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.

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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.