New Experience: I went to a Christmas service at a church Monday night....

My first, ever.  It was my wife's sister's church, a Lutheran church.  I wanted to see my neice's sing in the choir and also just to take in the whole experience. I have been married for 4 years (to non-JW woman) and have only participated in Christmas activities breifly.  As I was raised a JW and haven't been an active JW since about 1999, I just can't seem to get all excited about Christmas.  There is this whole JW ingrained fear that I shouldn't be giving thanks to God for Jesus being born. Also, I'm for some reason constantly reminded in my head that I'm going into "Babylon the Great," or that I'm, "Laying down with the scarlet colored Harlot."  All images from that wonderful Revelation book I believe.  Anyway, I wanted to experience a regular Chrstian service but these old feelings give you anxiety attacks, ya know? 

Anyway, we got all dressed up and headed out early to sit with our relatives for the 8:00 service.  I wasn't sure if I had to cross myself when entering the sanctuary as Catholics do but I didn't have to because they are Lutheran.  Wouldn't have bothered my either way I as I honestly don't see anything wrong with it.  Anyway, what struck me was how very nice the church was as they have a complete Sunday school (broke down by age groups) youth groups, activity and fellowship halls, etc.  Pictures adorn the hallways of past group and social events, charity benefits, upcoming event posters, etc.  Seems like Christendom keeps it's members active in "following the Christ" after all.  I noticed a small room where an older gentleman sat to monitor the security monitors and also control the lighting, sound, etc by computer.  All top notch and nice; a far cry from the bare bones audio equipment from Radio Shack that some teenager MS-wannabe controls at the Kingdowm Hall.  What a differance from the bland classless atmosphere of a cookie-cutter Kingdom Hall.  Anyway, we entered and found our seats next to my in-laws.  It was filling up quickly.  15 minutes later it was totally packed.  They had very nice programs printed up with the hymnals to be sung, outline of the service and sermon to be given, etc.  All very nice and new to me.  Everyone was friendly and kind.  Still, I was nervous, especially when I saw at the end where everyone rises and makes their way to the front to take communion. "Communion!!!" - Something I had never taken in my entire life, as I was never worthy enough to recieve it according to the JW's.  Anyway, when the service started and everyone started to sing I was totally blown away, completely astounded by the lovely singing and praising of God and His Son, Jesus. What a far cry from the monotonous, heartless, barely audible droning of the JW's over the canned music of the KH pa system.  I now felt embarrased for the JW's "Singing Praises to Jehovah," because this was some real singing. 

The service was interesting, as Lutheran is really Catholoc-Light, so there is alot of repeating of some things and up and down from your seat, which was competely favored by me after having to sit for 2 hours a meeting for nearly 20 years and be bored to tears.  This was anything but boring to be honest.  I took it all in, the atmosphere, the people, the singing, the praising of God and of His Son's birth, FOR US ALL.  This was the message of the sermon given, that this day symbolized the day of Christ's birth, even though it may not be the exact date, but that it He was born into the world as a sacrifice for us ALL, and of all the people he was born among he was born among the lowly shephards, not kings or queens.  There was also a message of hope, to come to God and Jesus as you would come out of darkness in tunnel towards the light.  It was a moving sermon, and the entire service, ritual, sermon, communion, singing, etc last about 1.5 hours.  It went quick, probably because of it's newness to me.  When it came to take communion I was nervous, as I honestly don't feel like I'm worthy, but I did it anyway for the sake of doing it, "In remembrance of me," as Jesus commanded his disciples to "Keep on doing." 

At the end, I just can't help feeling what a great, freeing experience it was for me.  I also can't see anything wrong with it, nor for praising God for giving us his son, singing praises and rejoicing for Jesus just as the angels did on that very eve so long ago.  I can't imagine Jehovah being angry at us for giving thanks and rejoicing in such a way.  No wonder everyone sees JW's as twisted, socially retarded cult members.....that is what it seems like to me now.  Sometimes, like when I was sitting in that church Monday night, I caught myself thinking, "What is wrong with this type of worship?  What is/was wrong with me for all of those years? I don't see anything wicked here."  While I don't fully embrace the belief of the Trinity, I still found the experience to be praising/worshipping the Father out over the Son, but managing to give thanks to the Son, etc. 

So, that's my first real Christmas experience so far.  Christmas Day was the usual around my house a large bruch at the in-laws, gifts being exchanged, and then our mid-afternoon nap.  The evening was capped off at my Aunt-in-law's house with my cousins, another first for me. 

I hope everyone had a great holiday. 

- Wing Commander

I hear this response over and over again from ex-Witnesses. When the sheep are beaten down and ravaged by wolves, it is hard to sing cheerfully, don't you think?

I'm glad that you enjoyed the service, and encourage you to try out some other denominations. They all have their own flavour...

We went to a Christmas Eve service.  The focus was on Jesus and the importance of his coming to earth for the human family.  No Santa.  All the songs were familiar ones about Jesus and his birth.  No Santa is coming to town.  The sermon was excellent and the people were friendly.  There was a candlelighting ceremony among the members and later a handshaking amongst us all.  We got a beautiful apple at the end as we left.  It was amazing to see the emphasis on Jesus, not like the memorial of the WTS with the focus on "jehovah" and the systematic eliminating of the attendees from being part of the service.

Blondie

one of the hest days of my life:

Things were really down.. wife had left and all the rubbish that goes along with that. I slipped into the St Bridgets Catholic Church one afternoon. The doors are never locked.

Sat in the back.. they didnt notice me... a lay prayer group was up front. They were praying for ME and everyone out there like me. I was moved.

~Hill

What a nice experience!  I've been talking to Clyde about attending a church, not to join, but just for the association.  We still don't want to make waves around here, though, so we might go out of town where no one would recognize us.  Amazing how much fear they instill into you for attending a church of Babylon. 

