Religious Field Study This paper will compare similarities and differences between the Sonrise Baptist Church,

The Adventure Church, and Congregation Kol Ami. Each of these churches had a unique feel, and I liked the peaceful, calming feeling at Congregation Kol Ami (a Jewish synagogue) best. The Jewish synagogue was the only church out of the three that had an actual chapel or sanctuary where the service was conducted. The feel of the rooms where the other churches held their Sunday services felt like a giant multipurpose room. The Jewish congregation was seated in a half circle, thus creating a welcoming feeling and an intimate closeness to the rabbi. The Sonrise and Adventure churches had triple the amount of seating compared to the Jewish synagogue, but the oblong seating arrangement caused a disconnected feeling, and the pastors were significantly farther away from the congregation. In fact, the pastors stood behind pulpits when given their sermons compared to the rabbi who stood by a table and frequently walked close to the congregation (about three feet away). Families sat together in the Christian congregations, whereas the Jewish congregation was composed entirely of adults. The Christian services were conducted in English and used PowerPoint presentations. The Jewish worship service was done in Hebrew. Both Christian churches began their service with singing for approximately 30 minutes, followed by a 30-minute sermon by the pastor. The Jewish service consisted of lots of chanting and a philosophical discussion by the rabbi. The chanting was melodic. Each member of the Jewish congregation used a prayer book in order to participate in the service, and no musical instruments were used. The Sonrise Baptist Church had a band that somehow managed to create a soft, worshipful tone. The Adventure Church also had a band, except the music was extremely loud and distracting. The Adventure Church was

the only church to administer the sacrament. Offerings were collected during the Christian services. The manner in which the congregation dressed for each church was also different. Members of The Adventure Church dressed extremely casually-- Levis. The members of the Sonrise Baptist Church wore casual attire or dresses. The Jewish dress code was business casual (dress pants and nice shirt), and some men wore skull caps. Each church had different styles of art. The Adventure Church had no art displays. The Sonrise Baptist Church had a prominent stained-glass window featuring Jesus in their main worship room. The Jewish church had stained-glass windows in the lobby and on the cabinet doors where the Torah was stored. One classroom also had glass etchings upon the door. Paintings depicting Jewish lifestyles also adorned the walls of the hallway. The Christian pastors used the Bible in their sermons and focused on teaching a principle which would help their congregation become closer to God, while the Jewish rabbi focused on two possible interpretations of a story in the Torah and gave the impression that they have no clear cut doctrinal interpretations. This assignment gave me a glimpse into the various ways people worship. I was profoundly touched by their desire to be at church and choice to include God in their lives. I sensed a feeling of peace permeating the souls of the congregation as each service concluded. Worshiping God in various manners truly seems to renew the soul.