September 7, 2009

Church Experiment #36: Grace Bible Presbyterian

This week, I visited Grace Bible Presbyterian Church (www.gracebpc.org).

A few similarities with the Presbyterian Church: They love hymns. Before I began this experiment, I had no idea so many churches still sang hymns. I naively thought most churches had a worship band. Me so silly.

Most of the basics were the same … announcements, prayers, an offering, the message, and so on.

The main room sat about four hundred people in traditional pews (they also had a balcony), and I estimated it was about 75 percent full. Most attendees were older. The majority of the congregation was over fifty, but there were also some younger couples with small children. Very few people around my age or younger. And unless the balcony was diversity central, every single person in the building was white.

To finish reading about this experience or any of the reflections from my 52 visits, please purchase the full book here.