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SemperReformanda said:
WOW!

What did the audience, er, congregation do while waiting for 15 minutes? Somehow I don't think most of them were reading through some Psalms or meditating on their need for God's mercy and grace.

I will pray for you as you find a church home to go to. Will it be hard to find one where you are? Is the Japanese-speaking Presbyterian one still an option?

Well, I think most people just chatted casually, if I remember correctly. But I really don't remember it that well now. It was just bizarre.

Yes, I have visited that church several more times, and I have almost made up my mind to make it my choice. The language is a struggle (big struggle), but I can get copies of the sermons which helps. From what I can tell, I really believe that the teaching is on a solid Reformed foundation. Also, the service is very structured which I like. They actually take the offering and make the announcements at the end of the service which I think helps keep the focus during the service on God. The announcements are all printed and handed out, then the sheet is read. This sort of keeps the announcer from ad-libbing. The hymns are all from the hymnal without any contemporary songs (I do enjoy contemporary hymns/songs, but I don't mind a church that stays with traditional songs). But, so far, I don't the meaning of what I'm singing most of the time. Hopefully, my vocabulary will increase quickly though.

John