Church Hopping

 In December of 2022 I started my current cycle of Church hopping, here I will attempt to list the names of as many of those Churches as I can remember, only the first two will be in order.

.Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Berean Bible Church

New Creation Church

The Mountain Church

South Valley Community Church

Bridge Church

Mid-Valley Church of Christ

Murray Park Church of Christ

United Church of Christ Salt Lake City

Church of the Valley

St. Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Church

St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church

The Cathedral of the Madeline 

Christ Lutheran Church

Cottonwood Presbyterian Church

Adventure Church Draper

St. Marks Cathedral - Episcopalian 

Firsr United Methodist Church - Salt Lake City

First Presbyterian Church of Salt Lake City

Landmark Apostolic Church

Awaken Church

Anchor Baptist Church 

Discovery Christian Center

First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City

St. John's Lutheran Church

Central Church of the Nazeren

The Fellowship 

Second Church of Christ Scientist

Salt Lake Society of Friends

K2 Church

Wasatch Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church

Saint Anna Greek Orthodox Church

Canyons Church

Unity Church

The Rock Church

Various LDS wards

Covenant Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho

 M. Russell Ballard, a senior leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has passed away at the age of 95. Ballard was a direct descendent of Hyrum Smith, brother of Church founder Joseph Smith. It occurred to me that Ballard's death inaugurates what I think only the second period in Church history, during which no Smith relation sat in the upper councils of the Church. The other period was between the release of Church Presiding Patriarch Eldred G. Smith in 1979 and Ballard's call to the Quoram of the Twelve Apostles in 1985. Incidently during that interm Apostle Bruce R. McConkie was married to a Smith. A testament to the influence of the Smith on the Church.

Second Church of Christ, Scientist

 Second Church of Christ, Scientist. Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City. 10:30 am service, Sunday September 10th, 2023.

This is my second visit to a Christian Science church, previously I had attended a wednesday testimony meeting at the downtown Boise location in 2007.

This building is extremely mid century modern, it may be the most intensely mid 1960's building I have ever been inside. The decore has not changed.

Organ prelude, pleasant.

I counted a total of 13 in the service, including me. All white and over 40 save two, a man and a woman, who appeared to be of Pacific Islander decent. The Pacific Islander woman was the conducter and soloist. It occurs to me going to all these churches, that they are a useful outlet for the frustrated musician, she was rather good, as was the organist. 

Seated on the same row as me was an elderly woman on some kind of breathing machine, I could hear it's low pumping sound all through the service.

Pre service, multiple people came up to me, provided me with materials, two different guides to the service, one more detailed then the other. There were hymn books in little slots on the back of the pews, but they provided me a second supplementary hymnal, as one of the hymns this week would be from that.

The service is very structured, very standardized, I've never seen one more so.

There is an organist, a conducter/soloist and two, I think they are called 'readers'. The pulpit has two microphones for the two readers, other then hymns the serive is almost all recitation. Female reader conducted, her accent was either Bristish or a kind of 'high Boston', ironically the female reader at the service I attended in 07, also spoke with such an accent, I suppose it could be the same person. There is a painting of the Boston Mother Church in the foyer.

Lord's Prayer recitation with congratulation, pretty standard, save the female reader inserting "correlative passages" from Mary Baker Eddy between each line. There was also the reading of a poem by Mary Baker Eddy, then we sang a hymn based on that poem. Mary Baker Eddy (1821 - 1910) is referred to as "the discoverer and founder of Christian Science". She seams a bigger deal to Christian Scientists then Jospeh Smith is to Mormons, 

There is a brief catechism, then the "sermon/lesson". This is also a kind of catechism, reader one reads some Bible quotes, then reader two reads commentary from Mary Baker Eddy, this is read word for word, I could follow along in the more detailed version of the sermon guide.

Ends with hymn, tithes and offerings, reading of a sort of Christian Science creed which seems to double as a prayer.

After the service I talked to a woman who said they have a total of 26 topics they go through twice a year. New correlated readings come out each year from the "Mother Church" in Boston. The Bible and Eddy quotes may change, but always the same 26 topics. This week's topic was "Substance", which the CS define as spirit because they don't believe that matter really exists, everything is a degree of spirit. This is an interesting inverse on Joseph Smith's ideas on everything, including spirit, being a form of matter, but "refined" to varying degrees. 

The lady I talked to said the testimony meetings are around half recitation, then attendees (they don't have to be members) can speak as they feel prompted. So kind of like a Quaker meeting.

