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When people come up for prayer, are people to stand facing the altar and the pulpit? I know of some people that cannot stand a prayer circle, because some people are not facing the pulpit.
What is your custom? Does it matter where people are facing themselves? Should everyone, including the minister face front? I've seen some ministers pray among the people, and they are not necessarily facing forward, but are moving throughout the altar as they are praying.
When people come up for prayer, are people to stand facing the altar and the pulpit? I know of some people that cannot stand a prayer circle, because some people are not facing the pulpit.
What is your custom? Does it matter where people are facing themselves? Should everyone, including the minister face front? I've seen some ministers pray among the people, and they are not necessarily facing forward, but are moving throughout the altar as they are praying.
We have benches at the front of our church that people can sit on or kneel in front of if they wish. Or they can stand.
That's my feelings. We have some older members at our church that have been so upset because everyone at the altar is not facing the front toward the pulpit when we pray. I think it's crazy.
Look at the prayer of Jonah who prayed to God in the belly of a great fish with sea weed wrapped around his neck , and God answered His prayer and made the fish throw up Jonah ...........many churches and people have different tolerances on protocol , But God just requires faith
The pulpit is to the side and is where the officiant stands. We turn towards the altar.
As for those who say, "What does it really matter?" it's possible to be right in one way and wrong in another. To be sure, it doesn't matter where you turn. I'll gladly concede that point. But if you think of ritual not as something empty, but rather as a vehicle that encourages deeper exploration of meaning and our disposition to God, then it's rather self-aggrandizing to pooh-pooh it. Pray however you see fit. But don't disparage those who find the liturgy rewarding.
This question unfortunately sounds like it's too much in the realm of religion. It's a good question, but exposes how we often put spiritual activity into religious clothing and trappings. If I'm in a church - which happens little these days - I'll always choose what seems right inside (inwardly/spiritually) than the outward/ritualist rules and regulations of where I am. If they have a problem with me and that sentiment, then religion is too high of a priority to them. I'd rather annoy them than bow down to them (in a sense) and compromise myself to man's ways. Many churches these days are too political and legalistic anyway, and have trouble separating what's from God and what's from man.
Last edited by Thoreau424; 01-16-2018 at 05:51 PM..
This question unfortunately sounds like it's too much in the realm of religion. It's a good question, but exposes how we often put spiritual activity into religious clothing and trappings. If I'm in a church - which happens little these days - I'll always choose what seems right inside (inwardly/spiritually) than the outward/ritualist rules and regulations of where I am. If they have a problem with me and that sentiment, then religion is too high of a priority to them. I'd rather annoy them than bow down to them (in a sense) and compromise myself to man's ways. Many churches these days are too political and legalistic anyway, and have trouble separating what's from God and what's from man.
Well said. When we mix religion and traditions, neglecting the spiritual significance, the result will always be conflict. I choose to ignore the faction, but will be ready to speak need be.
Well said. When we mix religion and traditions, neglecting the spiritual significance, the result will always be conflict. I choose to ignore the faction, but will be ready to speak need be.
Every church has a way of doing things that differs slightly from other churches. The church I used to attend, communion was served by the deacons/ushers to people in their seats. In the church I am in now, the pastor stands at the front and people line up. Neither is "correct" or "right", but it's just a way of doing things. If your church does things one way, but not as another does it, it's ok. As long as we're not violating Scripture.
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