NOM

This Sunday my DS had a piano recital. It was held at one of the United Methodists Churches in town. (There are several UMC’s in the area). It was very interesting looking though their building.

• They had a bulletin board done up by the parish nurse. It had notices talking about Breast Cancer screenings, depression (including post-partum), and “Domestic Violence: Not Just a Women’s Problem.” Below they had a variety of pamphlets from the doctor’s office talking about everything from diabetes to foot fungus. Also had several notices of free or low-cost dental and medical service providers in the area.
• The social hall had a restaurant grade coffee maker.
• The Sanctuary (chapel) was roughly the same size as an LDS meeting house, but much more functional. They had two large overhead projectors and a small, but functional AV system including a 16-channel mixer board. Also featured a large stained-glass window over the pulpit.
• In the back of the chapel, they were holding a food drive for the local food pantry and had their collection point there.
• The hallway had plaques from a number of awards from the church basketball and other sports teams.
• The there was a small, but well-furnished small infant care lounge including a comfortable rocker, sofa, changing area, sink, etc.
• The children’s Sunday school area featured artwork from kids of a variety of ages.
• The grounds of the church had a playground featuring professional grade equipment. Same style of stuff the schools use. Grounds were well maintained with flowers and shrubbery.
• One large bulletin board in the hallway was dedicated to postings of various community events, both social and charitable that the church was involved in.

It was very different from a Mormon building. All I can say is they seem to take Christs directive to help your neighbor very seriously. It is doubtful that I will ever go back to religion, but this church at least puts on a much better show that Mormonism does. I see more of Christ and his teachings in this "evil fallen church" than I do in Mormonism.

PS, My DS was fantastic. For someone who has only been playing for a year, he did better than students with a lot more "experience."

That church sounds wonderful!! The bulletin board for our ward just has stuff for BYU and BYUI online classes on it. It doesn't have anything that connects us to the community or provides a service that isn't self-serving in some way.

MoPag wrote: ↑Tue May 08, 2018 9:05 am That church sounds wonderful!! The bulletin board for our ward just has stuff for BYU and BYUI online classes on it. It doesn't have anything that connects us to the community or provides a service that isn't self-serving in some way.

Yep.! I’ve never seen a church bulletin with more than the general church school advertising and occasionally info on a ward activity. I wonder if there are guidelines in the handbook for how the board should look.
Mormons like to be controlled in all aspects of life and church, which are the same thing.

Just This Guy wrote: ↑Mon May 07, 2018 9:08 pm I see more of Christ and his teachings in this "evil fallen church" than I do in Mormonism.

The church you visited was not an "evil fallen church". It was only portrayed as such when the LDS Church was trying to establish itself as a brand name.

Gain laundry detergent probably said something similar about Tide when it was trying to carve out a market share. Hurtful things get said and pretty soon the customers at the laundromat are going at it tooth and claw. They fail to see that they are both seeking to eliminate the dread ring around the collar.


Serious Rant

I wish my fellow LDS members were not so afraid to check out the services of other Churches. That way they would be less harsh in their appraisal of other faith traditions. It might help them love the "others" (part of the Great Commandments - look it up).