There is a First Christian Science Church downtown, but it has been sold and is no longer used for services. I commented on the current  building to the lady I talked to after the service. She said it had been designed by a member of the congratulation who was an architect, and built by a construction company owned by another member of the congregation. This was circa 1963.

Attending this odd service, in a sparsely attended and very dated building, I had the thought, though I generally don't like this word, that it was a cult that had fallen on hard times. It was not hard to imagine the place full 60 years ago.

I had a harder then usual time, in trying to see what it was about the serive which people would find spiritually fulfilling. It had a nice calm vibe, but other then that really did nothing for me. 

K2 Church

 K2 Church, 5 pm service on a Saturday. 8/26/23

They are meeting in the building of Southeast Christian Church in Murry. They are in the process of securing a "new Church home." They have a bid in for a place, one of the things prayed for is that it go through.

Casual Church, I attended in shorts. 😀

100ish in the sanctuary, seemed good mix of ages, all white save two of apparent Indian sub continent decent.

Announcements, young children dismissed, a prayer that didn't feel prefinctionary, as they often do. Then the sermon.

Pastor Nelson. Presumably no relation.

This is the first of a three part series on sexuality. Part of a larger 'Get Jesus into Your Life' series. So get Jesus into your sex life? Advocating for a sort of three way? 😁

Preacher confesses to having been sexualy active in high school. Accepted Christ at 19. Then celebit until marrying his wife at 34. Multiple kids, at least one of whom is mentioned as being in college. So late 50's? Looks younger.

He knows this is a sensitive subject, really did seem to want to be as empathetic as possible while still holding the line on doctrine. Week 3 will be LGBTQ stuff, I may watch this whole series on YouTube. I was generally impressed with his way of delivery.

Sex is good, but keep it in bounds. Sex is like nuclear energy, it can power or destroy a city. Emphasis on oneness, joining of man and woman. Come for the dopamine (pleasure chemical), stay for the oxytocin (bonding chemical).

This is eternal life. Metaphor for Christ and the Church. STD's were down for awhile but going up since 2014 says CDC. All other sins are outside the body save sexual sin. Pre/extra marital sex implants sexual memories, this is unfair to spouse, be that future or current. It's robbery.

Gathered everyone up at front at the end to confess sexual sins/needs/addictions/wrongs inflicted by others upon you. This was done silently, I think a wise choice. 

Twasint till the very end that we got some praise and worship music, to be sung in spirit of repentance. First songs first words, I kid you not, "Lord, I come, I confess." My inner adolescent laughed, then I left as they were still singing.

I did grab a free large print (and cheaply printed) NIV on the way out. Toying with idea of reading the Old Testament in a year, only Standard Work I never made it through. If I read 18.462 pages a week I can complete in 52 of the same. Will see.

I actually mostly liked this service, impressed with the pastor.

 https://youtube.com/@52churchesin52weeks

https://youtube.com/@thoughtfulfaith2020

https://youtube.com/@GospelTangents

https://youtube.com/@benchmarkbooks

https://youtube.com/@NoahLugeons

https://youtube.com/@latterdayskeptic

https://youtube.com/@faithmattersfoundation

https://youtube.com/@MythVisionPodcast

https://youtube.com/@Come.Back.Podcast

https://youtube.com/@mormonismwiththemurph

https://youtube.com/@HarmonicAtheist

https://youtube.com/@TheThinkingAtheist

Wasatch Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church

 Wasatch Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church 

11:15 am service 8/12/2023

Neat building. I've noticed over the years, that this denomination has the greatest diversity in church architecture style of any sect I know.

Got there early enough I could see people in their various sabbath schools, I never seem to see those at other churches.

Around 130 people in the sanctuary, good  mixture of ages, racially diverse, with a particularly large black contingent, judging by dress and accent many of them forgin born. Semi formal dress.

Opening prayer and announcements followed by children's church, this is when they bring the kids upfront for a little story or lesseon. I'm glad I didn't have that growing up, I would have hated it. Around 20 children under 12, biggest youth contingent I've seen in a (non LDS) church of this size. As the kids are relassed back to their family's, they first take little pails with them and collect the tithes and offerings. Clever and adorable. 

Two "baby dedications" today. Each child gets a certificate good for one months free admission at the local Adventist school. Synergy.

Then the praise and worship music. This was NOT Christian rock, more hymn/ mellow gospel style, the lead singer was good. Three songs. 'We Are Marching to Zion', almost Mormon. 'The Blood', very old school Evangelical. 'Draw Me Close to You', "this one's just right" said Goldilocks.

