have the experience.

[billethkid]

As I stated above as a Catholic living in many parts of the country, it was not uncommon after a wedding ceremony or baptism or confirmation, etc, etc to applaud.

Nothing like the specialty of the moment being integrated into an environment of faith!!!

Most worship venues were never intended to be monk like.

BTK

[DENNIS G]

I had never experienced anything like this, as I was a Southern Missionary Baptist until two and half months ago. I think it is great. It is a way of showing your agreement and praise.

I would like to invite everyone to attend at least once Village View Community Church. It is located on Sky Harbor Road just west of US27/44l on the right. Go North on US 27/441 to the stop light (past cty 42) Kangaroo station on left and Shell station on right far corner. Turn left and about 1/8 mile on the right. Services are Sunday 8 am, Classic Gospel; 9:15 am and 11 am Contemporary. We also have service on Saturday evenings at 5 pm and 6:30 pm both are Contemporary. Please come early and stay late, there is coffee, do nuts, rolls, fruit, and juices for making new friends and fellowship. This is a very upbeat church during the contemporary services, you can just feel the presence of God when you walk thru the door. My wife and I are glad we went there, we love it. All the people are united and connected, you'll connect also.

God Bless You and Have a Great Day, See you there.

[Sidney Lanier]

We were guests of friends of ours (that is, just invited to join them) at the service at the Church on the Square this past Sunday, having been told how marvelous the music is. Both of us were struck immediately by the applause which we had never experienced at any house of worship anywhere before. I wouldn't even know how to comment about it other than seeing it as unusual, though from some of the other posts on this thread, apparently it isn't that unusual.

We have friends in a small upstate NY community who left 'traditional' churches and joined a fellowship community church, in which they got very involved and which gave them a sense of great support and connectedness, they explained to us. We went to a musical rehearsal with them one evening during the week (our friend is a flutist who performed--can't think of a better word--in the Sunday services), and the way we were so genuinely greeted and treated just having come in with her led us to realize the attraction they found in that fellowship. We never got to a Sunday service there, but reading this thread leaves me with the thought that there must well have been lots of applause there too.

When I was stationed in Oklahoma in the military a looooong time ago, I went to Catholic mass with a close buddy from time to time and was once very surprised when a screen was set up on the altar and a short film on titheing was shown. Afterwards, when I chatted with the priest and asked about what I saw as an unusual event, he explained that being located in Baptist Country (hence, very enthusiastic in their services), they had to do anything they could to vary from the strict mass structure. I didn't quite get that either but then too didn't quite know how to comment.

I guess, as one of the posters said earlier in the thread, we all worship in our own individual ways. At 'up north home' I once had a casual acquaintance whose focus of worship was a particular tree on a particular rural road. Who am I to judge?...