(no subject)
Some of you may know I've been looking for a church. I moved here Memorial Day weekend and have yet to settle on a regular church to attend. This seems to indicate some slacking on my part and there truly has been but not as much as appears. I've missed a few services due eitherv to being out of town or falling asleep again. It can be a difficult decision. There are so many here. Even just U.M. churches there are four in the immediate vicinity. It's tough too because I want to give evrybody a fair shake so I have to visit multiple times and if I happen to get an off service I can't try again for another week. There's no such thing as an early service here by the way so no doubling up. Here are some thoughts and break downs so far...
Grace United Methodist
I've visited twice and don't much care for it. The first visit was on Independence Day and I wasn't certain that the person delivering the sermon was the regular pastor. So right off I definitely had to come back in case he isn't. I came back. He is. His first sermon was angry for the most part. that's ok once in a while but not a great first impression. More bothersome was that it didn't seem cohesive. He would run off the subject with whatever associated thought had run into his head, the tangents were the angriest bits too. I didn't disagree with what he was saying but didn't care for his delivery. The second visit the sermon was a video. (...yeah...) It was a video of a guy at one of those big rallies you see on television and can later order the video. He was relating astronomy and God. Not all bad in and of itself although obviously things were showy and affected. This church is a pretty long walk; doable on the reg but not in inclement weather. I had resolved not to return after this second "sermon" but a sweet, little, round Tweedle brother of a man stopped to greet me on the way out. He was friendly and after my standard expositionary exchange asked if I would come back to see them again. I hesitated because I didn't want to tell him, 'no, Mr. Sweet Dumpling Man, your church bugs the crap out of me.' In that moment of hesitation in which I was to gather strength to be gentle but honest in my response he asked again, "won't you?" this time with puupy dog eyes thrown in. "I'll try," I said. And now I think I have to one day, ugh, try again. Of all the... gak. Anyway. I may visit again, but this is not the place. one down.
Liberty United Methodist
This one is up on US23. It is possible to walk there but nowhere near realisticly within walking distance. This had the benefit of having the one early service in a UM church in Delaware. an 8 am service at which my presence may have broken attendence into the double digits. No joke, that's what the pastor said. There's a later service too though. I gather more people come to that but I have no idea how many. Early service was an advantage because my problem falling asleep stems mostly from waking up very early and then while waiting around for service time I would eventually fall asleep again on my futon. This way I could just get ready and go. (I was able to pull a double on this particular Sunday)
This pastor actually happened to be a guy I remember from my trials with a previous church in Lewis Center, OH. He had been an associate pastor there. Lewis Center UM was acctually quite nice too though ultimately I chose Powell. I mentioned my familiarity to the pastor as we had ample opportunity to talk gievn the inescapability of the small congregation. Service was nice, though difficult to judge. (Funny how no matter how small a Methodist congregation gets you still can't pick out any one person singing. We'll just get quieter.) I had intended to go back the next weekend but actually managed to sleep in this time so ended up somewhere else that day. The following weekend I recalled was just a single, late service week so they could get everybody together for a church meeting immediately following. I didn't want to go because I'm not a member (yet). The weekend after that I finally returned. I discovered something about that church meeting I had avoided. They apparently decided there wasn't much point in holding service for a congregation so small you couldn't manage a good game of duck duck goose if you'd wanted. So that was the end of the early service and in all likelihood my reason for attending.
