“For us Catholics, the Eucharist is what brings us to church. The readings from the Bible are OK, but we’ve heard the same stories over and over and over.”
Well I don’t pretend to speaking for all Protestants but what brings me to church is the fellowship with other believers and with Christ. These things that you call “readings from the Bible” are what we call sermons. Yes, we all know what the Bible says but it is nice to hear the Pastor read from a passage and then maybe explain how it might affect our lives in a personal way. Our Pastor has even been known to take questions from time to time DURING a sermon. On top of that, at my church we have a mens Bible Study Group, and a Womens Bible Study Group on alternating Teusdays and of course the usual Wednesday evening Prayer meeting.
How many times can you hear the same message about loving your neighbor as yourself? I guess until the world listens.
Starting with those of us that CLAIM (self included) to follow Jesus Christ.
>>These things that you call “readings from the Bible” are what we call sermons.<<
Nooooo, those things you call “Sermons” we call Homilies.
Readings from the Bible are just that, readings from the Bible.
We get one Old Testament, one New Testament and a Gospel reading at each Holy Mass then the Priest talks. We even use the Psalms as responses to prayers!
Amazing isn’t it?
**but what brings me to church is the fellowship with other believers **
Sorry, but fellowship doesn’t get you to heaven. Belief in Jesus Christ, Our Savior does.
This is a major difference as Catholics go to Church for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which includes a whole lot of scripture and readings that are all tied together.
Fellowship is done in the church hall afterward over coffee, donuts and gooey butter cake or cappuccino and brioche (depends on where you are).
At a Catholic mass there are three readings from scripture....or the Bible.....THEN the priest gives a homily, which seeks to show us how those readings apply to our daily lives. So do you call the reading of scripture from the Bible aloud in church a sermon? We differentiate between the two. Readings and homily.