What to expect?

[NewbieMisfits]

Good day to all here,

My family recently went to an Apostolic church 2x last Sunday. I could spend time going over how we arrived there, but for now I'd just like to hear what to expect in your opinion.

So here's a list for what we are not custom to (not saying that's a bad thing)

Youth running around the congregation in praise.
Half the church up front jumping all at once (Dancing/praying/praising) to newer music.
Everyone walking down to the alter, and then everyone starts praying over everyone else while making physical contact.
Speaking in tongues, but not over-dramatic like one I've seen on TV, (not saying those on TV are not real)
People are honestly friendly to us strangers.
The speakers are both man & women, and the women that gave the speech was the most entertaining and animated that we've ever seen!
The services lasted 2hrs, but they are a very fun 2 hrs.
We are not use to, nor have ever seen people this happy in service, EVER.


What we have in common:
We are misfits if you will, and from what we can tell so is about everyone else there.
They speak of the wrath of God<very important, not only the love of Christ.
They have well disciplined children.
They hold dressing modestly.
They are willing and active.




Questions as of right now:
I'm not sure of their doctrine, or of how Apostolic's take communion (ie: feet washing maybe? other?) This is all so new I cannot even think of what questions to ask even.

I've been to churches that are modern, or liberal, or contemporary..
but 1. we've never seen anything like this, this is much different & I cannot place it. 2. this is all very intimidating to such quiet mice as ourselves, but we find we love it all the same.

We love it so, but then don't want to look like a spectator, as we are simple quiet mice, bread that way, raised to be as silent and still as one can be, and also rather socially distant from the world. We stopped attending a Menno church a few years ago & kinda gave up on society & interacting with it, least need be. We are friendly misfits, but feel like social shut-ins when witnessing this church and their praises.



SO.. if you have anything to add as to what we should expect in the near future, please feel free to chime in.

[Pliny]

David danced mightily before the ark of the covenant as it was brought back to Jerusalem.

Psalms 150 sums it up well.
Psa 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Psa 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Psa 150:3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Psa 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Psa 150:5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Psa 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

We have something far greater than an external "ark". We have been baptized with the Spirit of God.

I hope this helps.

[Praxeas]

Communion differs from church to church. Some only do it once a year and others do it semi annually and others monthly etc

[NewbieMisfits]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Communion differs from church to church. Some only do it once a year and others do it semi annually and others monthly etc

Correct, I guess I'm asking if feet washing is common with communion among Apostolic Churches...

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by NewbieMisfits

Correct, I guess I'm asking if feet washing is common with communion among Apostolic Churches...

Some do it and some do not

[MawMaw]

Hello Newbie! Welcome!

Sounds like you all have found a church similar
to one I attend! lol

We do the feet washing and communion once a year.
Always so sobering and spiritual.

Hope to hear lots more from you!

[NewbieMisfits]

Was just reading up on Oneness Pentecostalism, as i finally had time to read the info they gave us. I honestly never knew there was a challenge to the Trinity, sheltered people are we.



Do most Apostolic Churches follow this?



I find this odd, and any belief is based on ones knowledge, so I'm not saying one's right or not.
I find this odd as one of the top 3 issues I had with the past was preachers mixing God & Jesus together as one and back at ramdon, even in prayer. Now this was concerning being we were raised Trinity, (and to speak against it is a sin in itself), but had the church been a "oneness" church it would have mostly made sense.... Regardless the problem is still that the preacher didn't really listen to himself it seemed...

I have a serious learning curve ahead of me.....

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by NewbieMisfits

Was just reading up on Oneness Pentecostalism, as i finally had time to read the info they gave us. I honestly never knew there was a challenge to the Trinity, sheltered people are we.



Do most Apostolic Churches follow this?



I find this odd, and any belief is based on ones knowledge, so I'm not saying one's right or not.
I find this odd as one of the top 3 issues I had with the past was preachers mixing God & Jesus together as one and back at ramdon, even in prayer. Now this was concerning being we were raised Trinity, (and to speak against it is a sin in itself), but had the church been a "oneness" church it would have mostly made sense.... Regardless the problem is still that the preacher didn't really listen to himself it seemed...

I have a serious learning curve ahead of me.....

As a former Pentecostal raised, I might suggest that you think of it as a...phase? course? hmm, neither of those are quite right; but the point being that there is a lot to learn from Pentecostals. I don't mean to imply that the model should not be ones final one...ya, I guess I do; but I'll qualify that by saying that I am now firmly against religion, period, and I believe God is, too. Best wishes to you.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by NewbieMisfits

Good day to all here,

My family recently went to an Apostolic church 2x last Sunday. I could spend time going over how we arrived there, but for now I'd just like to hear what to expect in your opinion.

So here's a list for what we are not custom to (not saying that's a bad thing)

Youth running around the congregation in praise.
Half the church up front jumping all at once (Dancing/praying/praising) to newer music.
Everyone walking down to the alter, and then everyone starts praying over everyone else while making physical contact.
Speaking in tongues, but not over-dramatic like one I've seen on TV, (not saying those on TV are not real)
People are honestly friendly to us strangers.
The speakers are both man & women, and the women that gave the speech was the most entertaining and animated that we've ever seen!
The services lasted 2hrs, but they are a very fun 2 hrs.
We are not use to, nor have ever seen people this happy in service, EVER.


What we have in common:
We are misfits if you will, and from what we can tell so is about everyone else there.
They speak of the wrath of God<very important, not only the love of Christ.
They have well disciplined children.
They hold dressing modestly.
They are willing and active.




Questions as of right now:
I'm not sure of their doctrine, or of how Apostolic's take communion (ie: feet washing maybe? other?) This is all so new I cannot even think of what questions to ask even.

I've been to churches that are modern, or liberal, or contemporary..
but 1. we've never seen anything like this, this is much different & I cannot place it. 2. this is all very intimidating to such quiet mice as ourselves, but we find we love it all the same.

We love it so, but then don't want to look like a spectator, as we are simple quiet mice, bread that way, raised to be as silent and still as one can be, and also rather socially distant from the world. We stopped attending a Menno church a few years ago & kinda gave up on society & interacting with it, least need be. We are friendly misfits, but feel like social shut-ins when witnessing this church and their praises.



SO.. if you have anything to add as to what we should expect in the near future, please feel free to chime in.

We have a resident ex Menno here. Hoovie will probably the most helpful.

[NewbieMisfits]

Originally Posted by Cindy

We have a resident ex Menno here. Hoovie will probably the most helpful.

Do note, "we stopped attending a Menno Church," but to make the air clear we were not raised Menno.

We were both raised in a very small, very quiet Baptist Church. The Menno's kinda took us under their wing and taught us how to live a life more closer to God.
However these were "Ultra Conservative" Mennos & in the end, although we learned fast, some key points were not learned, leading to friction with elders. So we stopped attending as to not disrespect them, although we still have contact with them.

Main lessons we did not learn; over time, they wanted us to separate our relationship as it went against they teachings on marriage... well we can stop there as that wasn't going to happen :P (8+year partnership.)

The issue comes as after spending this time with them, (a little over 2 years,) we learned one thing, We Had It All Wrong....


But, did they have it all right?