How was church today?

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I went to a new church today - the one that uses the Lutheran hall and has overlapping services with there. It's a younger crowd - ages 2 months to about 60 yrs.

The music/ hymns were written and played by their resident singer song-writers. A young woman who plays guitar and sings and a young man who plays cello and harmonizes.

The message for the day was delivered by a lay pastor who spoke of her former "fundigelical" background and how one day she saw a poster at a craft market that said "See God in everyone" and for a long time she was embarrassed about her purchase - it felt almost like she was sinning - because she was only taught to see God a certain way and only others who've accepted Jesus into their hearts had any claim to know God or God, them - and she, over time, decided that 'that' God was too small for her to believe in. And going from there to Keirkegaard (sp?) and his words about "Willing one thing will lead to purity of the heart" - and learning to see God in everyone became her one thing.

Then someone else delivered a message - these were both further thoughts on the Beatitudes - about God's kingdom is not about money and power, but about humility - the meek, the poor in spirit and in means, and praying that we become more humble, more helpful and work toward a more equitable world.

It was a nice place. Some former "fundegelicals", some former Catholics, atheists/ agnostics, and others questioning their faith but like the community and feel welcome there. And the head pastor said he will be starting his evening philosopher Cafe in a month or so.
 
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Wonderful time worshipping today. I gathered with my home church for singing, talking to God, Communion, and an excellent message from my Pastor about the importance of worshipping and serving God rightly. Everyone warmly welcomed me home. I had a really great time and afterwards went with a couple of friends for KFC.
 
Kimmio said:
I went to a new church today - the one that uses the Lutheran hall and has overlapping services with there. It's a younger crowd - ages 2 months to about 60 yrs.

The music/ hymns were written and played by their resident singer song-writers. A young woman who plays guitar and sings and a young man who plays cello and harmonizes.

The message for the day was delivered by a lay pastor who spoke of her former "fundigelical" background and how one day she saw a poster at a craft market that said "See God in everyone" and for a long time she was embarrassed about her purchase because she was only taught to see God as God and only others who've accepted Jesus into their hearts - and she decided that God was too small for her to believe in. And going from there to Keirkegaard (sp?) and his words about "Willing one thing will lead to purity of the heart" - and learning to see God in everyone became her one thing.

Then someone else delivered a message - these were both further thoughts on the Beatitudes - about God's kingdom is not about money and power, but about humility - the meek, the poor in spirit and in means, and praying that we become more humble, more helpful and work toward a more equitable world.

It was a nice place. Some former "fundegelicals", some former Catholics, atheists/ agnostics, and others questioning their faith but like the community and feel welcome there. And the head pastor said he will be starting his evening philosopher Cafe in a month or so.
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I like the sound of this church. A bit more church-y than my UU if that message is any indication but still with a pretty good diversity of religious thoughts/beliefs. And an in-house songwriter? Damn, sign me up (well, if I was in your city, anyhow).
 
I sat in the back row of chairs that was almost empty - where there was a space to park my walker. One woman who said she's one of the pastors, was sitting in front of me and moved back to sit beside me. She went up and got the communion elements for me because the aisles were a tight squeeze - and she brought back some bread and nearly half a regular sized glass of wine. She said, "Do you want to drink that?" (I dipped - have to be careful with my meds). I said, "No, because I might end up staggering out of here and crashing. Lol." Then, remembering what crazyheart said about holy wine - I said, "I guess I'm supposed to, or someone's supposed to drink it rather than dump it out?" She said "Oh, we're not that formal here!" Then she brought over her newborn grand nephew and introduced him (and his tiny toes and fingers) to me.

I'd told her that separation brought me to town and although I grew up here I still feel kind of "new to town" because I left a long period of my adult life behind - and she said to email her and she and I can get together to talk, if I need someone to talk to.

Very nice people.
 
