I was born on a Sunday morning and the following Sunday, my mom took me to church. As hard as I try, I can’t ever remember not going to church. That’s probably because I always have. I was raised in a family that never missed. And I do mean never. If the doors were open and the lights were on, we were there. When I was a teenager, there was no such thing as, “I’m not going to church tonight because I have too much homework.” I didn’t know you could even skip church unless you were deathly ill, or I guess maybe kidnapped. Actually, I’m thankful for how I was raised and the memories I have of church “when I was a kid.”
A lot of things have changed about “church” since I was little. Here are a few things I remember from long ago…
- I can remember waking up on Sunday morning to the smell of my Mom browning a roast for Sunday dinner. Man, that was the best smell in the world.
- I can remember taking turns in one bathroom with 5 sisters and a brother on Sunday mornings, and still making it to services on time.
- I remember Gospel Meetings/Revivals lasting a week. I loved it because I got to see my church friends every night that week, not just on Sundays and Wednesdays.
- I can remember, as a little boy, pointing out to my mom the first time I ever saw a woman wearing a pair of pants in church. I was shocked. I’d never seen a woman “at church” in anything but a dress. Years later, I remember the first time I saw a woman wear a pair of jeans in a church service. Again, I was shocked. Up to that point, women had only worn dresses or dress pants. About 10 years ago, I also remember the first time I saw teenagers wearing shorts to church. I wasn’t really shocked.
- I remember sermons that I didn’t understand and they all seemed to last for an eternity. In fact, I often thought, “If I’m going to have to go to church all my life, how can I get out of hearing sermons.” Maybe that’s why I became a preacher, so I didn’t have to listen anymore. Ha!
- I remember when I was in Jr. High the preacher’s daughter having a crush on me and bringing me candy all the time. I didn’t get much candy at home so I strung her along.
- I remember the Sunday that my Mom came and got me at the front, right during the middle of church, because I was talking to my buddies. I didn’t realize then that she could see me. Seeing my Mom standing at the end of the pew, waving for me to “come on,” was one of the most terrifying sights ever. I was less afraid of what my buddies thought and more afraid of what my Mom was about to do to me. She took me to the back, shut the doors … blood was everywhere … three days later when I woke up… okay, so it really wasn’t quite that bad, but I sure remember it.
- I clearly remember pointing out to my buddies a very young girl at church and telling them, “I’m not sure who she is, but when she gets older, she’s going to be fine (that was the word we used to use for hot).” It was Lea when she was about a 7th grader.
- I remember Cled Click’s class on sex when I was in 9th grade. I remember pretending like it was funny at the time, but I was really glad we were having it because I had LOTS of questions.
What do you remember about “church” when you were growing up?
I am a Christian husband and father, who moonlights as the minister for the church of Christ in Childress, Texas. My wife Lea and I have been married for 22 years. We are doing our best to raise our 4 boys, who are all growing up way too fast.
Awww this is a really cute post. Sunday roasts are great
During the summer, after church on Sunday nights everyone would hang out in the parking lot or the yard talking … the grown-ups loved the chatting, the kids loved the running around!! Sometimes we’d all head over to Dairy Queen for ice cream instead. During the winter we often had a large group go out to Pizza Hut together.
If my siblings or I wanted to sit with a friend (even into the teen years!) we had to either sit with their family or with mine … or in the pew in front of them. I guess that’s so that our moms could smack us on the head if we started misbehaving.
I remember coming to the church where I am now and seeing grown-ups(!!) in shorts on a Sunday or Wednesday night – that did surprise me at first! I’m used to it now.
Being a preacher’s kid, you were in church a lot too, weren’t you?
Yep! It was like a second home, especially because we lived right next door.
My kids might not be preachers’ kids, but I plan for them to look back on childhood the same way – that church is just as much a part of their growing up as anything else – and hopefully more so than some things!! I don’t want them to look back and feel like they were dragged to church – I have wonderful memories of friends and church family that were just extensions of my physical family, and I don’t remember ever feeling like it was a burden to go. (That didn’t happen until I was in college – lol.) I actually remember the basement classrooms at my first church building with fondness (even though they were musty and always cold) … because the men and women who taught me there loved me and cared about my spiritual growth.
My mom was the Sunday Roast Queen as well. Still is. Only now, they bring college students home to eat with them. One of them is now my son, who’s going to school there! I remember running around after church on Wednesday nights in the summer, grass stains on my brother’s brand new white pants, Ice Cream Socials (with REAL homemade ice cream), knowing that I had at least 30 “parents” watching over me, and those awesome VBS cookies. My mother was from an extremely conservative church and once we were visiting up there and had to stay a couple of extra days due to an ice storm…we had to wear pants to church on a Wednesday and got the disapproving looks of many! So glad times have changed. Hopefully my kids will remember more things we did to “be” the church” rather than “going” to church.
Maybe roast was the official Sunday after church meal, and we just didn’t know it.
Loved your last sentence … I hope that’s what my kids remember too.
we ate at pizza inn, lisa. I guess those are the issues that can split a church/youth group
i remember a nasty split, someone yelling from the back pew at the preacher, people getting up and walking out during the sermon,
also remember a tent revival, that I think actually had a sheet involved. the guest preacher has split numerous congregations, but had nothing to do with our split
I remember avoiding eye contact with the song leader, b/c he would call on someone for the closing prayer, the young people sat on the second row
Thankfully I never saw a split or people yelling and walking out.
gosh, brian!!
Dodgeball in the fellowship hall as a kid. (not the most Christ-like thing to learn)
You could’ve called it, “Dodge what the devil throws at you.”
Let’s see…. for me, it was the trip down the left-side aisle to the door that led outside. And I always hoped the windows of the church building were DOWN! I really didn’t want any witnesses to what was about to happen….
Our youth group flipped from front to back and back to front. We couldn’t decide where to sit.
The JH and then the HS room was upstairs in the back. Always hot in the summer.
