homechurch - Tammy (and anybody else!)
Posted by: The5Kims <The5Kims@...>
gladheart@alaska.com writes:
>
> First, I haven't ignored your requests regarding homechurch. I just don't
> know what really to say. We are meeting in our homes because of lack of a
> Godly fellowship nearby. Also our family loves the intimacy of a close knit
> body, it is so difficult to really get to know one another, to love,
> encourage and exhort if we meet only once weekly in a typical church
> setting. It may be done, but it is difficult...
Yes Tammy, our church has "small groups" set up which is a way to have
intimate fellowship with others in our church and to have some accountability
as well as people who regularly pray for each other. We don't belong to one.
Our church has somewhere around 2000 people in two services. We haven't
joined one because we don't seem to "fit" in ... well it seems that way
looking in from the outside.
My husband was not raised going to church but as a young child "heard" Jesus
speak to him saying that He had something special planned for his life. He
has always had a personal relationship with God. But he has never seen any
reason to actual attend church. The only part he truly enjoys is the
teaching. He wishes that he could just slip into the back for that part
only. But he attends the whole thing with the children and me.
The flip side is that our children are soooooo involved in church that it
nearly drives me crazy. Jaclyn (9) sings in the children's choir, dances
with the liturgical dances, attends a Bible study group for 5/6 graders on
Wednesday, and plays in a strings ensemble. Of course she goes to church and
Sunday School too.
Cody (11) plays in the orchestra and string ensemble, participates in the
creative movement (with sticks to songs), attends church and jr. high S.S.
He has just dropped Wednesday night jr.high group because I wasn't pleased
with the program.
I fall somewhere in between. I'm 44 years old and I'm just tired of going to
church. I've been doing it all my life and lately I've just felt like "why
do I have to do it every week?" I know this sounds awful and I don't mean it
to be. It is just rather honest. The kids don't know I feel this way. I
don't let it show. We have a great pastor who teaches from the Bible each
week and I always learn something new or am reminded of something that I
already know but haven't thought of for a while. Each week, I continue
searching the scriptures or reading more of the particular passage from his
sermon. So I am spiritually feed at church.
I truly think that I am tired of the big church (which appreciates my
children's talents and so readily accepts them into every program - which I
am so thankful for) and all the effort that it takes to talk to everyone.
(Don't I sound awful! I don't mean to.) I guess I am ready for that small
intimate feeling that I assume that a homechurch would offer. I can imagine,
though, that a homechurch could imitate some of the very same problems that a
church could have too. I guess that there would be problems with difference
of opinions, thoughts, and actions. I don't know.
Tammy, could you tell us how many families (and number) that meet each week
with your homechurch. I'm only curious, really. And do you rotate your
meetings from one house to another. Do you share a Sunday meal too? How do
you decide what you will study and does one person lead? In the House2House
magazine, there were two sisters who shared their thoughts about homechurch.
One of the things they said was that they - even the children - could voice
their opinions and thoughts (maybe on theology, maybe not) just like the
adults did and they weren't treated less important. (Really paraphrasing
here. Don't have the article in front of me..)
Anyway, just my rambling thoughts and question.
>
>
~ Robin "And let us not become weary in well doing: for in due season we
shall reap if we faint not." Gal. 6:9