Asbury United Methodist
A hearty walk but easily manageable. Old, stone building gives a pleasing sense of temporal dislocation. Congregation is nice. Some members I recognize from OWU including the university's chaplain. I've visited a few times. I like the pastor and his sermons so far. He seems intellectual. I like the service structure for the most part. Very nice church and a major contender. The central display cross is what is styled as what is sometimes called a Crusader's Cross or Jerusalem Cross. This isn't really detrimental but it's a bit odd for my experience. Some of the common response phrases are different. No choir which isn't a necessary element but I enjoy having them. They do then have special music performances with cellists, singers, organists, etc. Possibly the most bizarre thing is the postlude. I'm used to the postlude playing while everybody exits. Here everybody sits back down and listens to the postlude. Again, not theologically disturbing but I find it odd almost to the point of inappropriate laughter because 'what are we all doing here?' Anyway like I said, contender
William Street United Methodist
Closest. Not five minutes walk. Newerish, small building. affectionately nicknamed "Bill St." The sanctuary is an odd little space. Another friendly congregation. I've visited a few times now and actually attended a few services back when I was a student. There's a choir. They aren't very good but that is wholly immaterial to the matter. There are some OWU and MethTheSchOH students I guess. I like the pastor and her sermons so far, usually. My two most recent visits were a bit off the beaten path. One message time was taken up with "God sightings" for which members of the congregation were solicited for photos in previous months. They show the photos on the projector and then that person or anyone else who wants may speak to how they see God in that moment. It's not a terrible idea for something to do every once in a great while. It's harder to get any kind of lesson or instruction in such an occasion. the following Sunday, Labor day weekend, we were actually split into groups and encouraged to talk to one another about our jobs and how we work for others and God through our employment. again not bad. A bit unfortunate that they fell back to back like that. Fortunately I'd had previous experience with this particular church so I know this isn't the norm. This is the other major contender.
First Presbyterian
I figure I'm most likely to cling to a United Methodist church given my background and familiarity but since none of them is OBVIOUSLY the one I may as well try out some other denoms (that's cool talk for "denominations"). I had been thinking about trying this one out. I'd never been to a Presbyterian service before, not even when I was a student, and I am curious. This was prompted further by the book I am reading currently in which the local church is a "Scottish Rite church." So what the hey? This was this morning by the way. Very nice little lady greeted me at the door. Congregation seems nice enough but maybe a little more distant than most UMs I've been visited. I though too am maybe a bit more distant than other UMers. The building is nice enough but apparently there will be some remodeling soon. I don't know any details there. Visiting a different denomination (that's uncool talk for "denom") is always a bit odd. Like the asbury church the phrases are different than the ones I've repeated most of my life. I may not know some of the hymns. In this specific case they use a different translation of The Lord's Prayer- that can be irksome for insubstantial reasons. I'm sure communion will be a bit strange but I wouldn't know that for a another couple of weeks at least. Only the one service so far so not much to go on but it was lovely. The pastor seems nice. Not a great job with today's sermon I thought. She spent the first five minutes recapping the Bible passage she had JUST read. I also couldn't follow some of her analogies. I'd like to visit again though. There's a choir and a bell choir that played today. Amongst their number I recognized a former professor/director of mine, Dr. Rabby. Wow. What if I went to church with Dr. Rabby? I'd like to go back a couple times. Also... to be continued...
Some things to consider here: I prefer traditional services; the more traditional the better, meaning the closer to the services of my childhood, the better. Overhead projections are helpful and I actually do not object to their use. I like to use hymnals and Bibles when I can though. No Bibles in the pews at Bill St., can you believe that? None of these churches even offers a contemporary service so we're in the clear on that point. I prefer unlevened bread for communion, I'm not sure who all does what but if I recall Bill St. has pita, Asbury uses the fluffy stuff. Of one particular note, I actually prefer the Old One-Hundredth version of the doxology to the Creatures of Our God and King contemporary version. I can find this almost no where in the armsful of churhces I've visited or attended in the past couple years. None of these UMs do this. First Presbyterian DOES do this. It was very nice. These aren't huge deals, any of them. Very minor things. Still they comfort me.
Presby continued...
After church or before church (as this morning) I will wander about this small town of Delaware, Ohio (DEOH) and since I do not carry my ipod to/from service I will usually hum or whistle. On Sundays I will without exception hum a hymn. I know very few actual words but that's just as well because I cannot sing worth a lick. It so happens that there is one hymn in particular that I have hummed more regularly than any other. Even when I start with another hymn, if I go long enough, I will eventually end up back at this one tune. I couldn't recall the name all this time which isn't too odd for me. I don't think it holds any signifcance over any other hymn I could be humming. I really don't know why this one in particular should come up so often (like this morning).
First Presbyterian sings had their bell choir perform during offeratory today. They performed "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." As you've no doubt guessed, THAT's the hymn I've been humming for 3+ months. Sign? Coincidence? Law of numbers?
