Because pews don't have drink holders
CLEVELAND -- The Rev. Dan Smith uses an extremely unorthodox way to preach the Christian gospels. He wants to attract young people turned off by conventional churches.
NewsChannel5's Ted Henry reported Smith will do almost anything to convince those turned off by religion that being spiritual can be cool. He wants to attract the unchurched.
"I have some people who haven't been to church in 10 to 15 years or forever, saying man that this is cool," Smith said.
Another interesting element is where the church -- Momentum Christian Church -- is located.
The congregation meets at the Cinemark movie theater on Canal Road.
"A lot of time when you walk into a church it feels kind of solemn, but when you walk into a theater, it feels like something exciting is about to happen,” Smith said.
Momentum Church is new to Cleveland and people are finding a wide array of activities for kids, teens and adults.
"I am a younger person, I like a more upbeat type of church," one member said.
Another member said, "We've been here ever since it started. It's different. It’s not like being at church."
...Some might consider this approach a bold church experiment because of everything -- a movie house, video games, Hip Hop, comedy, plus the teachings of Christ. But Smith thinks it is his life's passion to bring what he has to offer to both the unchurched and the disillusioned.
I wonder if they play trailers like "Jesus - Coming Soon! The Second Coming, the sequel we have all been waiting for, this times he's here to judge."
Known as 
Hey with clown masses, nuns strummin the guitar, John Paul II presiding over masses with naked pygmies, nothing suprises me!
The church since Vatican II has not become an instrument of God, of worship or a mechanism to obtain salvation ,but humanism at its finest (JPII prided himself on being a humanist, something that was heretical at best before the Second Vatican Council) and the worship of man and material and donations is the driving force
God pray for our church
Hey John, I think its a protestant pastor..?
Swing and a miss, John.
Once again we see people bashing Vatican II for our problems. This is not a Catholic Church in the article.
"It's not like being at Church." I'll say!
The main difference between this and Church is that with Church you go to worship God. When you go to "Momentum" you go to worship entertainment.
Think of what attendance would be like today if Jesus had provided entertainment for His guests at the Last Supper. The "Stones" for Masses for those who tithe?
Well, it's not like he couldn't raise the Stones up to be children of Abraham, too.
I agree with Andy. But I do believe that the post-conciliar Church has been responsible for so many of todays problems. How often is that nebulous "spirit of Vatican II" used to rationalize the novelties in the liturgy and the sacramental life of the Church, and the actual documents never read?
There ar so many Bible study classes offered to the laity--why not a course to study the documents of Vatican II? After all, V-II has had an enormous effect on todays Church.
This is the pastor that performed the "Baby Got Book" video, popular on YouTube last summer. Worship in a movie house is not my cup of tea. But he does seem to be filled with joy to share the Good News.
I read the blog-post title and immediately flashed to the Baptist churches of my childhod, the Bible Church and Presbyterian Church of my younger and recent adulthood, etc.
On the backs of pews you find teeeny, tiny cup holders for communion cups (emptied, of course--it's risky to use them before communion is received.)
As regards do-the-"liturgy"-yourselves churches: I was at a Presbyterian women's retreat recently that ended with communion at the Sunday morning worship service. As a Catholic Convert, I didn't receive, but noticed that I was more and more uncomfortable with the informality of the Communion ritual--informality that included jokes.
I remarked on this to my husband, who reminded me that if there is no Magisterium, no big T Tradition, no understanding that we are handling the Body and Blood of Christ, what does it it matter if you inject humor?
Or hip hop? Or cupholders in a theater? Or ad lib?
BTW: Why should church be the only place we go where we don't want to be reminded of where we are? I want my doctor's office, grocery store, post office, library, the Department of Motor Vehicles, even a movie theater to look like what they are. Church should "look like" church.
"Swing and Miss John"....
Yeah, I have seen pictures of so many pre Vatican II Popes, or let take that one step further-before JPII -celebrating mass with naked pygmies and break dancers...
Lead by example and this is what you get
Pray for a full restoration of reverence and teaching with devout clergy for our Church
I'm guessing John's one of those commenters who wants to make a point whether or not it's relevant to the actual blog post.
As for my own point...evangelical churches have no concept of "Sacrament", so they're quite free to change up whatever they want in their services or church buildings. I had such a conversation with an Evangelical friend whose own pastor pointed out that their services are quite "liberal" despite their beliefs being quite "conservative" and I think it's because their services are centered around the pastor's sermon, which isnt' as objective as a Mass which is centered around the body and blood, soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, fully present at the Eucharist.
John, in your drive to complain about Vatican II you still don't seem to get the point that this is about a *Protestant* congregation.
Another member said, "We've been here ever since it started. It's different. It’s not like being at church."
"And we'll be on to the next gimmick once we tire of this one."
Back in the 80's, the non-denominational group I belonged to was temporarily without a place to meet. We rented from a local movie theater. We had also met above a bowling alley (gave new meaning to the "rolling thunder" line in How Great Thou Art), in an attic and in a barn. There was another group in the area that purchased a closed movie theater. This is not new or unusual for independent Protestant groups. L email is correct. Without the Sacraments and with the sermon being the center of the service, what difference does it make where you worship?
"Here we are now, entertain us." -- Kurt Cobain, "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Loved "Baby Got Book", but church in a movie theatre is just so indicative of the "it's not worth it unless I'm entertained" philosophy of Gen-Yers (my generation, the one after Gen X.)
John,
John Paul II is known for recognizing and battling secular (including psychological)humanism. His writing and his biographies differentiate between heretical, dangerous humanism and the necessity for understanding God's great love for man.