Then a pre sermon prayer, this one you kneel. However they didn't have those pull out, kick stand "kneeling benches", so I found the kneeling awkward and uncomfortable.

Sermon was on "fellowship", the Gospel is the rare precious things you want to share with others, as opposed to a gold prospector protecting his claim. It's even better then a fancy sports car! From the sermon I also learned pastor Barry Curtis grew up in Wyoming.

Then that was it. Dismissed. No closing song or prayer even. 

I had a few people talk to me.

Noticeably no mention of founding prophetess Ellen G. White or any distinctive SdA doctrines. Though they did mention the post service picnic would contain vegetarian options, as some Adventists are vegetarian. While not mentioned in the service,  I had forgotten before reading some of their free literature I took from the lobby, that Adventists don't drink alcohol.

Adventure Church

 Adventure Church, Draper, Utah, 10 am service 8/6/2023

Adventure Church is affiliated with the Foursquare Gospel denomination, an Evangelical/Pentecostal Church founded in California in 1923 by Aimee Semple McPherson (1890 - 1944). Today the denomination claims 8.8 million members worldwide.

McPherson was an early celebrity pastor who made heavy use of the radio. As a charmastic female preacher she made a real impact on the popular culture, fictionalized versions of her show up in such works as Sinclair Lewis's novel Elmer Gantry, and the early Frank Capra film 'Miracle Woman' where she is played by Barbara Stanwyck.

Hallmarks of the faith include female clergy, an emphasis on 'entertainment', and spiritual gifts such as healing and speaking in tounges. I saw neither gift manifest in the service I attended.

The service started with now standard 'praise and worship' Christian rock style music. When I go to various services I typically will not sing, even though the lyrics are usually projected on a screen, unless I know the song. 'How Great Thou Art' was one of the songs this week so I sung along to that.

Then there was a communion service, they did open communion but specifically said "this time it's between you and the Lord", implying they don't always do open communion. I did not partake. People came up front at the end of the music portion to get bread and juice which they took back to their seats. Associate pastor Kuulei Lee, a Pacific Islander woman, lead this part of the service. There was no prayer as such, but some Bible readings and basic instructions.

This was followed by video announcements on the three big screens and then the sermon. Sermon was on 'The Great Commission', it was somewhat rambling and began with a Star Wars skit, including use of lightsabers. It was given by another associate pastor Ira Popper (the main pastor is a woman and she wasn't there this week).

Again I thought it was mostly meandering, if pleasant, but got interesting near the end when Ira shared his conversation story, which I suspect most people there already knew. Ira was raised Jewish, even Bar mitisvhaed. Urged on by friends he accepted Christ at age 17, outside the music room at his California high school March 18th, 1976. (This reminded me of the Spielberg surrogate and his "flirt to convert" girlfriend in The Fabelmans). I suspect that caused some friction at home, it would be interesting to learn more.

The service had an overall pleasant and comfortable vibe. Only three people talked to me. The building is bigger then it looked from the outside. There were various offices, common rooms, a coffee shop. There were classes and day care for young children. Around 120 in the sanctuary, about half the seats were full. White, Latino, Pacific Islander, black, Indian. Good cross section of ages. Two people in wheelchairs. I found the place likable.

Fun facts: Aimee Semple McPherson was married three times, the first ended in death the other two in divorce. While Aimee died in her 50's her two children, a boy and a girl, both lived into their mid 90's.

The Cathedral of the Madeleine

 11 am service 7/23/23 The Cathedral of the Madeline, Roman Catholic Church, down town Salt Lake City. Named for Saint Mary Magdelan, whose feast day had been yesterday. Magdelan is the patron saint of the Utah diocese.

The Cathedral was begun in 1900 and completed in 1909. Large and designed to look older then it is, the interior of the sanctuary is done up in what I think you'd call a Byzantine style, ornate fixtures, lots of iconography on the walls, stained glass windows. The color scheme is vaugly "Easter Egg", eggplant, teals, tans, off whites. In good shape save for the floors which they are currently raising funds to restore.

A cross shaped space, I was sitting near the front, not a good angle to count attendees, but by the end of the service I would say it was around 60% full. Good cross section of ages and races, white, black, Latino, Asian, particularly Filipino. Probably the most diverse congregation I've visited. Parishioner range of dress, formal, semi-formal, casual.

