Sunday Sunday..

The absolute worst part of moving is not the actual moving of stuff, the leaving friends behind, the backbreaking actual moving, cleaning and the frustration of finding somewhere to live. No believe it or not the part I like least about moving is finding a church.

I have a feeling this will be a weekly blog theme for a bit.

You see we are not Catholic, Southern Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopal or anyother just find the nearest parish/church and go. We are not liturgical people, much to my father's dismay. Our last church was officially an "evangelical free" church but we'd go to community churches, interdenominational churches or pretty much any church that has reasonable music and bases their beliefs and teachings on the Bible..

I'd like to say we're not picky but apparently I might be. We've been to slain in the spirit churches where the congregation lined up like communion to be slain - people were falling everywhere and wondering why Larry looked so uncomfortable much less still standing, to all african american attendee churches, to a church where the pastor was preaching until the spirit told him to stop. Not sure at what point that was because at 2:00 we bailed... (it started at 10:30 or 11..)  to one where we were told to go to different stations and feel the spirit while music played - one was rocks, one was water - I dunno- to appreciate nature?? We've been to Baptist churches and didn't know to know give our real address on the new person card- because putting a real address or filling that card out means that they will be at your door Wednesday night. I have a whole collection of mugs from baptist churches because it seems that the first time you go you get a mug of candy.  We even attended a Southern Baptist church for 3 yrs because our options were that limited.. I mean really I don't think I'm THAT picky. But I guess we weren't real Baptists since I rarely went Wed night and we all know you need to go Sunday School, Sunday service, Sunday night and Wednesday to be a real Baptist. If you didn't know that I didn't either for the first 2.5 yrs we went there and then I just didn't care that much being a yankee and all...

Anyway, we've kissed ALOT of frogs. And we(I)  thought (I)we'd gotten a method down to find a new church  - and the advent of internet and websites helps alot- but sadly we are still in the frog kissing stage.

Let me take a moment to say once again, I loved our old church. I understand that no church will ever be like it. I'm ok with a few basic requirements. But if they wanted to open a venue I'd be first in line to go.

Church fail #1 - we went on recommendation of a friend we knew from our old church and BSF. I thought if someone was going to be particular about their church this would be it. We get there (late, it was an hour away!) and go the the 'I'm new here' booth to ask where the kids go. Up through 5th grade has the kids' program and were escorted there. 6th and up go so service with adults. There was a point in my life when I believed in the family integrated church... I'm past that now. And while my kids have learned alot listening to our 'adult' sermons from our beloved church it was nice they had an option for the kids that included small groups.  But back to this fail- the sermon had a summary of some TED(?) talk and was a book report about "The Scarlet Letter."  I felt like I was back in the Episcopal church except there were probably 800 people there.. and the liturgy was more than 5 minute. There was referenced to bible verses with out actual reading of those verses ("the bible says to love each other" sort of reference-) and there was 1-2 verses actually quoted.   While I'm sure there were people that need this sort of church.. I really felt like I was in a self improvement seminar with a casual wave to God.

Church fail #2- less a fail but don't see us going back was a recommendation from a realtor we started working with.  On paper and in the website it looked good - I mean they even had "growth groups" which was our beloved church's code for small groups - except they had only 1 for adults and it was monday nights (which we were told from our monday night group it was the hardest night to hold small group on..)  And it was a odd mix. I think it was modeled more on Bethel Church based on their music selection being only from their church. But we go to their "new person" desk - check in and again - only have stuff for kids k-5th grade.   They lost Larry when the  music said to move to the right and move to the left and jump and the congregation was doing it - kinda like the Charlie Brown or Tootsie Roll or whatever that dance is these days..  And the pastor subscribed to The Rock pastor's method of having people repeat words which well, in style points- that's just not us.

I find it ironic that when we moved to what we thought was going to be a drought of Christ followers there was many Bible preaching, very alive churches but here in the Bible belt this seems to be a rare fish.

Still fishing. Still find frogs. Although the fishing and catching snapping turtles is probably a better metaphor to use.

Speaking of fishing.. apparently Larry really loves this whole beach fishing thing. As do the kids. I tell him "my people don't do these sort of things" but they've all learned how to use cast nets and catch shrimp. (pictures at 11:00)  What almost amuses me is the sign that says to leave the alligator alone. THAT would be a better analogy- when you catch the alligator when you're fishing for fish.. apparently you just cut your line and move one. And that's what we're doing - cutting the line and moving on..

That's a cast net.

Joey and the 'kid sized net'

If you're wondering - Shrimping with a Cast net is a low tide, night time activity. This event is taking place about 11pm, good thing we homeschool... the kids would love to cast net all day long, however you can't see what you are catching and they've caught all sorts of things that they weren't trying for- Jelly fish, pencil fish, fish fish, crab and frankly I'm ill equipped to deal with the accidentally caught stuff. Like I say- often  these days- "my people aren't made for this" I'm not sure what of "my people" I'm referring to but my parents weren't sea/water/beach people and I really never acquired a taste for this sort of activity.

living head on shrimp. Their eyes glow orange.