Church Chronicles: Ep 1: Holy Chic: The Ultimate Guide to Church Attire

0:00 Hello, and welcome to Church Chronicles, part of the Diary of a Black Woman podcast. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and today we're diving into our first episode of Holy Chic. Yes, I said it, Holy Chic, the ultimate church attire handbook. We're going to walk, we're going to talk about how to address appropriately for church and why is so important. Yes, this will be a download available on my website. So don't worry, you'll get all the juicy topics. If you heard about the introductory, if you took time to listen to the introductory episode, you know it's going to be full of some juicy, juicy topics, but I won't keep you long.

0:44 I just want to hit on some key stuff, key points and move it on. And so why is it important that we are dressing appropriate for church? You know, I think Juanita Bynum has something on YouTube and she was just going there about what the lady was wearing that you can see all through a lady's dress and these form-fitting outfits and people singing in a choir without, you know, the proper undergarments on. I mean, what are we doing in our holy temple these days? And so that got me thinking is if you come to a church and no one really tells you what the boundaries are, what the rules are, then you might need to be told.

1:33 And so let's not be critical. Let's be teachers. Us older women in the church need to sit down, our younger women, and we need to actually begin to educate them on what needs to happen in our sacred places and not be under the assumption that they know. Can I get an amen out there for our church ladies, right? So we're always so quick to jump on. YouTube, whatever we do on our social media to criticize, but have we really sat down and talked to these ladies? Maybe we think they should know.

2:15 When we grow up, our mom always told us to, can I just say wear a slip, put on a bra, put on undergarments? But these days that might not be something where the parents have told them, but they want to be known and they can sing and they want to know Jesus. So this is going to be basic information that you think is basic, but maybe not basic for everyone. So let's get started. So dressing for church is more, so understanding the significance of church attire. So I might sound like a teacher teaching this, but sometimes we just don't know. So just keeping it real. It says dressing for church is more than just picking out an outfit.

2:59 It reflects our respect and reverence for the sacred space we are entering and the community we are part of. By choosing the appropriate attire, we should be appropriate attire, we show that we value the spiritual experience and the collective worship. So many times when you're a new member at a church, you know what to wear by what you see. What is appropriate, you go by what you see oh we can wear that you might see a little mini skirt you might see different things that probably was not approved but no one said it wasn't approved so you as a new member you as a visitor you sitting back and you figure out how does this church dress because you want to fit in with them you know just saying if you're a young girl or young guy and you want to join a church, you want to see what's the attire.

3:56 And so you sit back and you're watching, right? And so what they see is what you're going to end up having copies of. And so if you don't address it right off the bat, you're going to have a flurry of the same outfits. If you see a. A lot of not wearing any type of upper garments or lower garments, that's what you're going to breed in there. So it's so appropriate to maybe address that in the beginning of your church or have a meeting and then begin to mimic what you want. So if the choir is dressed properly, if the ministry of health team is dressed properly, if the pastor is dressed properly, if the first lady is dressed properly, then that pretty much sets the tone for what is appropriate for what to wear at the church.

4:52 Now, what to wear outside the church, you want to kind of keep that on the low too, because you can't just be the church girl and then go outside the church and then turn into the hoochie mama too, right? So you want to make sure there's a balance because that same person who saw you in church also might see you outside of church. So it's important for that spiritual experience to be a collective experience with worship and that you or whoever else is in the church not be a distraction. So think about it. When you dress up for a special occasion like a wedding or graduation, you're showing that that event is essential to you.

5:34 The same principle applies to the church. Your attire reflects the value you place on your worship experience. Wow. So what value do you place on your sacred place shows how you dress. You know, sometimes they tell you don't. Like if you ever travel to the Mid-East, you can't wear your arms out or your legs out. And so they value their whole country as being holy. Per se for visitors, right? We don't know what happens when we leave, but when you show up, they have a set dress code, right? So religious guideline for dressing for worship.

