more churchy stuff

Tonite I went to the evening service at Redeemer West Side.

The music was jazz, the sermon was wonderful, and after there were coffee, cookies, and books. I was good and did not buy any books.

Ran into some others from my current church, and we discussed the upcoming meeting with the pastor and elder regarding the music ministry. I'm going to go, but I am afraid it will only cement my decision to leave.

Last Evening

Have recovered from my melodramatic post from the other day.

Last night I went to my first Emergent Village Cohort meeting.
We sat in the lounge of a bar, drinking wine and beer and talking about God.

It was good.

Tony Jones signed my book! I am such a geek. I don't think I embarrassed myself too much tho. I save the fangirling for Stargate Atlantis conventions. Ahem.

Only damper to the evening was the Mets losing in the 10th inning. *sigh*

Anyway I have many new places to check out :)

Church

How much is too much? When do you decide to leave a church? I guess back in the days when there was only one "church", people had no choice. It was either go to church or don't. But nowadays we have way too many choices, esp here where I live. It's incredibly easy to hop from church to church, and I've always sort of looked down on those who do. Since I moved here 16 years I've belonged to two churches, one of which no longer exists. I've always believed in commitment. Dig in my heels, grit my teeth and stay put, no matter what. I tell myself there's no such thing as a perfect church, not in this world.

But how much is too much? When a church refuses to change, to grow? When you no longer can respect the leadership?

On the other hand, when there was only one church and people stayed put, I suppose the church had no choice but to change and grow with the people. When there are so many people coming and going, a church can stay the same and still seem fresh to the new people coming in.

Long story short, for a number of reasons I'm starting to look around for a new church.

I've not officially left the old one yet, and I feel a sadness, almost a mourning, but at the same time a new sense of freedom, like I'm breaking out of an oppressive cocoon and being given a chance to spread my wings.

Oy. Can we say Drama Queen, boys and girls?

I'll miss my friends, tho some I will see, and the majority of them are already gone anyway. I'm looking forward to making new friends and (hopefully) meeting more people who are like me.

Saturday at the beach.

Some pretty piccies from Saturday's outing to the beach are here.
Am quite proud that I survived the gangs of Hells Angels on Jetskis, fishing lines and surfers. Both knees are also slightly exfoliated.

I could make a proper picspam, but I feel lazy. And I like flickr.

Under the beach are pics from the wedding I was in last weekend, if anyone is interested in seeing many dressed up people.