Changes in the UPC over the past 30 years

[Pastor G]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Communion is ignored.

Are you going to churches and asking them if they are having communion? I haven't seen it being ignored anywhere in UPC...

[Encryptus]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Communion is ignored.

Little confused by that one PP. I don't remember communion being that often 30 years ago. (Some churches never, and most only on New Years Eve). In the south from the churches I have been exposed to, it seems to be MORE prevalent than 30 years ago.....


Er sorry... good thread carry on...

[Nahum]

How often do most OP churches celebrate communion?

Once a year?

[TRFrance]

Musical styles have changed-- a lot.
There's a lot more contemporary stuff now.
I've found that to be good in most cases. Sometimes not.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Felicity

It is? I find this hard to believe. Not where I come from or in any of the churches we've pastored over the past 30 years.

I certainly hope not. Goodness!

How often did you guys celebrate communion in the church you pastored?

More than once a year?

[Blubayou]

Very few announced revivial services and when they are held they are much shorter.
Wednesday night services are not well attended.
Just a couple I could think of -

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Esther

In another thread it was mentioned concerning the Tulsa situation that changes has caused many to want to change.

I wanted to discuss what the changes are that you have noticed.

For myself I have noticed the following.

1. Most church no longer have foot washing.
2. Most new churches are being built without altars.
3. I see more women cutting their hair.
4. I see men and women coloring their hair.
5. I see more jewelery.
6. Many folks now have TV's in their homes.
7. Many now go to the theather.
8. I see more make-up.
9. Shorter dresses again, (saw them in the 70's as well)
10. Many women feel it is ok to wear pants.
11. Everyone now has a computer it seems.
12. Many feel it is not necessary to pay tithes.

Now these are some of the changes I have noticed since I have been in the church. I'm not saying all of these are wrong, but these are things you didn't see 30 years ago.


Did I miss anything?

I'm not saying that I agree with any of the changes, but also, you have to look at societal changes, what was happening 30 years ago, probably was very different from what was happening 30 years prior to that.

Just to clarify, I do feel that many of the things listed are things that shouldn't be messed with biblically, but some things just change as society changes.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Blubayou

Very few announced revivial services and when they are held they are much shorter.
Wednesday night services are not well attended.
Just a couple I could think of -

Agreed.

It doesn't seem as big a deal to miss church as it did back then.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

How often did you guys celebrate communion in the church you pastored?

More than once a year?

Absolutely, yes.

In the last church we pastored, communion was served once a month.

Other churches we pastored it varied but definitely more than once a year. I think that in a couple churches we tried for every 3 months.

I have to say that I thought once a month would create a situation where communion would become a "hohum" event, but it wasn't like that at all. Every communion service was special and relevant and meaningful.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

Musical styles have changed-- a lot.
There's a lot more contemporary stuff now.
I've found that to be good in most cases. Sometimes not.

Definitely.