Pentecostal praxis

[Pastor Gary]

We had COGOP visitors from other places last week, and something took place that reminded me how far removed we might be from traditional COGOP/Pentecostal praxis in our local church, so I am taking a little poll.

[Poimen]

I chose number one, although instead of just one it may be anywhere from just one up to a certain two or three who pray aloud, with most everyone else praying silently & occasionally some affirmation of consent or agreement.

Of course, my church is not strictly Pentecostal.

[Pastor Gary]

Of course, my church is not strictly Pentecostal.

Well, mine neither... at least as pentecostalism is popularly defined; by those "standards" we are SEMI-costal. We surely believe in the power and presence of the Holy Ghost, but nobody here runs the aisles screaming like a blood-curdling banshee, either.

[Jennifer Smith]

Our church doesn't commonly practice the traditional CoGoP everyone praying at the same time. I found that unusual the first time I was in a CoGoP church that did. I believe it is preferable to have one person lead a prayer while others agree. The exception perhaps being during altar ministry.

[dalebert]

we are bapticostal here....we dont have any more than one person that prays at a time. But we do have some that affirm with amens......

by those "standards" we are SEMI-costal. We surely believe in the power and presence of the Holy Ghost, but nobody here runs the aisles screaming like a blood-curdling banshee, either.

seems like us as well PG....

[dalebert]

We had COGOP visitors from other places last week, and something took place that reminded me how far removed we might be from traditional COGOP/Pentecostal praxis in our local church

and so how did u and or ur church handle it?

[Pastor Gary]

and so how did u and or ur church handle it?

We prayed... and went on as usual, except that it was apparent that it was a surprise to a large portion of the congregation just not used to that custom.

It is neither right nor wrong, IMHO, just the way different churches in different places worship.

[dalebert]

It is neither right nor wrong, IMHO, just the way different churches in different places worship

deserves a LOUD amen!

[RamboPreacher]

...most common? Who knows; it is random.
was my vote. though it is not really random, but more like "all of the above". there seem to be equal circumstances for each.

[PastorDaniel]

So what happened? Did someone shout and run? Or did they pray out loud? How does your church pray? Just Curious?

[Paully_44]

I prefer Choice #2

[Pastor Gary]

So what happened? Did someone shout and run? Or did they pray out loud? How does your church pray? Just Curious?

It was no huge, disruptive deal... when I began to pray for the team, several in the congregation began to pray along, out loud, pretty loud. No screaming or aisle running. It was just out of the norm at Windward, that's all.

[macgulley]

...most common? Who knows; it is random.
was my vote. though it is not really random, but more like "all of the above". there seem to be equal circumstances for each.

I answered #3 but, like Rambo, that's not technically accurate. Certain situations seem to lend themselves more readily to one person praying and others saying amen if they wish while other times we just all pray out loud. Kinda depends.

[Brenda]

I'm use to "what ever" in the services. From just the pastor praying to him asking someone in the audience to pray. While in each case everyone is silent. To everyone praying in unison.

Our old traditional type of service was very Odd to an Episcopalian man at one time.
Who never heard of everyone praying out loud and god forbid someone to raise their hands in worship. He thought we were all crazy.

But now, my husband feels that's the way it should be. If someone feels like it. God DID a work on him. Praise God!
He refers to these other churchs as the church of the frozen chosen.. and laughs, glad not to be of them.

We Pentecostal are becoming more the norm..praising him with a loud voice than the rare. I see Young people lifting their voices in praise in concerts. Seems to be a move of God among the youth of today.

We don't run isles and we don't do any blood curdling screams. And no snakes, thank you.
BUT... if there was one, then I'd be the first to do the blood curdling scream. Along with the isle running.

[paul]

generally in our church we pray in unison. The volume and intenseity varies. we just completed several nights of meethings on prayer and at different times almost everyone, at least 75% were praying in the Spirit ( tongues) at the same time. Quite a beautiful sound.