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Archiver > BRETHREN > 2011-01 > 1295274835


From: Iris Wilde <>
Subject: Re: [BRE] appropriate behavior and dress for visitors to an OldGerman Baptist Church
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2011 08:33:55 -0600
References: <AANLkTin8tfYPPO6utP7N0p567jhuJhUO8CrTuZ3xj3LN@mail.gmail.com><92DC4FF6A117A44E89DDC0065DC7158619741501@IU-MSSG-MBX106.ads.iu.edu>
In-Reply-To: <92DC4FF6A117A44E89DDC0065DC7158619741501@IU-MSSG-MBX106.ads.iu.edu>


Thanks to all who have entered some information on this. I feel a whole lot
better about attending a service now. I think now I will be brave enough to
try it. Last summer I parked for a little while outside the church but
didn't feel comfortable enough to go to services without knowing dress
expectations. Still, it was nice to visit a church that I went to briefly as
a child and even returned to the basement as an adult for my Uncle's
funeral dinner per my cousin's very strong request. The funeral services
were held outside.I prefer outside funeral services to inside. I can still
remember my Aunt's was held outside as well and I was only five then. I will
watch what side the women enter on and enter on the same before I go in.
Hopefully, I wont feel to much like a sore thumb but even if I do, it will
only be for a few hours. Thanks everyone! I'll let you know how my
experiences go this summer. My Best, Iris Daughter of Ira D. Cripe

On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 7:55 AM, Shuman, Lois A <> wrote:

