I didn’t grow up in a “liturgical” church, one where we followed the church year, preached from the lectionary, or even had litanies! In our Baptist church, “liturgies” smacked too close to being Catholic, which we felt was non-Christian!
But once a quarter we would have a “litany”, though we didn’t call it that. After communion (yes, once a quarter, alternating between the morning and evening services) we would read the “Church Covenant” found in the back of the Baptist Hymnal, the one Jesus sang from!
But once a quarter we would have a “litany”, though we didn’t call it that. After communion (yes, once a quarter, alternating between the morning and evening services) we would read the “Church Covenant” found in the back of the Baptist Hymnal, the one Jesus sang from!
In the last paragraph we promised “We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church, where we can carry on the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.”
I took that seriously! In fact our Minister of Music and Youth re-emphasized it when he said that when I went to college I should move my membership to another church! This was serious business! So over the course of my life I have been a member of:
First Baptist Cherryville, NC
First Baptist Winston-Salem, NC
Crestwood Baptist Winston Salem, NC
Wrightsboro Baptist Wilmington, NC
Old Town Baptist Winston Salem, NC
LaFayette Baptist Fayetteville, NC
First Baptist Lenoir, NC
Crescent Hill Baptist Louisville, KY
Glade Springs Baptist Blacksburg, VA
First Baptist Lenoir, NC
First Baptist Greenville, SC
Providence Baptist Charleston SC
Gateway Community Church Sanur Bali
(unofficially but while their pastor during a sabbatical.)
Port Williams United Baptist Church, NS
Kernersville Moravian Church, Kernersville, NC
Now in all fairness, most of those have been associated with my job! As a “paid Christian” it was assumed that I would be a member. To be honest, though I would have joined most of them anyway!
But all that changed last June! I retired from “full-time ministry” and for the first time in over 40 years I really had a choice! Would I go to church? If so, where?
My family will tell you that the first question wasn’t really up for conversation. Going to church is more than what I do. I did a sermon back in 2007 about the Big Deal about Joining a Church. It wasn’t just a sermon, but my truth. I need church! It is who I am; it is how I tell time; it is how I center myself in the world. I need a community of people to remind me of the truth I want to live, to give me an avenue to put my faith into action.
Going to church wasn’t a question!
But where?
Let me tell you, church shopping is hard! First you have to decide you are going to go. Then where? Today churches are so fragmented that just because there is a denominational name it doesn’t’t tell you anything! Baptist? What kind? Methodist, Episcopalian—which one? And let’s not even talk about “Community” or “Non-Denominational” churches!
We (ok I) spent a lot of time delving through websites. (That is the new front door for churches! No one (well very very few) come in without checking out a church online!
Then there is the where and the when! We have been EXTREMELY fortunate in that our longest commute to church has been 6 miles! In Kernersville we had to walk across the street! What time is the service? It isn’t a lot, but there is a BIG difference between 10:00, 10:30 and 11:00!
All these choices even before you go! Then how do you get in? Where is the sanctuary? Where do you sit? AGHHHHHH! I have so much more appreciation for those brave souls who wander into a sanctuary on Sunday morning!
We did it all! We visited multiple churches, various denominations. We went to one where everything inside me said I should like it. They are doing really good stuff, the theology is right up my line, but it just felt….no! I wanted to like it but just didn’t. Another one could/should write the book on how to welcome visitors, to make them feel at home. Their preacher was wonderful. But then they announced that they are selling their facility and moving somewhere new! And having done new church, I just don’t have that energy. One church has by far the best preacher! (Makes me envious!). They are reaching out to the community and doing leading work with immigrants facing abuse by ICE. But in the end they don’t have a public statement of inclusivity.
So that left the other one! It is a bit further from us. Their theology is in line with us. The pastors have been willing to touch on events going on in our world and city. They have a statement of welcome and inclusion. They have even invited me to preach! (So they are gracious!)
But the music!!!
The bottom line is that we have been spoiled. From Bill Thomas and Glen Adkins in Greenville, to Deanna McBroom in Charleston, to Christianne Rushton in Port Williams to Paula Owens in Kernersville, we have gotten used to a certain level of music. Call me a snob, but when the choir closed Easter worship with the Hallelujah Chorus, the decision was made.
So last Sunday, we joined First Baptist Church Memphis. If you are looking, or ever in the area, come and join me. I will be sitting on the third row in the second section facing the pulpit on the right.
I’ve found a place. I have kept the promise.