ADMIN:  I'm sorry, I meant to post this in the "Experiences" section of this website.  If someone from ADMIN could move if up there, I'd appreciate it!!!! 

Thanks so much for everyone's feedback,

Wing Commander

Wing Commander: I'm glad you enjoyed the experience. But please don't worry about the Scarlet Wild Beast being in bed with you. There are enough liars among the GB and elders in line or who already have been with her and then ran when they were found out. When you count all the Bethelites, elders and GB members already in bed with her for decades, and how many are in line already, you'd never even come close. Frankly, I'm surprised that the bed hasn't broken from all that weight. I'm sure the bed is either a "hide-away" bed or else an inflatable bed. There's more than enough hot air at Bethel to blow up the bed whatever its size.

Happy Holidays to you and may 2008 be a good year for all of us.

It was a moving sermon, and the entire service, ritual, sermon, communion, singing, etc last about 1.5 hours.

Wing ...

I see one are where the Lutherans could take a page from the JW's playbook:

During the Memorial, the speaker usually talks as the emblems are passed (at least they used to). It's sort of like multi-tasking.

If the Lutherans could do the communion and sermon simultaneously, it could probably get you out 15 or 20 minutes sooner.

Just a thought.

Rub a Dub

This was my experience also. I began to feel a lump in my throat that blossomed into a full blown sobbing before I was done.....SO MANY emotions all collided together, but it was a great release and and an awesome thing to remember for the rest of my life.

Wing Commander....I am just thrilled to hear that you and others have found this joy in Christ for themselves, and are able to dismiss all the hideousness that the WTS labels and boasts about as their "pure worship".

hugs,

Annie

I too went to my first Xmas service...midnight Mass, if you can believe it.  I thought, why not?

I too had a similar experience; I went to  pretty little community Catholic church...just on a whim I stopped and went in.  I sure didn't know what to expect but everybody was gracious and kind, I think they could tell I hadn't a clue what to do.  The sermon was good, about helping others, and the adult choir was really nice.  It was packed, and I liked seeing people of all sorts there together.

I especially liked "Peace be with you." 

Hi Wingcommander,

Me too. This was my first Christmas service and second time to a church service ever. We took communion both times,

I commented to my wife(and she agreed) that each time I've participated in communion it meant more and made me think more about God than any conventions ever did.

Service was very nice and not boring.  At one part they turned out all the lights and everyone had candles that we lit then sang Silent Night.

Candle light service I recommend it.

WC - Thanx for sharing that moving and wonderful experience with us.

I had attended my first Christmas service just last year [I think, maybe it was two Christmas' ago now.] It was not an orthodox religion [what I call orthodox in the US is Anglican, Catholic, Eastern, and I tend to classify Lutheran along with that somewhat]. Theology experts please don't crucify me.

We loved it. It was so genuine compared to the plastic nature of the KH 'services'.

I have moved somewhat away from organized religion nowadays. But I enjoyed the service immensely when we attended.

Jeff

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

I grew up Lutheran (do you know what synod it was you went to?) I was taught that during communion out of politeness you do not watch those taking communion as it is a private moment so to speak. We always had a rather long hymn during communion. The service you went to was probably extra long because it was a Christmas service.

Blondie, I'm not sure if you were merely pointing out for others that there was no mention of Santa or you yourself were surprised that Santa was not mentioned. We didn't have any Santa type songs in church. There were a few years though that after the childrens special service where each grade sang or read a special part from  the Bible or a play or some special program the Sunday school classes put on, we had a Santa hand out a stocking or apples or oranges as we left for the evening. I forgot what grade it was but quite young, the church gave a certain grade their very own bible as a Christmas gift every year on the way out the door. We little ones felt all grown up at that. Yes, all our homes had bibles but not one of our own with our name and that year in it! I still use that one.

Christmas Eve mass is one of my favorite things. I was unable to attend this year, unfortunately!

When I was growing up, we'd go in at 11:30 pm and sing carols with a packed church for 30 minutes. The singing was very enthusiastic and beautiful, with the lights down very low and decorations everywhere. Then the priests would come in by candlelight, a very long procession.  Everyone was bursting with anticipation for midnight. 

I haven't attended one locally yet, but I hope to next year. The joy of Christmas is absolutely palpable at a Christmas Eve mass!

bebu

WELL it is about time you listened to the LORD wingcommander ....By taking the communion!!!!!You really made my day by reading your experience  Thank you for sharing.
None of us are worthy darling .... NONE!!!! When Jesus said "do this in remeberence of me !!" He had already told us to come as we are. YOU DID!!!!
I am so happy for you. I bet the Missus was pleased with you ????

I love to hear where we start listening to JESUS apart from what that stinking old "Mother " the WT told us we shouldnt do all oppossite of JESUS

Loved it (((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))

P/S dont worry about the Trinity let the HOLY SPIRIT guide you

I attended my first Christmas Eve service too !

Went to a Methodist service . Did the candle light..... Silent Night singing .....so beautiful .

It amazes me just how wrong my JW upbringing was about Christendom . Everything I had been told was wrong so far . The Christmas service didn't focus on Jesus being a baby , but rather what he did for us by coming to the earth as a lowly human . How he met us where we are ..

The prayers are not repetitious ,but heartfelt and everyone joins in and feels an important part of the worship . I never felt as a witness we really worshipped at the KH .

.....The children like going to their sunday school classes  and are welcome to join their parents whenever they want .( Their own classes are so much more age appropriate than expecting a four year old to sit perfectly still for two hours )

Just a few of my observations so far .Out of curiousity I want to compare some other churches too. I just don't think I ever want to join any particular one .