[This reflection by Dennis Ginter was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 13/Jul/2025]
We have recently enjoyed a week of beautiful weather and familiar surroundings in Dorset! While sitting at an outside table overlooking the water, the three of us started talking about church stuff – as you do. On the Sunday, Chris and I visited a large church in Christchurch which friends had recommended. They called it a ‘Spirit-filled’ church.
Worship – 45 minutes of it – was led by a highly skilled band of four musicians and two vocalists. It was loud and repetitive. The teaching was also polished and ‘relevant’, exploring Jesus’s first miracle – turning water into wine.
Our experience was mixed. That type of Sunday morning church was quite familiar to two of us; as is a much more relaxed and intimate time with only 20 or so people. The third person was much more comfortable in what she described as a very loving but traditional church.
Our conversation revolved around how different our expectations of Sunday services were. And our tendency to make judgments of services very different from what we’re used to. We also thought about whether or not the Bible gives us any help in deciding whether one type of service is closer to what Jesus expects of HIS church. (No agreement on that!)
We did agree that each of our personal experiences and expectations are unique. And that respect for those differences and a real love for each other is what matters!
Funny how important questions often arise when we’re out of our familiar routine!!
Blessings …
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Last week’s reflection: God Provides – Then and Now by Martin Shorey
Contributed by Dennis Ginter; © Dennis Ginter