Today's sermon was on the theme of Intellectual Curiosity. The guest speaker was our Music Man Bruce Petherick. In addition to making great music every Sunday for us it turns out he is an amazing preacher. Bruce has a PhD in music so his playing is amazing, but learned today he also has a Master of Divinity degree. Bruce was speaking of the many layers of faith and how faith and spirituality are very different from religion. He spoke of doing za-zen meditations and of the many types of exploration he continues to do to enrich his faith. What he was saying really resonated with me, as you might have guessed, given my screen name here in this place. The certainty that some of the Athiests and Conservatives on this board have has never made sense to me. Like Bruce I realize there is mystery and it is wonderful to be able to be curious enough to want to keep seeking. Also, turns out Bruce and I have something in common, we both subscribe to Richard Rohr's daily meditations from the Center for Action and Contemplation. It is an email you can get sent to you free of charge each day and it is from a Catholic priest who is not dogmatic at all. Worthwhile to check out CAC if you are an explorer and curious about it ALL like Bruce and myself. Oh and after church I went for a 96 km bike ride along the canal and few other places. A great ride as very few people on this rural pathway so could go almost into autopilot riding and thinking on a fine sermon.
 
Jae said:
Wonderful time worshipping today. I gathered with my home church for singing, talking to God, Communion, and an excellent message from my Pastor about the importance of worshipping and serving God rightly. Everyone warmly welcomed me home. I had a really great time and afterwards went with a couple of friends for KFC.
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I'm glad you had a good day, jae. What happened to your idea of trying a different church every week? You just weren't comfortable with it?
 
Kimmio said:
I'm glad you had a good day, jae. What happened to your idea of trying a different church every week? You just weren't comfortable with it?
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Thank you Kimmio. While I was comfortable with visiting different churches, and still will be doing some of that due to guest preaching, I knew from the get-go that before school starts in September, I'd have to decide on one church to be at. This is because one of my courses, Contextual Ministry, which runs September-January, is a study of how well one church fits into its neighborhood and how it can do better at missionally meeting needs in its context.
 
Sounds like a good reason for fixation ... anti dynamics and stopping to think ... maybe not!

Appearances are everything and then there is the unseen appearance ...
 
Last night I got back from my personal 'church' - a month of camping in a very basic campground in a provincial Park. Some of it as a couple, ten days of it with adult kids and their kids - unfortunately not all at the same time. However, we managed an age range form four to seventy four, which was interesting. We had a sandy beach, a gently shelving shore line, trees, blueberry bushes, lots of laughter and sunshine.
 
KayTheCurler said:
Last night I got back from my personal 'church' - a month of camping in a very basic campground in a provincial Park. Some of it as a couple, ten days of it with adult kids and their kids - unfortunately not all at the same time. However, we managed an age range form four to seventy four, which was interesting. We had a sandy beach, a gently shelving shore line, trees, blueberry bushes, lots of laughter and sunshine.
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Sounds like a great time if not church.
 
For August our joint summer services movedd from the other downtown church to ours, and I had the delightful opportunity to worship in my own building. The service was led by the minister of the other church (the four clergy have worked out a schedule of availability that does not necessarily match their regular church). He is a good speaker and I enjoyed his message based on the Genesis story of Jacob. (An interesting aside: Seelerman told me that he happened to read that story in the Gideon Bible in a motel room during our trip last week). The hymns were well chosen - more from More Voices than Voices United. A good day.
After the service a few of us met in the parlour to confirm plans for our participation in the Pride Parade next Sunday. As its first summer as an Affirming congregation our Worship service next week will contain elements recognizing Pride Week.
 
I find great spiritual sustenance and connection being out in nature, but I'm not sure I would call it "church". It is a private thing and church, to me as it apparently is for @Jae, is more about community worship. But I see where @KayTheCurler and @crazyheart are coming from and I think I have used the term that way before myself.
 
crazyheart said:
SEE!!!!!!
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See what exactly crazyheart? Singing, humming, meditating, dancing, and playing can all be done as other than corporate worship of God. There is spiritual value in being out in nature, to be sure. However, it does not necessarily constitute church.
 
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