I'm still a ways from deciding, I know this. I wanted to share though some of my thoughts. These thoughts are less coherent than I had understood them to be at the outset of this venture. I apologize and I hate typing at a glowing screen for an hour. In light of this hatred let me wish you all a pleasant afternoon and convey my hopes that you are all healthy and safe and happy. Until next time (estimated to be March of 2014)
Grace United Methodist
I've visited twice and don't much care for it. The first visit was on Independence Day and I wasn't certain that the person delivering the sermon was the regular pastor. So right off I definitely had to come back in case he isn't. I came back. He is. His first sermon was angry for the most part. that's ok once in a while but not a great first impression. More bothersome was that it didn't seem cohesive. He would run off the subject with whatever associated thought had run into his head, the tangents were the angriest bits too. I didn't disagree with what he was saying but didn't care for his delivery. The second visit the sermon was a video. (...yeah...) It was a video of a guy at one of those big rallies you see on television and can later order the video. He was relating astronomy and God. Not all bad in and of itself although obviously things were showy and affected. This church is a pretty long walk; doable on the reg but not in inclement weather. I had resolved not to return after this second "sermon" but a sweet, little, round Tweedle brother of a man stopped to greet me on the way out. He was friendly and after my standard expositionary exchange asked if I would come back to see them again. I hesitated because I didn't want to tell him, 'no, Mr. Sweet Dumpling Man, your church bugs the crap out of me.' In that moment of hesitation in which I was to gather strength to be gentle but honest in my response he asked again, "won't you?" this time with puupy dog eyes thrown in. "I'll try," I said. And now I think I have to one day, ugh, try again. Of all the... gak. Anyway. I may visit again, but this is not the place. one down.
Liberty United Methodist
This one is up on US23. It is possible to walk there but nowhere near realisticly within walking distance. This had the benefit of having the one early service in a UM church in Delaware. an 8 am service at which my presence may have broken attendence into the double digits. No joke, that's what the pastor said. There's a later service too though. I gather more people come to that but I have no idea how many. Early service was an advantage because my problem falling asleep stems mostly from waking up very early and then while waiting around for service time I would eventually fall asleep again on my futon. This way I could just get ready and go. (I was able to pull a double on this particular Sunday)
This pastor actually happened to be a guy I remember from my trials with a previous church in Lewis Center, OH. He had been an associate pastor there. Lewis Center UM was acctually quite nice too though ultimately I chose Powell. I mentioned my familiarity to the pastor as we had ample opportunity to talk gievn the inescapability of the small congregation. Service was nice, though difficult to judge. (Funny how no matter how small a Methodist congregation gets you still can't pick out any one person singing. We'll just get quieter.) I had intended to go back the next weekend but actually managed to sleep in this time so ended up somewhere else that day. The following weekend I recalled was just a single, late service week so they could get everybody together for a church meeting immediately following. I didn't want to go because I'm not a member (yet). The weekend after that I finally returned. I discovered something about that church meeting I had avoided. They apparently decided there wasn't much point in holding service for a congregation so small you couldn't manage a good game of duck duck goose if you'd wanted. So that was the end of the early service and in all likelihood my reason for attending.
Asbury United Methodist
A hearty walk but easily manageable. Old, stone building gives a pleasing sense of temporal dislocation. Congregation is nice. Some members I recognize from OWU including the university's chaplain. I've visited a few times. I like the pastor and his sermons so far. He seems intellectual. I like the service structure for the most part. Very nice church and a major contender. The central display cross is what is styled as what is sometimes called a Crusader's Cross or Jerusalem Cross. This isn't really detrimental but it's a bit odd for my experience. Some of the common response phrases are different. No choir which isn't a necessary element but I enjoy having them. They do then have special music performances with cellists, singers, organists, etc. Possibly the most bizarre thing is the postlude. I'm used to the postlude playing while everybody exits. Here everybody sits back down and listens to the postlude. Again, not theologically disturbing but I find it odd almost to the point of inappropriate laughter because 'what are we all doing here?' Anyway like I said, contender
William Street United Methodist
Closest. Not five minutes walk. Newerish, small building. affectionately nicknamed "Bill St." The sanctuary is an odd little space. Another friendly congregation. I've visited a few times now and actually attended a few services back when I was a student. There's a choir. They aren't very good but that is wholly immaterial to the matter. There are some OWU and MethTheSchOH students I guess. I like the pastor and her sermons so far, usually. My two most recent visits were a bit off the beaten path. One message time was taken up with "God sightings" for which members of the congregation were solicited for photos in previous months. They show the photos on the projector and then that person or anyone else who wants may speak to how they see God in that moment. It's not a terrible idea for something to do every once in a great while. It's harder to get any kind of lesson or instruction in such an occasion. the following Sunday, Labor day weekend, we were actually split into groups and encouraged to talk to one another about our jobs and how we work for others and God through our employment. again not bad. A bit unfortunate that they fell back to back like that. Fortunately I'd had previous experience with this particular church so I know this isn't the norm. This is the other major contender.