I remember the mural on the back wall of the baptistry. Always thought it was a good thing the river ran into the baptistry, otherwise, the carpet would get awfully wet. No, seriously! I could hear water running in the baptistry. The river ran through it!
I remember the sandbox lessons and the flannelgraph lessons. I remember the old school desks we had bought from the school when they bought new ones. Some of those who were in HS at the time had carved their initials in the desks when they were in school at the time. It was THEN that their parents found out. Shouldn’t have put their grad class on it, too. Dead giveaway…
I remember the awe I felt when they pulled back the curtains in the baptistry (we didn’t do that too often). I knew that something special happened in there….
I remember sitting next to my girlfriend as a senior and thinking it was cool to take the Lord’s Supper with her. She and I take the Lord’s Supper with different people now, but it’s still cool to have communion with the people that are special in your life.
Loved your thoughts. I remember the awe of the baptistry too. I had forgot about sandbox lessons.
When my wife attended her first church service in the States (1988), we were still in the “good friends” stage. She went to one Bible class, I to another. When we met in worship, she was red-faced and furious. She said, “Why didn’t you tell me women don’t wear pants to church?!”
I answered honestly: “I didn’t know!”
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
You’re lucky she still married you
Remember lots – after one especially boring sermon, an elder made closing comments and said “wasn’t today wonderful? I think that heaven will be just like our services today. If you didn’t like this, you surely won’t like heaven.” I prayed that that wasn’t true.
LOL … I’ve offered that prayer before too.
I’ve just groaned inwardly when I heard it.
I groan both because of the poor comparison of the service to heaven and because of the inaccuracy of talking about heaven rather than New Heavens/New Earth.
Just to be clear.
This was funny.
I don’t think we will have sermons in heaven. We won’t need them. Instead, we will incorporate praise and baseball somehow.
I remember throwing an absolute FIT to go home with my grandparents on Sunday afternoon. If I was lucky, they would take me to the El Matador to eat lunch.
I remember the sacredness of the Sunday afternoon nap. No football, just a 3-4 hour nap. Sorta miss those naps.
I remember memorizing the 23rd Psalm on the 13 mile drive between our house and church so I could get an award in class.
I remember the Wednesday night in 1980 when we looked out our west classroom window to see a perfectly formed funnel cloud headed our way.
I remember huddling in the downstairs hallway with all the frightened crying women while all the men and boys stared out the front door of our under construction fellowship hall. I later found out the auditorium actually had a basement. Why were we in the hall?
I remember children’s Bible hour and Joy Buses, and taking on the responsibility for teaching cbh as a teenager. Entertaining four year olds was way better than having to listen to the old dude preach.
Oh, and I remember timing prayers with my friends.
Was I the “old dude.”
I timed prayers when I was a kid. Harley Fewell was the king of long prayers.
Well, I was 16. Were you the old dude?
I feel better.
Wow we all have similar memories:
1. Breakfast: Dad was up before everyone and had a big breakfast cooked for us. We would eat while we listened to the last few minutes of a Gospel Music radio show as the “tubes” warmed up the radio, and then we would listen to “our preacher” on our show.
2. My younger brother being warned of a reprimand not if he fell out of the magnolia tree in front of the building, but if he put a hole in his new suit.
3. Watching my dad interpret services for the deaf.
4. That time Bro Jimmie Wisdom “tricked” Tom and me into delivering our first sermons.
5. Sister Raburns powerful thumps on the back of the head. I know for certain that our parents had “Secret Service” radios. She knew just when my mom would want me thumped.
6. Learning to fold our arms just right so it did not look like we were holding hands.
So many memories
Good stuff, Scott. I remember there were “church clothes” and “play clothes” and you didn’t ever one in the other (or visa-versa).
I think we had a couple os Sister Raburn’s at our church.
I remember my churchmates serenaded me at midnight during my birthday. That was the funniest thing in the world. I was inside the house giggling like a schoolgirl while they were singing outside trying to wake me up.
Jojo, I can honestly say, in all my years I’ve never been serenaded. I’m feeling left out.
I remember the first time I wore slacks to church service because we had moved to Massachusetts in 1967 and it was really, really cold outside. I felt somewhat uncomfortable, but since the roof didn’t fall in, and lightening did not strike me dead, I suppose that means it was okay.
To this day, though, I feel more comfortable in a dress on Sunday mornings, but never make that a “law” for anyone else. I remember once visiting a church on our way to another destination, and not wearing a dress because we were traveling, and having people “look down” on me because of that. We always planned our trips to include visiting churches on our route, if we traveled on Sundays, and I feel that is more important than the clothes we wear.
Because our family always went to the church building every time “the doors were open,” my future husband asked if he could go with us sometime (shame on me for not inviting him first). After studying with another young man, he was baptized the year before we married. He became a good, faithful deacon, then elder, and finally minister. I am eternally grateful he was bold enough to ask.
Lisa L.’s mom once was caught talking with a friend, and my husband, from across the auditorium, walked over, motioned her to come sit with us. She later told us the friend said her parents would never embarrass her that way. We told her if she didn’t embarrass us, we wouldn’t embarrass her.
I grew up in a family that went to Wyatt’s cafeteria (Texas institution) every Sunday. Never considered that others had to work in order for us to eat there. There were “Blue Laws” that kept stores closed on Sunday, but not restaurants. Go figure!
I am grateful to have grown up in a faithful Christian family, but have learned that those who come to Christ later in life are usually more devoted to evangelism than those of us who were baptized as young people without really understanding what sin was until later in life.
I am grateful for all the wonderful “church” memories I have in my 80 years on this earth.
Good memories.
We didn’t eat out much at all. Couldn’t afford it with a family of 9. On those rare occasions when we did eat out, it was after Sunday morning services and we’d go to Myers Drumstick.
I do remember the Wyatt’s Cafeterias too.
This post brings back lots of memories. Sunday roast or fried chicken was the best!
I remember preachers like Jack Hutton, Earl Cantwell, Herbert Gibson, J.D. Nance, Don Lacy, & Lewis Hunter.
