Impressions of the Denomination I Grew Up In

A Sunday School attendance pin, like one I received for perfect attendance.

Say "Presbyterian" these days, and people likely think of a relatively bland group of pleasant people.  Some may think of that as the only Protestant denomination they know the actual name of.
I grew up in two Presbyterian congregations.  Both suburban, both middle class.  In both places, there were old Scots who were concerned about the budget, and the mission field, and whether or not we were educating the young people in the right way.  In both there were Scandinavian families, who were similarly concerned.  In both there were also families like ours that were going along as best we could.

Predestination, or the idea that it is determined even before our birth that we will be saved or not, used to be a big doctrine associated with Presbyterians.  Not so much anymore.  They will grant that God may have known ahead of time, but the choice is freely our own.  The modern denomination is more diverse, and rather less Calvinist than it used to be, at least from what I've seen.

A favorite description of Presbyterians is "God's Frozen Chosen.'  Yes, pretty much they just sit there during the service.  Maybe they'll stand to sing a hymn, and maybe they'll take part in a responsive reading, but really, they mostly just sit there.  Very still.  OR ELSE.  (That last is from my Mom.)
I learned a great deal about the Bible from growing up in Presbyterian Sunday School.  I memorized very large chunks of it, in fact.  We also learned history, and about the culture of the world at the time.  (It was deemed important that we have a good context in which to place the knowledge we received.)
 I know a great many good people  who are quietly going about doing God's work here on earth as Presbyterians.  I left because in so many congregations, the liturgy is being lost.  Services are far too "modern" for my taste, and the sense of continuum had gone.  Also, my husband was not raised Protestant.  He is Episcopalian, which isn't ROMAN Catholic, but is still not Protestant.  I became an Episcopalian officially after we moved here to Oklahoma, and found St. Paul's Cathedral.  THIS is a diverse congregation that all love each other and work well together in spite of how different we are.  The Episcopal church is like that.  Very inclusive, very tolerant, and NOT opposed to people having a good time. (Some call us Whiskeypalians, but that is a bit of an exaggeration.  It's usually boxed wine at church parties...)

You see, most Presbyterian churches, much more so when I was growing up, are rather against the idea of people having fun.  The denomination is at its roots Calvinist, and well, Calvinist belief seems to say that if you're enjoying life, you're doing it wrong.  "You have to bear the cross to wear the crown" is a favorite saying in the old line Presbyterian churches.  In fact, you will see the cross and crown emblem carved into the cornerstones of old churches.  They have changed the denominational symbol in recent years, but all through my youth, it was the Cross and Crown.  (Though many other denominations also use that symbol, also.)
Now, don't go believing all Presbyterians are dour old Calvinists.  As I said, the church in this modern era has loosened up quite a bit.  The last Presbyterian minister I had was an Air Force chaplain, who also became a friend.  He is very witty, and not the least bit stodgy, and not opposed to enjoying life.  (His major flaw is a great affinity for puns.  Awful ones.)

These are just my impressions, having grown up in two Presbyterian churches, and having visited MANY in the course of trying to find a place to worship with my husband.  We were married in the Episcopal church because they would let us have champagne at the reception.  Also, because we both love the liturgy and sense of history and connectedness to all that came before that is such a part of Episcopal worship. We have been members in good standing at St. Paul's since 1995.  I was confirmed in 1998, I think.  It was around then, because we were back in the cathedral itself after the rebuilding from the Murrah Bombing.

I will always be grateful for the great foundation in my faith that I learned in the Presbyterian Church.  That beginning allowed me to look honestly at the places available to worship, and make my decision based on what would provide the best environment in which to practice what I believe.
Your mileage may vary.