Affiliation: Methodist
Why We Picked This One: I was going to the Bills game, and they had a fairly early service
Sermon: The Reason for the Season
First Church With: "Happy Birthday"
Rundown: This church, like several of the others we've visited, had a contemporary service and a traditional one. Given the choice, I'd take the contemporary service (me being the hip guy that I am), but the traditional service fit nicely into our schedule, so that's the one we attended.
As you might expect, this decision to attend the traditional service led to our being surrounded by a somewhat elderly crowd.
And I tried to imagine a world where religion faded away with the older generations. Religion has been around for millenia, so it's hard to imagine that happening, but we all know about the difficulty the Catholic church has had keeping it's younger members interested. Isn't it possible that religions will eventually just blink out like old stars as their elderly parishioners fade away and aren't replaced by a disinterested generation?
What good is a church without parishioners?
I've been to churches that were packed - and churches that catered to a younger generation. But how much should a church cater to a younger generation with modern music, groovy new youth groups, and informal services? Is it worth compromising its values to keep a church open? Television shows don't last without adapting. Musical styles don't last. Stores and cars and clothes don't last unless they adapt. Should churches follow their lead? Or should they stick to their guns until they're preaching to an empty house?
Are those who do adapt sellouts? Are they blasphemous? Or are the ones who don't change just old and crotchety and ridiculous for being so stubborn? Shouldn't values be held no matter the cost? Can you adapt and still old onto your values?
The two pastors were married. We sang happy birthday to one of them. That was nice.
Address: 32 Landers Rd, Kenmore, NY
Website: www.kenmoreumc.org
Attendees: ~100
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