Jack and his wife Evelyn were first people that I ever knew that went on a mission trip and they actually moved to Africa for a while. Earl Cantwell traveled alot as well and I remember his slide shows. Herbert Gibson amazed me, he couldn’t see but he quote the Bible word for word and never miss a beat and he always knew who you were even before you spoke.
I remember asking Lois Nance one day at Sunday lunch why she sang so loud since she really couldn’t sing. ( My Mother nearly choked on her chicken) Her answer was because I am singing to God with all my heart. Year later I asked her to sing in the choir at my Mom’s funeral and the music never sounded better.
I also remember not being allowed to wear pants to church or to play games in the fellowship hall it was absolutely not allowed.
I remember Don Lacy in the middle of his sermon saying my name and telling me to wake the boy up that was beside me. He said “he needs to hear this”. I was so embarressed!
These people all had such a love for the Lord and served him every day. Most of them have passed away but I can still hear some of the things they said and they made a big impression on me and I am so thankful for them all. I have to say though if it weren’t for my parents taking me to church every time the doors were opened I would have missed out on a lot!
I’ve heard of preachers calling down kids from the pulpit … but never seen it happen. You were embarrassed and you weren’t even the one sleeping. Ha
I remember as a teen in the 40′s sitting in the balcony with other teens. Although I never
got called for anything, several of the boys were chastised by the preacher during his sermon for causing a disturbance or not paying attention. Still we were allowed to sit there on the back row of the balcony.
Forgot to mention that Tink Lane could say the longest prayers. His record was 23 minutes for one prayer.
Stacia,I was raised in Wichita Falls,early 30″s,please tell me the Don Lacy I knew (my age)was never a preacher.But maybe that was where a lot of preacher stories originated.HA HAGeorge M
George … welcome to the blog. I know you’ve always been a reader, but I’m glad you made a comment.
This Don Lacy would be between 65 & 70 now and he was orginally from Turkey.
I didn’t “go to church as a child, but my cousin and I crawled up on the Methodist roof and tossed Bodark apples into the the church of Christ brush arbor during one of their Gospel meetings nights. LOL We weren’t invited to attend the next night but they did help my grandfather locate me. At 9 or 10 I was “bombing” them with hedge apples and 8 years later I held a meeting there. We met in the building that time to avoid those “precocious” kids who might be up on the roof of one of the two other churches that all shared the same parking lot.
I’m sure glad there were people out there who would endure hedge apples and later listen and mentor a young boy on his way to following the King of Glory.
Carl – wow, talk about an amazing story. Kind of reminded me of a Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn type story.
I am crying laughing at this one!
I remember on a few (just a few:o) occassions where my dad had to take me out for some reason and he carried me as I screamed “He’s gonna kill me!!!!!” It was a sermon stopper!!! (Marvin always got a kick out of that one…and still reminds me of it today!)
)
Every Sunday morning we stopped at the convenient store for breakfast. I got a pop, and a ding dong. EVERY SUNDAY! It was the only time we ever did that. (My dad got the same thing too so that was special to me) I now carry on that tradition with my kids.
My mom didn’t cook Sunday lunch as that was the day of rest but we went to the same restaurant (Furrs Cafeteria) for as long as I can remember. It was a big deal. They had millionaire pie, which is still my favorite today. I think becuase of this memory.
I remember the old Garnett Church of Christ building….and then when we built the new building. Yeah! That was a big deal then.
I remember Tuesday night bible studies with the Youth Group.
I remember my 7th grade class having one of those sex classes that you spoke about. Embarrassing…but looking back on it now…it was good.
Oh do I ever remember memorizing: Psalm 23 in the 4th grade, Romans 12 in the 6th grade, and the Sermon on the Mount in 9th grade and presenting them.
Thanks for that walk down memory lane!
How many people can say they had Marvin for a preacher? That’d be so cool.
And, a pop and a ding-dong for breakfast on Sundays? I would have been wired up!
A very entertaining post. You’re a great writer. I grew up in an unchurched home, but my wife could relate to just about everything you say here. I love the part about why maybe you became a preacher. I can relate. So you admired your wife from afar when she was a 7th grader. No better place to meet a future spouse.
I don’t talk about her age back then very often … probably could have got arrested. lol
I remember most of your memories, because I was usually sitting next to you. I remember when we were talking in church and one man, don’t remember who, hit me on the top of the head with a song book from behind. I also remember when I was much younger sneaking into the room where the grape juice and crackers were kept and eating the communion supplies. I was there during the day sometimes since my dad was the preacher. I also went swimming in the baptistry, which was fun until my dad caught me.
The smell of browning roast will always be a smell I associate with Sunday morning.
Shane … talk about some memories. You made me laugh so hard. That was Nolan Earl that popped you in the back of the head. I remember it. I think you went and hid immediately after church. He was huge … I would have done the same.
There are so many stories we could share about stunts we pulled … wow, we’d both get in trouble for that.
My dad was the church janitor during the depression. I remember him telling me I could drink the grapejuice left in the trays, and because I loved grape juise, I would take half full cups and pour them together so I would have more to drink. Didn’t care for the Matzo bread that much, though. My sister remembers swimming in the baptistry, but I never learned to swim so don’t have that memory. The church building roof was flat and my father took us up and flew kites there. Lots of good memories this blog has brought back.
Nolan Earl! I remember now! He was about 8 foot tall, or at least that’s how I remember him. Dude…those were some fun days. I miss them and cherish every memory. You know you were like my brother! If you remember I lived with you for a while when my parents went to South Africa. So i too remember the roast your mom cooked, and sharing the bathroom, and you and Bruce getting me in trouble. Of course I was always innocent! HA HA!!!!
Those were great times, my friend. We have got to get together to catch up.
I will share one more. I have tons of memories, because I practically lived at the building or so I thought. When I was about 4 I remember my dad preaching at a small church in North georgia. He asked the question, ” who knows who Jeremiah is?” I do not think he was expecting an answer, especially from me. I yelled “a bullfrog”! I think there were enough laughs to keep out of trouble.