> A small word of caution - I would not count on the women sitting on the
> left side of the meeting house at EVERY congregation. At my congregation
> (Beech Grove, Indiana), the women sit on the right side. It depends on
> several factors and can vary from one meeting house to another, often based
> nearest the baby room. I can think of about half where the women sit on the
> right side. (smile) For the meeting house you mentioned, I *think* I
> remember the women sitting on the left, but it's been a few years since I
> attended services at that congregation.
>
> Lois Shuman, OGBB member
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Iris Wilde [mailto:]
> Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 11:00 PM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [BRE] appropriate behavior and dress for visitors to an Old
> German Baptist Church
>
> It will be spring or summer before I can attend. However, I will post about
> this experience. It looks like you and I have a lot of the same relatives.
> I
> sure appreciate all you have posted. This really helps me. My Best, Iris
> Daughter of Ira D. Cripe
>
> On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 5:49 PM, NCripe <> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Iris,
> >
> > Now that it is clear to me that it is an Old German Baptist Church you're
> > wanting to visit, I'll give you my input, based on having grown up German
> > Baptist. Some of what respondants so far have said is valid, but as a
> > visitor and a non-member of the church (a "worldly" person as they see
> it),
> > you have far more leeway in how you dress than what some people think.
> Head
> > coverings are not expected of outsiders--they are considered part of the
> > "uniform" of the church and as such, a symbol of belonging to it. Unless
> > you belong to another congregation that wears head coverings and this is
> > what you usually wear in church, it seem artificial for you to wear one.
> >
> > The main guideline: simply dress conservatively. A modest dress or
> skirt.
> > Below the knees isn't necessary, but near the knees would be good.
> Don't
> > wear sleeveless or a low neckline.
> >
> > Seating is pretty strictly gender-segregated. The only exception to this
> > is if you are with a male visitor(s). Then it is okay for males and
> females
> > to sit together towards the back of the men's section.
> >
> > If you go alone or with another female, you should enter the left side of
> > the church to sit with the women (as far as I have ever known, females
> > ALWAYS sit on the left ). Sit up a few rows (say five or six) from the
> > back, in the middle section of the pews. If you sit all the way at the
> > back, you'll find yourself in the "young folks" section (14-20 or so year
> > olds), where plenty of adolescent, restless behavior goes on. If you sit
> to
> > the far lefthand side, you'll likely be surrounded by young mothers with
> > babies and toddlers who may need to get up to visit the baby room.
> >
> > The best thing to do, actually, is to arrive a half hour or more early
> and
> > introduce yourself to a friendly female face as a visitor. Ask them
> where
> > it would be best for you to sit and if there is an extra hymn book you
> > could use during the service. (They don't typically stow them in/on the
> > pews (benches) like they do in mainstream churches, though they are
> likely
> > to have extras stashed somewhere that they'll be delighted to lend you).
> > Bible readings will be from the King James version, so bring along a KJ
> > Bible.
> >
> > Visitors are always very welcome at regular Sunday services, and as long
> as
> > you aren't dressed in sexually revealing clothing, how you are dressed
> isn't
> > that important. Modest and unshowy is the name of the game.
> >
> > There will be kneel-on-the-floor prayers that go on a long time. A long
> > individualized prayer first, followed by the Lord's Prayer--both early in
> > the service and towards the end. As a visitor/non-member you are
> absolutely
> > not obligated to get down on the floor. Simply bowing your head is
> > perfectly appropriate.
> >
> > Hymns are "lined." Even though everyone has the words written in the
> hymn
> > book in front of them, they still adhere to the tradition of times when
> > illiteracy was more common and/or people didn't have access to a hymn
> book.
> > Each stanza is recited aloud by a deacon, then one of the deacons will
> > begin the singing (often there are multiple melodies possible for any
> given
> > hymn, and the hymn book has no musical notation, so deacons get to decide
> > which tune to use) and then the congregation joins in. That stanza ends,
> > the next is recited, and then the singing resumes. All the way through,
> > every hymn that way (part of the reason these services go on for two
> > hours!).
> >
> > The typical Sunday morning service goes like this: a reading from the
> Old
> > Testament, followed by singing, followed by 20-30 minutes of "opening"
> > remarks preaching by one minister, followed by a 1st set of prayers, then
> > another hymn, then a New Testament reading (named by the preacher who
> will
> > take the main sermon duties that day), then another hymn, then nearly an
> > hour of preaching based on that reading, then more prayers, then a hymn
> (I
> > think), then 15 minutes or so of closing remarks made by a third
> preacher.
> > Then a final hymn before dismissal. It's been about 30 years since I've
> > sat through a GB service, so I may not be remembering exactly the order
> of
> > when the hymns come in, but I think I've got it about right.
> >
> > Hope this is helpful!
> >
> > By the way, the beard is encouraged but not obligatory for GB men. The
> > tendancy is for more conservative men to wear them and more liberal ones
> to
> > not. This often correlates with younger men being unbearded and older
> > bearded, but not necessarily. Beard-wearing is unrelated to marriage
> > status, at least in my lifetime. I've known single men GB men with
> beards
> > and plenty of married ones without. Sometimes men go years without one
> and
> > then grow one, but never vice versa. The only men who are definitely, as
> > far as I know without exception expected to wear a beard are preachers.
> If
> > you get elected to the ministry and you are unbearded, you grow one!
> >
> > There is some correlation between perceived piety and beard-wearing, a
> bit
> > like the perception of greater piety in a woman if she wears
> smaller-print,
> > dark-color fabrics, dark stockings, dress length far below the knees,
> flat,
> > black shoes, and doesn't poof her hair up in front.
> >
> > Hope this is helpful!
> >
> > Nancy Cripe [descendant of Daniel Cripe, John Perry Cripe, Henry Cripe,
> > Jacob Cripe, Daniel Cripe, Jr.; Daniel Gripe, Sr., Jacob Greib (my
> > gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-grandfather)]
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: brethren-request <>
> > To: brethren <>
> > Sent: Wed, Jan 12, 2011 3:54 pm
> > Subject: BRETHREN Digest, Vol 6, Issue 9
> >
> >
> >
> > essage: 1
> > ate: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:01:26 -0600
> > rom: Iris Wilde <>
> > ubject: Re: [BRE] Gospel Messenger Offering - 1889
> > o: Bob Harter <>,
> > essage-ID:
> > <AANLkTimnNK-tAd+MKaRzpQujjc98-R+<AANLkTimnNK-tAd%2BMKaRzpQujjc98-R%>
> <AANLkTimnNK-tAd%2BMKaRzpQujjc98-R%<AANLkTimnNK-tAd%252BMKaRzpQujjc98-R%>
> >
> > >
> > ontent-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> > This really helped me! I will wear a regular over the knees dress for the
> > ervice. The men at this church wear black hats and wear beards to show
> they
> > re married, I understand. I don't remember, however, my cousin ever
> having
> > beard. My Uncle had a wonderful white beard. The women wore little caps
> on
> > heir head and dresses. They set on opposite sides of the church. It will
> be
> > nteresting to see what the service is like now if it's ok that I attend.
> :)
> > 'll give it a try. Thanks so much for the information, Iris, Daughter of
> > ra D. Cripe
> >
> >
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>
>
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>
> ------------------------
> Search the Archives at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/BRETHREN
> ------------------------
> Support Our Sponsoring Agency
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> For further information contact Ron McAdams mailto:
> ------------------------
>
> -------------------------------
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