6:15 Different faiths have different expectation for attire. For some, modesty is essential, meaning clothing that covers shoulders, chest, and knees, like I mentioned. For others, avoiding flashy or distracting Alphas is essential. It's about aligning with the customs and tradition of your faith community. Yeah, we're not in a cult or anything, right? But you want to make sure that when you go to church, you want to be able to be yourself. But what is that attire for church? If you're serving, you know, church is not that tight, you know, that make you have to be robotic. But it's saying And if they tell you not to wear your arms out for an event, just if you're going to serve no arms out and make sure no deep V-necks, you want to honor that event.

7:05 If you're just a just a prisoner sitting in the in the church, you know, watching the event, no one's regulating that. But if you are serving in any type of event and they have strict regulation for what you to wear, you want to honor that. So different faiths have different expectations. If you're going to serve, you're going to serve in the choir. They might have you, maybe you have to put a slip on or your dress can't be above your knee. Remember, you're standing higher on top so people can see under your dress. So you always want to dress appropriately. You want to follow what those rules are. For instance, in many church denominations, modesty is emphasized.

7:47 This doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style, but it does mean being mindful of the length of your dress or skirt and the cut of your blouse, even with the fabric of your blouses. You know what are you know so make sure that if it looks too much to you in the mirror then it's too much to the congregation if you're singing in a song singing a song for the choir or even if you walk serving in the ministry right put a blazer on you know cover cover it up in other religious traditions specific clothing items might be required such as a head covering of particular garments for men, understanding that guidelines help you show respect and tradition and beliefs of your faith.

8:33 So not being a strict policing the garment of what you wear, but being knowing that the sacred space is holy, right? And there are rules and regulation. And so you look around, what is everybody else wearing? So that means that maybe that halter top is not the thing that you might want to put on that day, or those short shorts or those yoga pants, you want to dress appropriately for church. And then the impact of your outfit on your worship experience. Believe it or not, that when you wear, what you wear can influence how you feel and how you connect during the service. When you dress appropriately, you mentally prepare yourself for worship.

9:16 You're more likely to feel focused and present, which can enhance your spiritual journey and create a respectful atmosphere within the congregation. Wow. So when you come in dressed to worship, if you ever notice that, if you ever notice, just pay attention to those who really get into the presence of God, that they come in ready to get into worship, right? So they're comfortable there. I ain't saying you're dressed fancy. You just got on comfortable clothes that you can reach your arms up, that your dress is not going to go up, right? You can get on your hands and knees and pray to the Lord without having the skirt on.

10:02 That you have comfortable clothes. That if the Lord tells you that you need to bow down, that you're able to bow down. That you're comfortable in your worship. And you know what that means. That when you worship at home, if you can't worship in those clothes at home, then that might not be a good worship outfit to take to church. Not take to church. Wear the church. Just something to think about, right? Some clothes you might just want to wear just to be cute. And you can't do all the praise and worship, jumping up and down, running around the church. And you just might want to just sit still. And you know what those outfits are. Think of your attire as part of your preparation for worship.

10:44 Just as you prepare your heart and mind, prepare your outward appearance can help you enter a state of reverence and readiness. You ever thought about that? that as you get dressed for church, that you're entering in. Yeah, some people, I'm going to be sharp, I'm going to be cute today. Yeah, be cute. But you ever notice those high heels when the praise go long, those ain't comfortable no more, right? If those stockings ain't fitting right, when you leave the house, they can be irritating after a while. Just little things become irritant if something goes too long. And so you want to just prepare your heart for worship. Just prepare your heart for the presence of God. Prepare your heart for reverence. It says in a state of readiness.

11:28 Who knows that God might have an altar call and you might be caught up there and they lay hands on you, but now you laid out on all your, you know, what's majiggered, bleep is out because you didn't dress for readiness to be touched by God. I'm just doing a wink, wink, right? Additionally, dressing appropriately helps keep a cohesive and respectful environment within the congregation. Can I say that again? I won't say that again. Additionally, dressing appropriately helped create a cohesive and respectful environment within the congregation. When everyone is mindful of their attire, it minimizes distraction and fosters on a sense of unity and respect.

