Note: This post has been contributed.
If you are planning on going to church for the first time, you may be feeling nervous. After all, trying anything for the first time can cause such a reaction. Plus, you may feel that you are going to be surrounded by lots of people who know what they are doing, and you could feel out of place. There is no need to feel this way, but here are a few tips that can help you to relax and enjoy the experience, as you should.
Research churches in your area – The first thing you should do is take a look online and search for spirit filled churches near me. You should be able to learn about all of the churches in your local area. This is helpful because you can pick a church that appeals to you the most and makes you feel at ease. You should also be able to find the mass schedule here. There may even be an online community that enables you to connect with other churchgoers before you attend.
Dress appropriately – In some places, people wear their Sunday finest to go to church, whereas others allow casual clothing. Check out this beforehand to be sure.
Arrive on time – Do your best to arrive on time because this will make you feel much more comfortable. You can find a seat at the back or somewhere in the middle if this helps. If you do arrive late, don’t panic. You can still enter the church, but sit at the back and make as little noise as possible. You don’t want to disturb others worshipping.
Follow others – Once you arrive at church and the mass gets underway, you will find that you had nothing to worry about to begin with. This is because you can easily just follow what everyone else does. There are not going to be any awkward moments whereby you expected to lead the way, so don’t worry. You will notice at certain parts people will kneel. However, for those who have trouble kneeling, they simply remain seated when the congregation kneels, so you can do this.
Collection plate – Should you leave money in the collection plate? If you feel that you enjoyed your spiritual experience and were well led, it is nice to leave money in the plate. However, you are not expected to do so and you can pass by the plate without leaving anything. The choice is yours.
So there you have it: some helpful tips for anyone that is going to church for the first time. If you follow the advice that has been given above, you should feel much more relaxed and confident about your experience. There is nothing to worry about – you are going to be with friends.