Large procession, big organ, solid choir. Guest speaker was a monk, in his 30's, visiting from New Hampshire but grew up in Utah. He gave a short sermon about Saint Mary and the history of the faith in Utah. Was a little hard to follow, the place echos.

I think a good share of the people who show up each week are visitors, place is a tourists attraction. After the service alot of peopel started taking out their cameras.  Free tours are offered, I considered taking one but missed it. There is a gift shop downstairs, it was open, which seemed a bit off. 

 https://youtube.com/@NewCreationSLC

https://youtube.com/@mountainviewchristianassem7511

https://youtube.com/@fpcslc - Presbyterian 

https://youtube.com/@FUMCSLC - Methodist 

https://youtube.com/@DCCSLC - Christian & Missionary Alliance 

https://youtube.com/@canyonsyoutube6715

https://youtube.com/@HolladayUnitedChurchofChrist

Saint Anna Greek Orthodox Church

 Saint Anna Greek Orthodox Church in Sandy. Named for the mother of the Virgin Mary who is referred to as Anne in other Christian traditions.

Modern looking on the outside, inside it was being renovated, the carpet was stripped so concrete floors. There were icons and candles and incense, I wasn't comfortable with taking pictures inside the sanctuary.

Matins begins at 8, which is basically psalm singing by the priests and select others. Your supposed to arrive for the 9 am Divine Liturgy service at some point during this hour, though people continued to arrive after that past. When I arrived at around 8:48 there were maybe 20 people in the sanctuary, there was probably around 100 by the end of service. Attendees skewed older and female, but a healthy mix of family's, some of the children were at Church camp in Colordo. Many of the attendees, unsurprisingly, looked very Greek. Parishioner dress mostly semi formal. There was a choir, also dressed semi formal.

The priest faced away from the congregation for most of the service, like old school Catholics.

Musky incense smell, place was hot, AC out, they had fans going. The ceiling was exposed metal, bars, beams and such. Unnaturally faux fancy chandeliers hung there from.

Acapelia singing, there was a keyboard present but it was just used to set pitch.

The seats were among the comfiest I have encountered at a church yet, though they were largely a ruse. I would nickname this "Standing Church." Early on everyone around me started standing so I started standing and stayed standing for the next hour and 8 minutes, save for 3 short breaks, the longest of which was maybe 90 seconds. It was exhausting. (Some older people, young children and a pregnant woman sat more often.)

I'm usually not very critical of the services I visit but this was probably the least fun so far. It didn't really offer me anything, lots of standing, chanting type singing (which I like less then Christan rock), recitations, for most of it the priest talked in a ritual cadence that was hard to follow.

The communion portion started about 10:05 with the hosts being paraded around the sanctuary, along with a big gold cross, a gold dish thing, incense; by alter boys, priest and some others all in white robes. Your supposed to always be facing these emblems so you turn to follow them as they move around the room. 

After that you can sit. Most took this sacrament, I of course did not. Priest uses a ladel to spoon feed recipients the wine from an urn like container, then they were given the bread (it looked rather fluffy) to consume on their way back to there seats. This whole process starring with the proceasion took around a dozen minutes. The sermon didn't start until 10:17, lasted about 9 minutes, then 3 or so minutes of announcements (the Bishops coming next week), the congregation dismissed though most came up front again for what looked like a dab of Holy Water on the forehead. There may have been food or something outback because most people were exiting that way, but I went out the front to head home and lie down.

In a rarity nobody greeted me at any point while I was there.

The priest looked Bruce McGill or Glenn Beck like. Sermon used the geological concept of Pangea for a metaphor about the church breaking up, divisons in the church. He talked about the 4th Ecumenical Council (451 AD) which formally made Constantinople 2nd to Rome in authority, paving the way for later break. He talked about some obscure sounding distinction as to the degree to which God can be said to be of one substance, this theological disagrment (which I couldn't follow) apparently still divides the Greek Orthodox from other Orthodox sects like the Coptics and Armenians. He closed with the hope that eventually the other groups would get on the correct page about this and restore unity.

While the last bit was interesting,  for the most part the service was tough to stand through. The phrase "Let us be attentive" was used alot during the Liturgy, probably because of the temptation to zone out. It felt like the service was less about pence for sinning then penance for sitting. I might be willing to go to a different type of Orthodox service in the future, or one in a more ornate bundling, but I don't think I'll go to another service at Saint Anna's.

 https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/believing-adoption/

 

Through a Glass Darkly

Trying to Understand the Scriptures

https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/through-a-glass-darkly-trying-to-understand-the-scriptures/