Great liturgical service, and for that I would give it 2 stars, but...
1) It is a Protestant Church with An HOUR long sermon message that is nothing more then a typical protestant self help message (nothing new, nothing you can not get and hear from most any community center or religious construct - but to stomach an hour of it....)
2) The congregation is very arrogant and typically unfriendly to new members (however, to their credit their Friday night service does tend to do better in this regard and this maybe because there is less people in attendance.)
3) As to their arrogance - this centers around the basis that they know something of Judaism beyond the rest of the Church as well as that they believe the end of days deals in Jews and gentiles becoming Messianic (meaning, that which is like themselves in belief and liturgical construct.) In this they believe they will grow in becoming the dominate force within Israel and one day lead the world in worship of what they understand and define to be the Messianic Age. This arrogance is further compounded by the fact that they may know something of the Jewish High Holidays over and above that of regular Church going Christians and thus exercise a knowledge base on this topic, Biblically, that other Christians may know nothing about. Thus the inquiring mind in their curiosity will stroke the egos of the laity of this congregation as they are ever happy to teach all about what they believe and adhere to, further, making them feeling savvy in what they understand in their Biblical understanding.
4) Instructors in new members classes will inform you about the new education you will receive (re-education?)
5) The lead Pastor/Rabbi sometimes scorns those with formal academic backgrounds in 'Theology', 'Biblical Studies', and the like. He even states, not regularly but sometimes, that people such as these are not needed or welcomed (both in new member classes and in sermon messages.)
6) In a personal conversation with one of the right hand men of this congregation's lead Pastor/Rabbi it was expressed out of the mouth of this leader that he does not adhere to doctrine and philosophy, rather, that HIS beliefs are TRUTH. This is arrogance at its core as this deals NOT in a belief that one's assertions are simply true and or correct, rather in this instance it is dealing with one's presupposition in belief as being truth (a form of absolutism in making one's self a mini 'Pope'.) Further, it makes it difficult to hold discourse on knew thought and or differing views with someone like this as they, in their mind, are already correct. Since this is one of the top leaders and greatly honored their, to disagree with him is to be likely faced with reproach by other members of leadership.
7) From a senior member and leader of this congregation (different leader than previously mentioned in the above point, point 6), it was relayed that the reason academics or those well read and exuding great understanding are not welcome by leadership is that they get to 'Profound' Biblically. With the leadership feeling that it must comment and show understanding on all matters. Thus if one gets to 'Profound' they do not know what to do and in response will come against the individual(s). Since most congregants are not academic or well read, unable to get into the Biblical narrative with any sort of depth beyond what the average individual has heard all their life, this sort of behavior on the part of leadership goes unnoticed. read more