To the Editor:
During the sermon, a minister speaks words of praise. He gives witness with examples and reassures the love of Jesus. If one gazes up, you see the preacher with his eyes shut. A litany of prayer continues for 20 minutes. No notes, no hesitation; a steady cognitive resonance. A rewarding truth of Jesus’ presence is felt.
A visit to 15 different local churches’ worship services are revealing. Church visits happened for me on Sundays. By attending a Saturday Mass, Sunday mornings provide opportunity to worship with other Christian faiths.
The goal of visiting other churches is transformative. At first, a simple compare and contrast examination to the traditional Catholic service is the automatic focus. At the end of service, a take away is always the wonderful people who attend.
Yet, during the visits, what resonates is the spiritual experience of joining with the congregation in worship. There is value in visiting other Christian churches.
John Clayton,
Grinnell