Church visit help

 
Ideas:

online yellow pages: churches in Fresno here.
Feel free to ask Dave for ideas.

Here is the Messianic Jewish congregation we spoke about in class.
This visit would count, as these are Jewish believers in Jesus.
Check out the link and let our friend Rabbi Adam (phone 477-4977 or facebook) know ahead of time you are part of this class, and ask if you can bring anything.  Website:
 Beit Tefillah Messianic Fellowship of Fresno

 

Read syllabus carefully:

BIB 314 Church Visit                                                                       

This assignment requires you to attend a worship service at a Christian church, interview a person from the church you visited, and write a response essay. This assignment contributes to the class discussion and understanding of the Christian community today.

Select a Christian Church

Select a Christian church and attend a worship service there. If you are Protestant, you should try to attend a Catholic or Orthodox service, and vice versa—the goal is a worship experience quite different than the one you are used to (if you regularly attend a church). Students may enjoy visiting the church of a fellow cohort or class member, or going together with a cohort or class member. Note: since the emphasis in this class is on classic Christianity, visits to places of worship by other religions or Christian sects such as Latter Day Saints/Jehovah’s Witnesses do not count

.

Do an Interview

Arrange to interview a person from the church you are visiting, and enter their responses to the questions below. Submit the interview results along with your Response Essay for full credit for this assignment.

1.       Church Name:

2.       Date of Visit:

3.       Name/position of person interviewed:

4.       Explain the purpose/ goal of gathered worship in this church (order of service, different aspects of the service, etc. NOTE: if you have questions about what you have seen or what you expect to see, ask them! For example, why a rock band, or why do people dip their hands in the water and cross themselves, etc.)

5.       What is the identified mission of the church?

6.       What are some of the main programs/activities of the church?

7.       What are some of the key issues facing the church?

8.       Additional notes/comments:

Write the Response Essay

Write a 3-4 page response essay that describes in some detail the worship service attended (music, order of worship, use of space, atmosphere, etc.) and that compares this experience to your own previous (or ongoing) experience of worship service, and/or to your expectations.

Attach a worship bulletin or newsletter from the church if available.