Ever wonder what church is like outside of your circle? Wonder no more. Here is a little glimpse of some more culture differences of our country, Georgia.
-Church does not start before 11:00 a.m. and some wait until 1:00 p.m. Some of you readers are doing a happy dance, I'm sure. We have definitely gotten used to it. It will be tough to go back on furlough and have to be ready at 8:00 a.m.!
-You greet one another "with an holy kiss" and not a handshake. (Though if you visited, they are familiar enough with foreigners to shake your hand.)
-Children are not typically disciplined or taught in any way until starting Kindergarten. There is no nursery. Active children in the service is something everyone is used too. (And yet, yes, they still have that one person who expects babies and toddlers to be silent, as does every other church in the USA.)
-One church we have attended does have Sunday school for the children. If the children want to listen, they sit at the table. If they don't, they play on the other side of the room. There is games and crafts, and then a Bible story, but it is a very different style that probably anyone in the States can relate to.
-The hymns are different. The hymns you know are probably based on the type of church you go to, the region of the country you are in, or the college you attended. Still, the majority of Independent Baptist churches in the United States may have a collection of favorites, but there are 800 to 900 choices in the hymnal. Here in Georgia, there are maybe 100 hymns and songs in the most generous collection. Words only, maybe chords for a pianist or guitarist. (Yes, guitarist. Some places don't have a piano to play.) No hymnals. We sing basically the same 5 songs every Sunday, with a little variation. Most of them are Russian hymns translated to Georgian, and we've never heard them before.
-Three hours of services is normal. Please note: services start late, there's no nursery, and it is three hours, over lunch and nap time!
-Preaching is only part of the service. The pastor preaches, and someone else may speak for a few minutes- there may be 3 or 4 different speakers. The preaching is different in different churches, but I have heard some strong messages here on the cost of Christianity that I definitely haven't heard in the States, as well as some preaching that shows the lack of training in Bible and doctrine present in this country. Personal testimony/evangelism stories, blessing (prayer) time, Christian stories or literature, as well as singing. Church meetings are really used to educate and exhort the Believers.
-Seating looks much like you're used to, except sometimes the chairs are mismatched or the pews are hard boards. Getting authorization for non-Orthodox church buildings is very difficult, so sometimes the church has an apartment or an office building. One place we visit meets in a small apartment room, typically wall-to-wall seating and standing room only. (They've been trying to get their own building for at least two years, and gave up its land; there is just so much red tape.)
-Late comers. We have gotten used to the fact that time is not important in this country. It is very common for people to show up "late", even an hour or so into the service. This happens commonly, though I have been told that it is only really acceptable to be 15 or 30 minutes late.
-Food. Of course, right? Many times the ladies will serve tea and bread/cookies of some sort after the service is over while everyone fellowships.
-No evening service. Perhaps because many people travel a distance to church? Perhaps because of the pressure from Orthodox family? Perhaps because the first service is so long? We don't know.
-Wednesday night services are rare as well, and typically only attended by men. There are ladies meetings, usually late afternoon, every other week or so. There are also occasional youth meetings or outreach, but they are sporadically planned, and not scheduled services. Many church activities are spur-of-the-moment, not planned, as that is how Georgian culture is.
-Church does not start before 11:00 a.m. and some wait until 1:00 p.m. Some of you readers are doing a happy dance, I'm sure. We have definitely gotten used to it. It will be tough to go back on furlough and have to be ready at 8:00 a.m.!
-You greet one another "with an holy kiss" and not a handshake. (Though if you visited, they are familiar enough with foreigners to shake your hand.)
-Children are not typically disciplined or taught in any way until starting Kindergarten. There is no nursery. Active children in the service is something everyone is used too. (And yet, yes, they still have that one person who expects babies and toddlers to be silent, as does every other church in the USA.)
-One church we have attended does have Sunday school for the children. If the children want to listen, they sit at the table. If they don't, they play on the other side of the room. There is games and crafts, and then a Bible story, but it is a very different style that probably anyone in the States can relate to.
-The hymns are different. The hymns you know are probably based on the type of church you go to, the region of the country you are in, or the college you attended. Still, the majority of Independent Baptist churches in the United States may have a collection of favorites, but there are 800 to 900 choices in the hymnal. Here in Georgia, there are maybe 100 hymns and songs in the most generous collection. Words only, maybe chords for a pianist or guitarist. (Yes, guitarist. Some places don't have a piano to play.) No hymnals. We sing basically the same 5 songs every Sunday, with a little variation. Most of them are Russian hymns translated to Georgian, and we've never heard them before.
-Three hours of services is normal. Please note: services start late, there's no nursery, and it is three hours, over lunch and nap time!
-Preaching is only part of the service. The pastor preaches, and someone else may speak for a few minutes- there may be 3 or 4 different speakers. The preaching is different in different churches, but I have heard some strong messages here on the cost of Christianity that I definitely haven't heard in the States, as well as some preaching that shows the lack of training in Bible and doctrine present in this country. Personal testimony/evangelism stories, blessing (prayer) time, Christian stories or literature, as well as singing. Church meetings are really used to educate and exhort the Believers.
-Seating looks much like you're used to, except sometimes the chairs are mismatched or the pews are hard boards. Getting authorization for non-Orthodox church buildings is very difficult, so sometimes the church has an apartment or an office building. One place we visit meets in a small apartment room, typically wall-to-wall seating and standing room only. (They've been trying to get their own building for at least two years, and gave up its land; there is just so much red tape.)
-Late comers. We have gotten used to the fact that time is not important in this country. It is very common for people to show up "late", even an hour or so into the service. This happens commonly, though I have been told that it is only really acceptable to be 15 or 30 minutes late.
-Food. Of course, right? Many times the ladies will serve tea and bread/cookies of some sort after the service is over while everyone fellowships.
-No evening service. Perhaps because many people travel a distance to church? Perhaps because of the pressure from Orthodox family? Perhaps because the first service is so long? We don't know.
-Wednesday night services are rare as well, and typically only attended by men. There are ladies meetings, usually late afternoon, every other week or so. There are also occasional youth meetings or outreach, but they are sporadically planned, and not scheduled services. Many church activities are spur-of-the-moment, not planned, as that is how Georgian culture is.
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