First Presbyterian
I figure I'm most likely to cling to a United Methodist church given my background and familiarity but since none of them is OBVIOUSLY the one I may as well try out some other denoms (that's cool talk for "denominations"). I had been thinking about trying this one out. I'd never been to a Presbyterian service before, not even when I was a student, and I am curious. This was prompted further by the book I am reading currently in which the local church is a "Scottish Rite church." So what the hey? This was this morning by the way. Very nice little lady greeted me at the door. Congregation seems nice enough but maybe a little more distant than most UMs I've been visited. I though too am maybe a bit more distant than other UMers. The building is nice enough but apparently there will be some remodeling soon. I don't know any details there. Visiting a different denomination (that's uncool talk for "denom") is always a bit odd. Like the asbury church the phrases are different than the ones I've repeated most of my life. I may not know some of the hymns. In this specific case they use a different translation of The Lord's Prayer- that can be irksome for insubstantial reasons. I'm sure communion will be a bit strange but I wouldn't know that for a another couple of weeks at least. Only the one service so far so not much to go on but it was lovely. The pastor seems nice. Not a great job with today's sermon I thought. She spent the first five minutes recapping the Bible passage she had JUST read. I also couldn't follow some of her analogies. I'd like to visit again though. There's a choir and a bell choir that played today. Amongst their number I recognized a former professor/director of mine, Dr. Rabby. Wow. What if I went to church with Dr. Rabby? I'd like to go back a couple times. Also... to be continued...
Some things to consider here: I prefer traditional services; the more traditional the better, meaning the closer to the services of my childhood, the better. Overhead projections are helpful and I actually do not object to their use. I like to use hymnals and Bibles when I can though. No Bibles in the pews at Bill St., can you believe that? None of these churches even offers a contemporary service so we're in the clear on that point. I prefer unlevened bread for communion, I'm not sure who all does what but if I recall Bill St. has pita, Asbury uses the fluffy stuff. Of one particular note, I actually prefer the Old One-Hundredth version of the doxology to the Creatures of Our God and King contemporary version. I can find this almost no where in the armsful of churhces I've visited or attended in the past couple years. None of these UMs do this. First Presbyterian DOES do this. It was very nice. These aren't huge deals, any of them. Very minor things. Still they comfort me.
Presby continued...
After church or before church (as this morning) I will wander about this small town of Delaware, Ohio (DEOH) and since I do not carry my ipod to/from service I will usually hum or whistle. On Sundays I will without exception hum a hymn. I know very few actual words but that's just as well because I cannot sing worth a lick. It so happens that there is one hymn in particular that I have hummed more regularly than any other. Even when I start with another hymn, if I go long enough, I will eventually end up back at this one tune. I couldn't recall the name all this time which isn't too odd for me. I don't think it holds any signifcance over any other hymn I could be humming. I really don't know why this one in particular should come up so often (like this morning).
First Presbyterian sings had their bell choir perform during offeratory today. They performed "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." As you've no doubt guessed, THAT's the hymn I've been humming for 3+ months. Sign? Coincidence? Law of numbers?
I'm still a ways from deciding, I know this. I wanted to share though some of my thoughts. These thoughts are less coherent than I had understood them to be at the outset of this venture. I apologize and I hate typing at a glowing screen for an hour. In light of this hatred let me wish you all a pleasant afternoon and convey my hopes that you are all healthy and safe and happy. Until next time (estimated to be March of 2014)