Having been raised Catholic, my memories probably differ from yours. The smell of incense and candles really takes me back. Seriously.
I remember watching to see if the acolyte would chime the bells at the right time as the priest consecrated the Eucharist and wine for communion.
I remember joining a line to have unlit candles placed across my throat for a blessing on the feast day of St. Blaise.
I remember joining another line on some holy day of obligation or another to kiss the feet of a crucifix (I hated that).
I remember nervously waiting in line for my turn at the confessional.
So many lines.
I remember the day of my first communion.
I remember the last day I attended Mass as a Catholic, at age 17. The next week I went alone to a Presbyterian service.
About two years later I was baptized into Christ.
Confessions … that would have scared me too.
Great day, it’s not even 9:00 out here (CA) and you already have 29 comments!!
I have a lot of the same memories … week-long meetings, LONG sermons, chart sermons on a kind-sized bedsheet (which made the normal long sermons pale in comparison … these puppies went a minimum of 90 minutes and it took weeks to cover all the points on the sheet), being “caught” by the parents. We (the preacher’s son and myself) used to play in the balcony, and frequently skipped out on church to play our guitars in the parking lot. That stopped when I was called for a closing prayer and no where to be found! Dad used to do fill-in preaching out a ways from Orlando and all the people seemed to live in house trailers. I thought they were the greatest thing I’d ever seen! All in all, good memories. As for “going to church,” we got married on a Saturday night, and the next morning on our honeymoon, we were visiting a small church! Just couldn’t seem not to go.
Oh … my mother was the church secretary for several years and we had a key duplicated to the church so we could go down on Saturdays and “swim” in the bapistery.
“I was called for a closing prayer and no where to be found.” That made me laugh.
If you wanted some real excitement, instead of playing those guitars in the parking lot, you should have whipped them out in the building.
My husband and I too went to church the day after our wedding. We had traveled a couple hours the night before, and planned to go to a church where we knew the preacher from summer camp. Just didn’t think about how embarrassing it would be to have it announced that we were on our honeymoon – I was just so sure that everyone was thinking about the fact that last night was the first night of our marriage!!
I can remember worrying about that back then.
My wife and I got married in Brazil (she’s Brazilian) and we went on our honeymoon in a town where there was no Church of Christ. We had a church service (complete with communion) for just the two of us. Avoided the whole embarrassment issue….
Sunday school, church and Bible drill on Sundays.
). People respected others space! lol!
Children, then youth choir on Mondays.
Handbells on Tuesdays. Absolutely loved handbells!!!!
GAs then Acteens on Wednesdays.
Weeklong Vacation Bible Schools! They were the BEST!!!! I loved marching in, the activities, everything about it!!
Weeklong revivals full of ‘hellfire and brimstone’, but also some wonderful music and fellowship.
Puppets!
My grandparents had their own pew(as did many folks
No pants or shorts either!
Trying so hard to get attendence pins. If you were out of town you could still get credit for going to church if you brought in a church bulletin from where you went.
I absolutely loved it!!
I heard lots of “hell fire and brimstone” sermons as a kid. Wow, did those things ever scare me. I remember one preacher saying, “I wish the Lord would come RIGHT NOW and burn this earth up, end it all and we could have judgement and heaven RIGHT NOW!” I remember being so scared about that statement that I prayed the that God would make the bad man stop saying things like that.
I remember how big the building looked, (my first church memory at about three) and how many grandmother/grandfather people there were. I have always loved older people and there were plenty there who love me and always made me feel special.
I remember Fried Chicken; my mom really knew how to fry chicken. I also remember going to other people’s house’s to eat and visit.
I remember the ‘black mark’ in the baptistery and how one preacher said every time we told a lie we would get a black mark in our book of life. I guess that is like your “permanent record’ school teachers warned us about.
I too remember we never, ever dared play outside in our Sunday clothes. That was strictly forbidden, and I remember (what seemed like all the men) standing outside between classes and after service smoking. I’m glad I don’t see that one anymore.
I remember getting puked on in Sunday School Class, not pleasant at all. I was in first grade.
I loved this post Trey!
This has been a lot of fun reading everyone’s memories.
What was the “black mark” in the baptistery?
The black mark was probably the non-slip strip in the baptistry.
Growing up in West Texas in the fifties:
I remember about church:
At VBS, ice cold coke “burning” my throat on a hot summer day.
Old men smoking outside the front entrance after Sunday morning services and no one thought anything of it.
After Sunday morning services going home with a family who lived on a ranch outside of the small town we lived in. Playing out there all day and then coming back for Sunday night services and going home.
My Mom often used a pressure cooker to cook the roast. Just before we left for church it would start to make a funny kind of hissing sound as the pressure value started to release presure.
My parents washing the communion cups which were actual tiny glass cups.
My grandmother working for a new program called “The Herald of Truth’, in Abilene.
Sunday evening services were broadcast on the local radio station live.
Sometimes Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wed. evening were the only time I worn regular shoes in the summer.
Getting a new white sport coat for Easter.
Jim, Great memories. I forgot about the group of men smoking, but yea, we had them too.
My first memory of Sunday mornings at church was being 2 or 3 years old and coloring pictures of Bible Characters in Sunday School. I can still remember the exact room my first Sunday School class was in.
I remember the Sunday morning that mom joined Calvary Baptist there in Childress and watching everyone hug her neck and shake her hand after the service.
I remember Children’s Church and all the fun Bible songs we sang, and the Bible stories that Gene Wilhite and Laura Keys would tell us.
I remember going and watching the men of the church work in the evenings building our new church on Avenue I.
The first Children’s musical I remember being in was “Bullfrogs & Butterflies”.
I remember how hard it was to take that first step to go to the altar to make my pubic decision to trust Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and how the rest of the steps seemed so easy.
…. the feeling of joy after my baptism.
