My first Church experience (freepost)

Sunday, the first day of the new year, what a fantastic day to go out and try something new, don't you think? I took this opportunity to go to a church service for the first time in my life. I didn't go because I have suddenly decided to be close with God or to see if I believe in the teachings or to try a new branch of the religion, I simply went out of respect for my boyfriend and his family's religion (plus having never been to church I was quite curious to know what the goings on of it were.)

It was much different than I expected it to be, though the fact that it was a youth service may have been the reason for this. Excuse me for being stereotypical, but when someone says church I picture a grand building with stain glass windows, a podium upon which an old man stands and preaches to the church goers that are falling asleep, staring out the window, completely enthralled in the man's words. I imagine everyone wearing suites and ties and dresses and heels and entire families coming together. I imagine flawless faces with possible ear peircing but no other alterations. Perhaps it was the service or the specific church, but my prediction was nothing like the actual.

(Take note that I am the biggest people watcher you'll ever meet.)

I walked into the sanctuary to the sound of soft music and friends greeting each other. People were wearing everything from dresses and dress pants and to track suits and overalls. Some people had pristine complexion while others had gauges in their ears and tattoos covering their arms. The pasture was in his mid twenties and spoke with his entire body. There was a band that played for the first thirty minutes and the last 5.

The thing that surprised me the most was the people's actions. During the preacher's preaching there would be the occasional "amen!" or "yes!" in agreement. And when it came time to have your personal moment of connection with God, as I looked around, the reactions were all so different. Some simply close their eyes, others bowed their heads, others raised their faces to the heavens, others brought their hands to the sky, other kneeled down and their hands clasped, one person even sat in a feetle position.

I planned to talk about religion and the ideas of it in this post, but I feel like this post is long enough as it is. Happy new year!