5 Benefits of Attending Two Different Churches (Start here!)
How we balance a Baptist Service and a Catholic Mass every week
Before we start, what on Earth is a Picayune?
A picayune is a lesser-value Spanish coin minted in Mexico and used throughout the Spanish territories in the early United States (before it was the United States). Even after the French later won Louisiana, this “one-sixteenth of a Piece of Eight” was still circulated throughout New Orleans and surrounding areas.
Not only was it a coin, but it became the name of New Orleans’ oldest-running newspaper, which cost a reader one picayune. First published in 1837, The Picayune was eventually merged with the Times-Democrat to become Times-Picayune. Sadly, the paper and corresponding website, Nola.com, were bought out and combined with The New Orleans Advocate in 2019. (The name is so ridiculous now: The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate.)
TLDR: It’s a cute play on “two sides of the same coin,” but noting our New Orleans heritage. #historylesson
I know you’re you’re thinking: 2 churches? Every Sunday?! Well, we aren’t perfect, but that’s our goal as a family. Waking up on a Sunday morning and preparing ourselves for half a day in church services can get tiring, and it’s usually our one day to sleep in past 7:30 AM.
My husband and I first attend the 9:00 AM mass at the local Catholic church. Then we buckle up and travel half an hour to the Baptist church I found refuge in upon moving to the area.
We are blessed with very knowledgeable and intentional pastors, and we look forward to attending both, even with their differences.
Benefits
We get two Bible studies in one day! Sometimes, I feel like I’ve been too far from God during the week, and I want a longer sermon. There’s no way to “catch up,” but I enjoy connecting to Christ and devoting my undivided attention to Him on my Sunday mornings. We get to meditate twice as much on His word.
Our experience and knowledge grow as we open our minds and souls to new ways of worship. Neither of us is perfectly comfortable at the other church, but we are learning and adjusting gradually. The sense of not belonging fades over time. This experience can help ease our negative views of others and other religions, and provide a deeper understanding of each other.
Having people to fellowship with at each place grows our social circles. When there are events to attend or prayers to be prayed, we have a community full of people to whom we can reach out.
Both of us feel fulfilled, for ourselves and each other. We can worship in the way each of us is most comfortable, which helps to bring us closer to God. Being next to my husband at church is the warmest feeling I can have. We were married together in Christ, therefore we should study His word as one. We endure our insecurities together and are stronger and more secure afterward.
Every once in a while, both my pastor and his priest will preach on the same verses or topic! You can really feel the Holy Spirit speaking to you when He has the pastor reiterate the priest’s homily from just an hour before. It truly is a special and humbling moment to soak in.
The most important thing I want to make clear is that this process takes patience and respect for your spouse.
We do not talk about converting each other.
We support and educate each other respectfully, not defensively.
Going to church and worshipping the Lord’s grace together is the best thing we can possibly do for our marriage.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
-Colossians 3:16, NIV