Don Ray Crook’s jr. high boys Sunday School class was filled with memories. Good and bad, lol.
How scared I was to bring my first sermon at First Baptist Goodlett, Texas (It lasted maybe 5 minutes, lol)
That is the short list, I could go on and on, but will stop there.
Terry … great memories and yea, I agree that those first sermons were SO scary.
I remember Sunday Roast EVERY week. I wish I could be bothered to start a tradition like that for my kids!
I remember the ladies having to wear hats in church when I was little.
I remember the strong voiced men belting out the old hymns and the way they would split in the chorus with the men taking one part and the women taking the other.
I remember a pianist we had once who was a FANTASTIC pianist and made the music come alive.
I remember preaching for the first time and going 20 minutes over on a 25 minute sermon. Still to this day there’s no clock in the world that can stop me preaching the Word of God when I get going!
I remember that often the preachers who came to our church didn’t want to clock-watch but also didn’t want to go over time, so Dad would sit in the front row and close his bible when it was time for them to wrap up. I now carefully avoid looking at people’s bibles in case they’re trying to give me a message
I remember that Sunday afternoons were a weird time. We wouldn’t be finished lunch until about 2 and had to leave for the evening service at 5:30 so we had to kill some time and Sunday afternoon TV was TERRIBLE.
I also remember that the evening meal on Sunday was a strange affair. We were still full from lunch but knew we’d never make it through the evening service if we didn’t eat before we went so we ate even though we weren’t really hungry.
Great post, Trey.
Peter … I tend to get wrapped up preaching at times, but my first sermon was a knee-knocker that lasted about 5 nervous minutes. I like your dad’s “code” to the preacher. I hope none of my members are reading this.
Apparently the ‘code’ was not uncommon in England back the.
My Mum used to use it when Dad was going on too long and she was done listening to him
I too was raised in a family that went to church each time the doors were open. There were really no reason to skip church when i was a kid, unless you were just really sick. I remember my dad telling me that NO matter what I did on Saturday night, I was going to get up and go to church on Sunday morning. I too thought that the sermons were dreadfully long, but i guess most kids think that as well. I remember getting to see my friends and was excited about going. I did not think about church as something that I had to do as a child, it was something that we did as a family. I never questioned why we went to church, I just knew that is what we did, and I liked it.
Really thought what I remeber about growing up in the Bovina church of Christ, was the closeness that we all had. We, like most church of Christ had some pot lucks on special occasions. But I really can not remeber a Sunday meal that we did not eat at someone elses home or someone was eating at our home. This is really how we all become so close. The kids would play, and the parents would sit around and visit. We all got to know each ohter on a personal level. When somehting was wrong with one of the members, we knew it by the way they acted or spoke, becasue we knew each other on that personal level. There were no “clicks” everyone was involved and everyone got involved. The church at Bovina did not have to have a “program” in place to get each other involved. At times I can remember when an Elder or a Deacon would show up at our home, just to have a cup of coffee or just to visit.
During my time going to the church in Bovina the membership was around 120 or so. Now because of deaths, and just people having to move out of a small town, the numbers have gone down to around 35 to 40. But those 35 or 40 have more Love for one another and for others than i have ever seen. It was one of the hardest things ever for my parents to move to Tulia, becasue they had to leave a loving church. But those members in Bovina still stay in touch with my parents on a weekly basis, thorugh phone calls, e-mails, letters and yes several have visited them here in Tulia. They have driven the 60 miles to see my parents to check on them.
When we go back at times to visit the chruch in Bovina, its like we have never left, we are welcomed in and are still loved more than ever. That is why my home church will always be the Bovina church. They only have 2 elders now, but those two guys lead in way of example.
I guess what I am getting at is that I remember two things. I remember going to bible class and whorship and all those things were great, and I learned a lot. But what I really remember is that after the last prayer was lead and we were all dismissed from the autitorium, that is really when our “church” really began. I miss that so much, and I know my parents do as well. So I have really great memories of “church” when I was growing up! Thank you to the members of the Bovina Church of Christ for your love, and keep going strong.
Great stories, Matt
I still have the pleasure of going to a church that is just like the one you described.
Pot roast is a must. Every Sunday. With mashed potatoes.
“Blood was everywhere.” LOL. I can identify. My dad would spank me at church and say, “It hurts me as bad as it hurts you.”
He told me the last time he spanked me, I said, “Then don’t use your hand.”
I don’t remember it because I passed out shortly after.
I also remember getting to sleep on the floor under the pew in front of my dad. I used to wake up and wave to some of my other friends sleeping on the floor. My dad would always grab me when I tried eating some of the gum stuck to the underside of the pew.
The women still wear dresses at my church. We still have week long revivals. And I never want it to change.
Gum on the bottom of the pew… that’s gross Scott!
I remember going to church every weekend…sometimes even when I was sick! Makes me feel bad now that due to my job I can’t attend every week.
What a great post! What a flood of memories! I remember watching dust floating through colored sunbeams, my daddy folding roses out of gum wrappers, singing in Sunday School, marching in during VBS, volleyball after church on summer nights, the peace of an empty church, the magic of a Christmas pagent and love. I remember a lot of love.
I have never marched during VBS. I missed out on that
I remember all the different churches I’ve lived “at” or busted so often I may as well have. I remember all the different hiding places I used that no one else seemed to find. I remember the people I haven’t seen in what seems like forever. Wow… Church has been about half if my life. That’s a lot to remember. I guess I can “blame” my dad for that though as he was the Preacher in my life for so long.
Blessings to all the preacher’s kids out there. They get a bad rap sometimes, but I know it’s from hanging out with the deacon’s kids.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHa. Trey, you’re hilarious.
But it’s probably true.
Awww… those are awesome memories. I also remember “the bubble gum man” who always had gum in his pockets for the kids… who was that, I can’t remember his name? Also remember eating the communion supplies and being surprised that they tasted just like crackers and juice!
