As a Catholic, I chose to attend a Methodist Church and observe the service, to better understand how this Christian denomination differs from my own. The service I attended was, I believe, typical of Methodist worship. This was a United Methodist Church congregation with three Sunday morning services, and I attended the last, at 11:30 a.m. This seemed to be a very popular time, as the church was relatively full. I noted as well that families with children made up a large segment of the attendees, as there was also a number of older individuals coming alone. The service lasted for approximately an hour and a half.
What was most surprising to me was the similarity between the Methodist and Catholic forms of worship within the church. Out of some ignorance, I had expected that the Methodist service would be far more casual than it was. Part of this was due, I think, to my having been so familiar with the excess formality and solemnity of Catholic worship, just as I had always been told the other Christian denominations were usually more relaxed. The opening greeting delivered by the minister was in fact somewhat informal. However, the entire service itself was very structured, and I had the sense that the congregation relied upon this structure. This is in keeping with Catholic services, as the priest completely guides how the service proceeds and the people follow his every direction. More to the point, this was no casual, relaxed service. It seemed as though the attention of the people attending was as focused on the minister as it is when Catholics obey the directions of the priest.
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In terms of actual service, however, I was able to note important differences between the two faiths. Aside from the greeting as friendly and informal (and I should add that many priests also express themselves in such a way), the scripture reading here was less “dramatic” than those I have heard in Catholic churches. The minister more seemed to rely on an understanding within the people of the importance of the text, and did not exaggerate the delivery. Understatement was more the style of the reading. This was true of the sermon as well, which was based on the Book of Job. From my experiences, Catholic priests more “perform” their masses and sermons, but this example of the Methodist style had more restraint. I was surprised to feel that I preferred this interpretation, as I have often felt that priests go overboard in dramatic presentation. Then, while the reciting of the Lord’s Prayer reflected Catholic practice, the silent meditation period was much longer than the moments of silence usually called for in the Catholic churches. This as well made me feel that Methodist worship is more “democratic,” and more reliant upon the individual’s personal commitment, rather than to direct obedience to a priest. This gave me a sense of conflict, but I also admired the faith believed in as faith held by the congregation.
Regarding how course readings have given me perspectives on Methodist practice, I have to say that no materials can ever prepare someone for the actual experience. It is not that the Methodist service was alarming; it is more that readings tend to emphasize the often troubled origins of such a faith, and we then expect to see and hear something radical or very different. This was not the case at all in my experience. I would go so far as to say that I could not really determine any significant difference between Methodist worship or any of the other Christian denominations I have encountered. I had the impression that the Methodists were not unlike Protestants in general, certainly in terms of how they choose to worship and how services are conducted. All of this in turn reinforced my idea of Catholicism as the most different of all, if only because the service so relies on traditional or ancient rituals rejected by the other denominations. I cannot say that this experience has me rethinking my own religion, but it did provide a great deal of insight. Most importantly, and through the sermon on Job, I came away with the clear sense that all Christianity is one, and that forms of services are at best secondary matters. Ultimately, all Christian service depends upon the faith of the congregation and this, as noted, was very impressive in the Methodist service.
