I think"rightly and worthily and in faith" beg definition....but I hope nobody defines them. I would rather leave them open to interpretation. (especially all those that agree with my own :) ) I hope the Methodist General conference does not decide to require baptism for partaking in communion. Keeping communion wholly open leaves room in us for mystery and for the action of the spirit. About finding a church...On the one hand, I have found that I am beginning to claim the church I am in only as I spend more time there and invest in it more...get to know more people personally. I have been doing this mainly through study groups like Disciple's and, now, "Living with the Questions" and "Confronting the Controversies". At first I didn't think I would like this church too much because I thought it would be too conservative. I am only finding open minded people through these small groups. This is also the only avenue I have found where church members can get to know me. This church is not in my neighborhood and I miss that because most members know one another through other community connections-especially their kids schools.Still, I am glad I have now stayed long enough to begin to feel I have good relationships. (At first when I was in the choir I felt their greetings were only lip service...the first three years probably). After awhile, I found my way in through humor mainly. As I am writing this I find myself wondering if people in churches don't sometimes become so used to people coming and going that they hold back a little...to see if you really want to become part of them. On the other hand, if I were willing to travel even farther from home, I might find churches with memberships in which it is easier to find people who are more like me and thus easier to get to know and to let know me. City churches, especially reconciling congregations like Foundry and Dumbarton are good bets. I agree that churches in University neighborhoods are good possibilities also. I also agree that you are the only one who will know if you should go out looking for a new church. Churches that are actively trying to engage young adults in their 20s and 30s are also possibly more open and discipleship oriented. I might look for those churches that offer special programs for people of that age group (like "Beginnings" or ???? I can't remember the name of the other one I learned about).
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Date: 2007-02-27 02:42 am (UTC)About finding a church...On the one hand, I have found that I am beginning to claim the church I am in only as I spend more time there and invest in it more...get to know more people personally. I have been doing this mainly through study groups like Disciple's and, now, "Living with the Questions" and "Confronting the Controversies". At first I didn't think I would like this church too much because I thought it would be too conservative. I am only finding open minded people through these small groups. This is also the only avenue I have found where church members can get to know me. This church is not in my neighborhood and I miss that because most members know one another through other community connections-especially their kids schools.Still, I am glad I have now stayed long enough to begin to feel I have good relationships. (At first when I was in the choir I felt their greetings were only lip service...the first three years probably). After awhile, I found my way in through humor mainly. As I am writing this I find myself wondering if people in churches don't sometimes become so used to people coming and going that they hold back a little...to see if you really want to become part of them.
On the other hand, if I were willing to travel even farther from home, I might find churches with memberships in which it is easier to find people who are more like me and thus easier to get to know and to let know me. City churches, especially reconciling congregations like Foundry and Dumbarton are good bets. I agree that churches in University neighborhoods are good possibilities also.
I also agree that you are the only one who will know if you should go out looking for a new church.
Churches that are actively trying to engage young adults in their 20s and 30s are also possibly more open and discipleship oriented. I might look for those churches that offer special programs for people of that age group (like "Beginnings" or ???? I can't remember the name of the other one I learned about).