And, loving to ask that Lewis guy (wasn’t that his name) about the “church for people who don’t believe in outerspace”.. remember how he wouldn’t sit by Stan anymore after he found out he worked for Texaco because they made fuel for rockets? 
Oh, and eyebrow lifting with Claudie was always the highlight of my Sunday!! Seems that I loved all the ‘special’ people…. could be why I ended up working in Special Ed! 
Ha!!
I hope my kids have some sweet memories about church some day!
Trina – I forgot about Lewis. He sure loved Troy, didn’t he. He would call him the, “cream of the crop.” And, how many times did we ask him to quote the first 3 chapters of Genesis?
I talked about Claudie in a sermon a while back. I told how he used to point at his watch when the sermon went long. The following Sunday I had a roll of smart-alecks that did that to me about 3/4 the way through my sermon.
Your grandmother was a big part of my memories too. She was an amazing bible class teacher.
Yes, Lewis Ford! He sure did love my “cream of the crop” brother. He also loved to call my grandma… she’d put the phone down and come back later and he’d still be talking!!!! I forgot about the watch thing!! My grandmother sure did make a difference ina LOT of 6th grade kids lives!!!
The gum man was Jack Phillips.
Lewis Ford, we used to go to his house and listen to his sermons about “The Church that Does Not Believe in Outer Space”. I remember once on my birthday a bunch from the youth group wrote on our driveway “happy birthday”. Lewis was walking by our house the next day and my dad was outside and Lewis said, “Just like a preacher, advertising his birthday to the whole world!”
Was it Jack Phililps? I was thinking Lawrence Ratton.. but it could have been Jack too. Lewis was such a funny character!!
OH! I also remember VBS… walking by those little roll out windows and picking up the homemade cookies that the little old ladies always made and passed out! I also remember riding the bus to VBS… that was a big thrill!!
I think you’re right it was Lawrence Ratton. Jack always had a rubber band in his hand and would pop us boys on the leg with it.
I remember that rubber band too!! Funny how all those memories come out once you “unlock” a few of them!!
Jack Phillips and his rubber band … ouch!
I loved looking back with everyone. I just had to write a few things about when I grew up. We first attended a really small building that had curtains to divide up the Bible classes. You could hear most all of the classes that way. I remember seeing my brother and others being baptized in a tank because we didn’t have a baptistry. Later on a new brick building was built with four class rooms no less. I remember getting a small card each week with a picture of the lesson, a short story about it and a memory verse. I can still visualize ladies who seemed very old teaching my class. We didn’t have air conditioning back then. We had card board type fans in the back of the pews with pictures of Jesus on them and local business advertisements on the back. Most everyone didn’t approve of pictures of Jesus because “we don’t really know how he looked” but we sure believed in those fans. I remember gospel meetings in the summer time outside the building and laying my head in my mother’s lap and looking at the stars. I remember my Daddy becoming an elder, and teaching Bible classes. If he saw me whispering he didn’t say a thing until later and then he would say you and your friend had lots to talk about this a.m. That was all it took, you could be sure I was quiet most of the time. I remember when I was baptized and I was so afraid of water that the preacher had to practically hold me under. I remember my mother’s funeral there, and my Dad’s and a sister, and my husband and so many more. How the people always brought food and helped in anyway they could. After all these years they still would, I’d need only to call.
Mom … great memories. I can’t imagine services without an air conditioner. And the fans with advertisements. That Amherst building holds a lot of memories for our family. Love you, Mom
Funny – even with good air conditioning, we still have some of those fans – mostly for older women who seem to be warmer than anyone else at times
Jo you and Lawrence and your family are some of my greatest memories during our days at San Jacinto. You were so loving to me and made me feel so much a part of your family. I don’t think I ever told you, but thank you!!!! I guess it is never too late to say it!
Oh, one more thing. We lived on a farm way back when… we had so many people come home with us. It was during the depression and people brought food with them. Our house was very small, so make shift tables were set up outside. My mother cooked fried chicken and one egg cakes and of course farm produce or canned from the garden vegetables. Once in awhile just a few people came, the men and guests ate first, and the women too if there was room. But kids had to wait. We mostly had the scraps of the fried chicken. This is not a complaint. With homemade bread and gravy who cared. It was a lesson I think. I didn’t make my children wait but I sure was glad that they learned not to push in front of everyone else and act like they were starving.
(1) I remember my parent’s dropping the collection plate on the marble floor wheneverythign was quite. (I got in a little trouble for busting out laughing.)
(2) I remember when my cousin read scripture and said “de-scrip-tles” instead of disciples. (got in a little trouble then too.)
(3) I remember in the middle of the sermon pausing only to hear a baby break wind that echoed in the high ceiling and I lost it laughing (along with everyone else.)
(4) I remember 6 months into preaching when I announced the wrong person had died!
(5) I remember the little old, 1st grade Bible class teach who, every Sunday, took a chance on me and told me I would do something good one day.
Oh, so many memories…
By the way, some of these are hilarious.
I heard a guy once read from Revelation and was supposed to read, “I hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,” instead he said, “I hate the practices of the Nickelodeon’s”
I guess he wasn’t a Nick Jr fan.
oh yeah, the food
for a while we got chocolate milk at the quickmart on the way.
and my grandmother made roast, potatoes and carrots every Sunday
Every Saturday night was special. We helped my dad “get his sermon ready”. He used a magnetic board – and we helped make his signs for Sunday. (WAAAAY before PowerPoint). We would place the letters on the tagboard strips. Then he would spray-paint over them. Then we got to help tape magnets on the back of each strip. After a quick supper, Mama sprinkled the clothes with starch and ironed, while we got our baths and Papa pin curled 3 heads of little girl hair.
I remember all the “singing” afternoons at Southside church of Christ, my Bible class teachers, the youth “meetings” at our house with all the fun games.
