Many kinds of Baptist
Baptists are the largest Protestant family in the US. The Southern Baptist Convention is the biggest denomination, alongside the American Baptist Churches USA, the historically Black National Baptist Convention and Progressive National Baptist Convention, and thousands of independent Baptist churches. Every Baptist congregation governs itself, so styles vary a lot, from hymnbooks and a robed choir to a praise band.
Sunday school
Many Baptist churches start with Sunday school for all ages, about an hour before the main service. Adult classes are small Bible studies, and visitors are welcome to join one: it is often the friendliest part of the morning.
The worship service
- A welcome, often with visitors invited to stand or fill in a card (it's fine to stay seated).
- Congregational singing, choir music or a worship band, and prayer.
- The offering.
- The sermon, the center of the service: usually 30 to 45 minutes, preached straight from the Bible.
- The invitation: a closing hymn during which people are invited to come forward to commit their life to Christ, ask to be baptized, join the church or pray with the pastor. Nobody will pressure you to come forward.
In many Black Baptist churches, worship is more expressive, with call and response during the sermon, and services run longer.
The Lord's Supper and baptism
Baptists observe the Lord's Supper as a memorial of Christ's death, usually monthly or quarterly, with bread and small cups of grape juice passed along the pews. It is generally open to believers who have been baptized. Baptism is for believers only, by full immersion in a baptistery, often visible behind the pulpit.
During the week
Wednesday evening is a traditional time for Bible study, prayer meeting and youth group, often with a family supper beforehand.