Church

Church - an interesting thing.

Today I checked out a new church. Elim Pentecostal. Last week I didn't go to church in the morning and felt so much better because of it. I figured that something was wrong there. Each week I've been going to church and getting more and more frustrated and disatisfied with the lack of friendliness and lack of challenging teaching. The church is too big for me - 500+ is a lot of people. People go there to feel 'comfortable' and so that's what the church gives them. I've been coming away feeling so depressed with it all and it felt good to not have that weight on my shoulders last week.

I've become disatisfied with the small group too because the general attitude is 'we're too cool to do any of what has been set for us to do - in fact lets not do anything'. This is quite disturbing since they're all quite a bit older than me and the leader is one of the curates.

I'm starting to get the feeling that things that could be better in the church are just blamed on the fact that it's a big church - so nothing is done about it.

Elim this morning was good. I went with some friends who are also disatisfied with the church they're going to. We were welcomed as we went in by a number of people which was cool. Given a free magazine (glossy in colour) about the church, shown where to go and where to get drinks. The church is a cafe style which is nice and informal with somewhere to lean on when you want to take notes during the sermon. Met with God in the worship which was cool, but the band could have done with a few more practices especially in the art of listening to each other and paying attention to the leader! Was quite amusing.
Unfortunately it wasn't a normal Sunday as it was the leader's 25th anniversary in ministry, so we had a visiting speaker who had to cut his sermon into 15mins. Said some good stuff about trusting God though. I liked the way there were plenty of opportunities to talk to the people on your table, and also a break where you could go and get a drink and talk to people - one guy came over and welcomed us and we had a good chat. They even seemed to be well connected into current affairs - especially in the world and we prayed about churches they had links to in Paris who are in court fighting for the right to worship in their building. We prayed about the threat on our freedom of speech in Britain too.

So all in all I've liked what I've seen so far - will try it again.

The only things I didn't like were a) the fact that it was in a school - just not used to it I guess. I like having a central building. Although it does mean that more of the ministry can be done in homes and pubs etc. 'Coming of going, going of coming' etc. b) the fact it took me 45mins to walk there and c) the number of times we sang the same song! lol.

Was going to church tonight to 'visions' a multimedia service done by the church I was going to. It's too cold to go out though! There is snow on the ground! Only heard negative about it so far - but that's from the people I would expect not to like it.

Think I'm gonna have to spend some time with the big guy. Please pray about this for me - cheers.