Broadway – I was a teenager. Loving Christian women teachers, Horace Coffman leading singing. Papa interpreting Joe Barnett’s sermons. Timothy and Dorcas club. Early morning youth devotionals at Big Don’s and later at Jim Moss’s and Carl Cope’s. Washing each others feet on a Sunday night devo. Mission trips and puppet stages. Learning memory verses for mission trips. Teaching 45 four and five year olds every Wednesday night all through High School.
Great memories. Loving support. Strong examples. Faithful mentors.
Hope I can share the same.
I hope everyone is beginning to see how valuable it was for our parents to take us to church and we should be doing the same with our children. Great comment.
–i had a bible with a brown cover and i would collect those shiny star stickers on the inside end-paper for bringing it every sunday.
–we were always among the last to leave the building, and usually the first there. when i visit, we still are.
–the church family was our real only family since we moved so often and always lived away from blood relations. i’ve collected a lot of grandparents and aunts/uncles over the years.
–i remember in youth group circling up for a prayer and the none-too-subtle maneuverings to stand next to the person you wanted to hold clammy hands with.
–people in youth group dating in turns, almost cyclic, because they couldn’t date outside the church.
–sunday evenings after, meeting at mazzios or braums, or seeing everyone after services running errands at wal-mart.
–my mom’s shoulder is still the most comfortable place to lean into and sleep during services. and the only way you didn’t get in trouble for sleeping during services growing up.
–i still straighten to attention when i hear someone snap their fingers during services. the size of the building or congregation doesn’t matter. my dad had the loudest snap.
–my dad would lead singing (lead anything needed doing) and he is tone-deaf. i was always embarrassed; and especially horrified when he would lead ‘heavenly sunlight’ in particular. now i treasure his willingness and dedication.
–i grew up with men and women in their military uniforms, that was dressing up. a return to the bible belt meant dresses, but i refused to wear nylons.
—someone mentioned folding the arms just so, to hide holding hands, i remember that. this was only made easier when we would crowd as many of us teens on a pew as we could.
—no matter where we’d go to church it seemed the carpet was maroon.
–i loved reading all the others’ memories; some so similar to my own…others humorous and/or touching. thanks.
Great memories. Youth groups were full of love weren’t they. We had so many “dating couples” from our youth group growing up.
BTW: My dad can’t carry a tune in the bucket either and he knew it. Yet he sings loud because he loves the Lord.
1 Being excited about what our Sunday schoolteacher would be teaching.
2 Getting to use the felt board with the hand made characters.
3 Watching the sun shine through our stained glass windows in our Lutheran Church.
4 Finally tasting the bread and wine of my first communion.
5 My Dad asking me to help take up offering.
6 Being an alcolyte.
7 Smelling the wonderful pipe smoke from the men after service.
8 Changing out of my Church clothes and sitting down to eat Mom’s fried chicken.
Great memories.
A big welcome to another, Trey. Are you a 3rd?
1. The singing! Has always been one of my favorite things about church.
2. Daddy having Sunday dinner ready when we got home (he never went when I was a child). Mmm, could he fry some good chicken.
3. Working on the Joy Bus… leading singing, teaching lessons, and even door-knocking on the weekends.
4. VBS and the songs we only sang then: “Booster,” “3 Wandering Jews,” and “There Was a Wise Old King.”
Joy bus ministry … that was SO HUGE back in the late 70′s. Every church had a huge bus (or 10) that they picked people up with.
Speaking of old VBS songs, there are so many of the old favorites that are just a tad weird (ie Booster Booster).
I remember wanting so badly to get to sit right next to the preacher at the children’s lesson, that I RAN to the front when it was time. I thought the preacher was Jesus. What can I say, I was four and a half years old.
Later, I learned his name was Bill, not Jesus. Talk about disappointment….;)
Ba ha ha … made me laugh!
Hey Trey,
I found you courtesy of my amazing and fabulous little brother, Peter Pollock. Love this article and the comments – great to see so many good memories of discipline, commitment, people believing in things and caring about each other.
I hope lots of parents who are struggling with getting their kids to church read this and are encouraged not to give up – those seeds are precious. And I hope lots of the world’s cynics who see discipline and commitment as oppression and imprisonment will read it and see the joy and freedom running through all these posts.
Just one quick memory from me – the day I didn’t feel like going to church so pretended I was ill. Mum, in her incredible, infinite wisdom let me stay in bed. If I thought church was long and boring, being in bed at home alone when I wasn’t really ill (and not disobedient enough to get up and play!) was SO MUCH WORSE. Especially when I then had to stay in bed when they got back and listened to them eating the delicious-smelling Sunday roast downstairs… (I’m sure I got some, but a plate of it alone in bed while everyone else is downstairs laughing and chatting isn’t quite the same!)
That was the last time I tried that ruse! Thanks, mum and dad, for introducing us to God at such a young age – it has really served us well!
Jennie,
I am really enjoying getting to know you brother. Such a good guy. I wish he and I lived a little closer where we could actually meet. I like his accent … I’m sure he hasn’t noticed mine at all.
You make a fantastic point that didn’t even cross my mind (not unusual for me). This post and the comments ought to be a great testimony of why our children need to be in church.
Very nice to meet you.
Trey, I’m going to write one day about your accent.
Possibly even this Sunday.
Jennie, Thanks for the kind words! I don’t remember you ever faking being ill to miss church?
My parents told stories of an older gentleman leading a communion prayer for “The Fruit of the Loom” not once but twice.
I still smile every time I hear the old standbys of “guide, guard, and direct us” and “the next appointed time” during a prayer.
I remember being amazed that my grandfather could pray in the “King James Version speak.”
I remember every Halloween the youth group would have a haunted house in the basement and that I would never go down there.
We always laugh to ourselves when we sing “Are you sowing the seed of the King, Dumb Brother?” or when the song leader says “Lets all stand and sing, ‘We Bow Down.’” Or when he leads “It Won’t Be Very Long” before the sermon.
I’ve still never seen the beginning of a Super Bowl…
Funny stuff… I still hear “guide, guard and direct us,” and other old standbys. But the Super Bowl comment was the one that made me laugh.