12:13 You know, some churches have what you call cloth. They cover you when you lay down. Most of the time they do cover you whether you dress appropriately or not. But what happens if they miss you? You know, because sometimes that the altar call line goes fast and they miss you. You laid out and some of your private parts are out by accident, not on purpose. But so dressing modestly kind of, I love that, that reverence and readiness just for in case God calls you up for that one day. You know, sometimes he calls you up when you like, oh, not today. I got on this dress. And if I lay it out, I'm going to be, so you can't really give your whole self to God because you're not dressed properly.

12:56 You ever thought about that? Dress appropriately to receive what God has for you. Because God can lay hands on you and throw your butt across the room and all your skirts above your head. You're just a hot mess, but you didn't dress. I love this word, reverence or in readiness. Ready for God. Dang, that's a good word. Let's go to some scripture. First Timothy two, nine through 10. You have that out. First Timothy two, nine through 10 said, I also want the women to dress modestly. It's just not me talking. This is the Bible with decency and propriety, adoring themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold or pearls or elaborate clothes, but with good deeds appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

13:48 God just doesn't want you to look good on the outside. He wants you to look good on the inside. Amen. So you can look good with your pearls and your diamonds on, your hair all fixed up, but what's your heart look like? Are you serving in the church or are you too cute to serve in a church? What's your excuse? Ooh, that's something somebody told. What's your reasoning? You got all your expensive clothes on and you're looking pretty good, but I need you to do a little bit more than just look good. You need to get your hands dirty and serve in the church. So let's do these decrees with me. Maybe this is to steer some people up.

14:28 It says, I decree that I would dress modestly. That's a good, let's do it again. I decree, excuse me, that I would dress modestly with decency and propriety reflecting my faith. I decree that my adornment will be marked by good deeds showing my devotion to God. I decree that I would value inner beauty over outward adornment. Oh, I decree that my clothing choice will honor God and my body as his temple. Wow. God wants us not to just look, wear expensive clothes with our hair already.

15:10 You know the people, I ain't going to say any names. They looking pretty good, but they ain't lifting a finger to do nothing at the church. God needs you to take it. It's nice for you to look cute, but it's also time for you to go ahead and get dirty and help out with the rest of the church folks. Proverbs 31, 25, it says, she is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at the days to come. Why? Because this is Proverbs 31, because she fears the Lord. God got her back because she's looking good. She's taking care of all her business, but she's also serving God with her whole heart.

15:51 A decree for that is, I decree that I'm clothed with strength and dignity. I decree that I will face the future with confidence and joy. Why? Because God is on my side. That's extra. I decree that my outward appearance will reflect the dignity God has given me. I decree that I will honor God through my strength and composure. I want to go back to number three. You ever see a lady, I decree that my outward appearance will reflect the dignity God has given me. You ever see those older ladies? I'm getting to that point and being considered an older lady, where they look like grace and mercy and dignity, and they're glowing, they're beautiful, and they're still serving the Lord.

16:34 They might be a greeter, they might just be, whatever their skill, they're using it, but they're using it for God's glory. Still looking cute, still looking fancy, but their heart fears the Lord. I want to go back and read that Psalm, that Proverbs 31, 25, and it says, she is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at the days to come because she knows that God has survived. The takeaway from this is dress appropriately for church, shows respect for the sacred space and the community. Understanding and adhering to religious guidelines helps us to align with our faith and tradition.

17:19 And the right outfit can enhance our focus and connection during worship. They're all important. Excuse me. The right outfit can enhance our focus and connection during worship. And we all know that. If we're in something uncomfortable, our worship is nothing. And we feel disappointed. And like, Lord, I can't even worship you because I can't raise my hand up. You know, come on, let's be real. So make sure that you come to church prepared to worship and be ready for what God has for you. That was good. So I thank you for joining us, joining us, yeah, joining all of us for this journey.

18:01 Stay tuned for each episode as we bring holy back into our attire. How about holy back into our sanctuary, into our tabernacle? This is your host, Connie Morris, with Diary of Black Women podcast, hosting with Church Chronicles. And don't forget at the end of this series, the Holy Chic Ultimate Church Attire Handbook will be available for free download for the month of November. God bless you.