I love Sundays. We pick up Jacob and Tony for church in the morning. Usually they go back to their dorm after church and then come by us again in the evening. We have dinner together, often homemade pizza, and spend time together. Lately we've been playing games. Last week we taught Tony how to play Five Crowns. This is a great family card game, in case anyone is looking for fun gift ideas. The past two weeks, Luke has won every game.
We still haven't picked a church. We have visited a lot of churches. The problem is too many choices. They are all great churches and we would probably be happy in any of them. We've sort of narrowed it down to two, based on very unscientific decision making. One is a very young church, meets in the high school two blocks from our house, and is more contemporary. About half the congregation seems to be Dordt students, so I don't know how many actual members there are. Luke knows some kids at this church and has attended their youth group.
The other is a little more traditional, still uses the organ. Maria and Jon already have lots of friends in this congregation. A large contingent of Dordt profs go here, so I know lots of people. We always have lots of people to talk to after church so it "feels" friendlier. On the other hand, I already know lots of people in this church so we wouldn't get to meet a lot of new people if we joined this church. Both churches have small groups, which I think would be a good way for Dwight and I to get connected, and both have Sunday School and typical church programs for the kids.
Choices, choices. Any advice on choosing a church?
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Kathleen--Don't know if your question was rhetorical or not, but I'll offer some 'advice' (for lack of a better term). If you haven't already try and consider this question: "Where can I/we best serve?". Don't think of it exclusively as which is the best 'fit' but also in terms of, where you and your family's gifts and abilities can best be used/developed/ nurtured/challenged. A church is just as much about what you give it as what it gives you.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth,
Michael Ten Haken
Michael - It was definitely not intended as a retorical question. Your point is a good one. Just visiting a church only gives a very superficial view, however. Any thoughts on how to figure this out?
ReplyDeleteWhich church leaves you filled? When we found our church, I always felt so.... moved and upflifted. Which one does the kids like better? Our kids LOVE our church. Makes it easier to get moving to get to church on time when they are just as excited. Just a thought. I'm sure you have much to give to any church you attend, as you have always done in the past.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Kathleen--I guess I'm long on advice and short on answers. One of the things we did rather than spending a Sunday here and a Sunday there, was spend an entire month to six weeks going to one church. That allowed us to see the 'ebb and flow' of the congregation a little better, observe patterns, check out some of the various mininstry options, etc. It was a good exercise for us.
ReplyDeleteI like that suggestion. The most we've done is two or three Sundays in a row.
ReplyDelete