Church Hunting

One of my least favorite things about moving to Virginia has been looking for a new church to attend.  The one I left at home is great; I had a place, I fit, I knew people.  My church was such a big part of my life, and today I am missing it.

Even though Brian has technically lived in Virginia for about a year and half, he was deployed for a big chunk of time, and has frequently been on duty Sunday mornings.  So, even though he's visited a couple churches on his own, he hasn't found one he has attended regularly.

When I've been down visiting, we've gone to several other churches together.  It is awesome to see how big and diverse is the body of Christ.  A church is a building; The Church is God's people.

But as awesome as it is to experience different congregations, we just haven't found a church that we're going to call our home-away-from-home.

I am ready to be settled in a new congregation.  I grow weary of church hopping:

-Wondering if people will look down on me for wearing jeans.
- Walking in and not knowing anyone.  It seems like every else knows every one else.
- Either being pounced by greeters, or not being greeted at all.
- How do they do communion!?  AM I GOING TO HAVE TO USE A COMMON CUP!?!?
- What are all these songs!?!?  We have sung 7 songs, and I didn't know a single one!  
- Church inside jokes- why is the whole congregation laughing?  Did I miss something?
- Trying to evaluate the teaching, without being an arrogant jerk.

Sigh.  I am super eager to be done with all of that.  There is at least one more church we want to try, and hopefully that'll be it.  If not, maybe we should go back to one of the ones we've liked better, and just stay put there for awhile to get a better feel.

But for today?  Brian is on duty.  And even though it is Sunday, I just can't make myself brave a new church alone.

Thankful that God is in my heart, and I can worship wherever I'm at.  Asking Him to guide Brian & I as we find a new congregation to be part of.  And looking forward to going back to New York in a couple weeks to worship at our home church :-)