Church Four

May 15, 2011

Church #4

Getting to the church was more of an adventure than I’d planned for, what with getting lost, getting there late for the 9 am service, and way early for the 10:45 am service (don’t ask). It didn’t help that we missed the sign that said the services were at 9 and 10:45, partly because there was another sign that said the service was at 10:30. Sigh. My friend visiting from Minnesota came along with me and helped me make sense of the experience.

Turned out to be kind of a fun service, another friendly, glad-handing congregation, lots of music, the sort that gets me tapping my feet but ignoring the words because they are meaningless to me – “oh Jesus Jesus Jesus….” Many more young and middle-aged people in this church than older folks. The only woman on the chancel was a young singer with the band. Only men served communion and took the offering. Coincidence? Or polity?

Yes! We had communion. This church is of the pioneer church lineage, the Disciples, the independent Christian Churches, the non-instrumental Churches of Christ, etc. http://www.caneridge.org/ That part felt familiar to me. The banner on the chancel outlining the plan for each member to evangelize one other person for two years or some such thing (1 for 1 for 2?) – not so much. Here was a long sermon about the second coming. The minister actually said “Heaven is the ultimate vacation,” but I think he just wanted us to think about “preparing” for Heaven the way one would prepare for a vacation. “Get ready.” Since I don’t actually believe there is a place called Heaven where we all see each other and Jesus – it was interesting but not meaningful. My friend said – it wasn’t a sermon, it was a Bible study. Interesting distinction. Here again was another minister that ramped up and bellowed a bit. Yikes!

They wanted us to fill out a “Connection Card,” but we declined politely as we scuttled on out to the car. Scuttling again!