Morristown Clergy Corner: How to be a savvy shopper for a house of worship

morristown clergy council
The Morristown Area Clergy Council
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Have a question about faith?  Send it to MorristownGreen.com, and a cleric from the Morristown Area Clergy Council will offer an answer as best we are able.

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:

If you are shopping for a car or a home, there are great tools for finding information. Faith is an important choice, too. What advice do you have for someone who is shopping for a new church or synagogue–or for that matter, a new faith? Where would you start?   What factors should someone weigh when choosing a house of worship? Is it okay to “try before you buy”?  — Looking for God in All the Wrong Places

RESPONSE:

Dear Faith-Seeker,

You are right! It is important to make the right choice about what religion/faith you practice.

If I were seeking out a new faith by exploring world religions, I would turn to a book like: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the World’s Religions, by Brandon Toropov and Luke Buckles . This gives a good overview of all the choices. Then practical reasons come into play such as the proximity of the church/synagogue/temple to where one lives.

It is always good to be well educated about your choices. In addition, you may seek to match your spiritual personality with your faith practices.

For instance, if I feel a spiritual connection to God through the liturgical structure of the mass in Anglican or Catholic traditions, I might feel a “call” to attend such a church.

If I feel drawn to the readings from the Torah, then I would visit a synagogue a few times to see how it is read and interpreted in worship.

In the Protestant faith, we believe it is the Holy Spirit that leads people to faith in Jesus Christ. Protestant churches each have unique ways of conducting worship, while each has a common structure to the services.

Generally the Protestant worship services are more free-flowing versus liturgical, and communion is typically served once a month versus every Mass in the Catholic church.

I suggest praying for God to lead you to the place of worship that is right for you. If you have a family to consider, you should involve them in this decision.

If the children are small you might choose a church with a comprehensive Sunday School youth program.  Attending various churches to see how they worship is always a good idea as you discover where you are most comfortable.

Sometimes it is the friendly welcome received when you walk in the door, or the hymns and choral music that helps you feel spiritually fulfilled. May your search be a blessing as you seek to know and worship God.

Rev. Cindy Alloway
The Presbyterian Church in Morristown

About the Morristown Area Clergy Council

The Morristown Area Clergy Council is an interfaith group of clergy and congregational representatives who gather for the purpose of mutual support, professional growth, and fellowship. Our mission is to inspire activities promoting justice, religious liberty, and interfaith understanding by educating, organizing for advocacy, interfaith dialogue, and celebration.

The Council came into existence in response to local needs—race riots in Morristown High School, the problem of homelessness, etc.  Its hands-on efforts to meet challenges have laid the groundwork for the Community Soup Kitchen, Homeless Solutions and the chaplaincies at Morristown Memorial Hospital and the Morris County Detention Facility.

Two large demonstrations were organized in response to a Morristown visit by a white racist group.  Recent efforts included the first interfaith build of Morris County Habitat for Humanity, the organization of the Workers Center of Pathways to Work, and the Hospitality Link homeless program. The Council also co-sponsors an interfaith breakfast on Martin Luther King Day.

morristown clergy council
The Morristown Area Clergy Council

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