It took me a long time to understand that work that Tuffy always prayed, “Tryin’tothankyou”.
I was one of those who never missed either…if the doors were open, I was there. Seriously, even in junior high my school was held in our church, so I practically lived there
I remember flannel graphs when I was little. I actually had my own at home and would make up stories. (We actually used this with the kids at our retreat here last weekend-it took me back!!)
I remember timing certain elder’s prayers to see who had the best record
I also remember many a pot roast being eaten on Sunday afternoon-complete with carrots and potatoes. I still LOVE that smell. Fried chicken was sometimes on the menu, too. I remember when we had Sunday evening church and we would all end up at Mazzio’s afterwards.
I remember in junior high that we were in a separate building which they let us paint the walls creatively and have our own plastic chairs with our name on it, which we also got to decorate. Looking back, that is pretty strange and unique, but we thought it was fun!
I’ve gone to camp since I was 7, and those are some of my favorite memories. I love the friendships created and how close we came as a group. I also loved all of the retreats, mission trips, devos, lock-ins (where someone ALWAYS fell into the baptistry), Work Camps, Soul Lift, hiking trips, and so many other great memories of being together. I remember there being encouragement cards on the back of the pew and writing many a note on them. I remember at the age of 12 when I was baptized the love and encouragement I received from my church family (I also remember that I wore glasses at the time, and so the congregation looked like one big blur!)
I was very blessed to grow up in a church who encouraged and empowered me to use my gifts as a teenager. I am very grateful for that! I think the time spent in the youth group time laid a huge foundation for me and my calling-probably why I ended up back interning for free and love youth ministry so much now…or wait, maybe it is the teenagers
Thanks for the trip down memory lane…
Camps were a powerful part of the younger generation’s spiritual growth. Thanks for sharing all your good memories.
It seems like the “out of the ordinary” times are what we remember most.
I remember the time the ministers son was taken out while he called out “help! She’s going to kill me”
Any one else remember a time where communion was dropped? Is’nt that one of the unforgivable sins?
And I had forgotten the sand box lessons.
Thanks for stirring up memories
To Shane – It’s never to late to say Thanks! Thank you for telling me. Your memories and Trina’s and Trey’s bring many back to me, since we all have so many of the same. We loved working with all of the young people and for so long. I remember especially the times you stayed with us while your parents were doing mission work in S.Africa. You got very home sick but we had fun and you stuck it out. I hope you are doing well. We love you and yours.!
After reading all of these remarks, I’m thinking this would be great in a book. Hope someone will follow my suggestion. Love all these remarks, which reminds me of a couple of funny happenings. Growing up, I visisted an aunt, uncle and cousins quite often. They lived on a farm between Quitaque and Turkey, Tx. My uncle led singing @ church. ALWAYS they made preparation every Saturday for Sunday. My aunt cooked the most wonderful meals, either roast or fried chicken and all the trimmings. They had a visiting preacher every Sunday that spent Sunday afternoons with them. Many of their friends were invited.
We ate, sang gospel music, & visited all afternoon. This was a day devoted to worshipping God and fellowship, and that was ALL you ever did on Sunday. One of those Sunday mornings, before church, my uncle announced he was going to gather the eggs. In astonishment, I asked “do the chickens lay eggs on Sunday?” Needless to say, I am still teased about this.
Also, lots of cute things happened teaching bible classes to the little ones. One of the little boys repeating his memory verse from Psalms announced it was from ‘Possums.’ His initials are M.T.
He probably would say, “I don’t remember that.” I think we all can identify from so many of these comments. Love them!
Trey, just realized the picture of the boy in the pew looks like my grandson, Trey, (Lisa L.’s brother) when he was about that age – grown now, and on his own in Brooklyn, NY. And yes, he is a III.
1. I remember my dad would sometimes lead the singing. I always got a giggle when he would pick a song that was a little too high for his bass voice.
2. The food! If any of you ever go to services at the church in Childress, go when they are having a luncheon afterward. The folks there definitely know how to cook.
3. VBS was always special to me. I enjoyed going as a kid (especially for cookies and kool-aid) and also when I got to help teach.
4. I also remember that big beautiful tree out front and how the kids would go play around it after services.
Wow…at first I didn’t think I had that many memories, but then they just all started flooding in!
I’ll start with 5 from the church I went to before I was ten, and end with five from the church I began attending when I was 12. (They were VERY different experiences.)
- Being forced to wear angel wings made out of fiber glass during a Christmas play.
- My sister and I sitting behind elderly men in the service and laughing during worship at their “pillow butts.” (I was maybe 8?)
- Hating Palm Sunday because everyone in my children’s church class would sing “Shout Savannah” instead of “Shout Hosanna” during the songs.
- Singing “Friends Are Friends Forever” with the kid’s choir before my family moved.
- Being pressured to say “the sinner’s prayer” by my children’s church teacher when I was six so that I could be baptized with the rest of my class. My true conversion did not come until I was 17.
Flashforward……
- All of the leaders always came to church at least an hour early, and so their children (of which I am one) would sit in the lobby and play cards for ages. It was frowned upon by many, which is why we eventually changed B.S. to Bologna Sauce and Drug Dealer to Pixie Stick Dealer. We thought we were being clever.
- Sitting next to a boy (Oh no! Loose woman!) in the youth group session when we talked about sex and lust. That boy is now my husband…
- Piling 20 kids onto 1 couch and 1 sofa every Sunday.
- For the first year, we met in a hotel. One time, an Irish Clogging performance was happening overhead…
- Going to Souper Salad after church for like, 3 years in a row. Blaaaah.
Ahhh, church kids.
Savannah … I enjoyed your memories. It’s amazing how we remember things when we start talking about them. “Shout Savannah” made me laugh. (sorry)
OH OH OH!
And…how could I forget this?!
The church I went to when I was young would, as a congregation, FLAP THEIR ARMS like wings whenever we sang, “I’ll Fly Away.
[palmface]