C is for Church...
What is church? That question actually came up on another blog I have stumbled upon. Now, that must mean I have an over abundant amount of time, if I have time to wander and meander around in cyberspace linking to like minded blogs, which is why it is probably a good thing I went to work today...Now I know you are wondering, what blog is that? And since I am now brain dead and don't have the link at my fingertips, I am going to defer the answer till tomorrow. But in the meantime, I will pose that same question here. What is church?
This is what I wrote about church in my upcoming title contested Bible Study:
C is for CHURCH
Church is:
1. The place you drag your kids kicking and screaming on Sunday mornings because that is what “good” families do.
2. The really, really pretty building with stained glass windows that you go to twice a year (Christmas and Easter, in case you weren’t sure…) that is your ticket to heaven.
3. The place where the ladies with blue hair and too many pearls go on Sunday mornings so they can catch up on a week’s worth of gossip.
4. Those of us who serve as Christ’s hands and feet here on Earth. Through service we demonstrate that we are part of the body of Christ and His committed followers on Earth.
I remember vividly the day I went to church, for real, for the first time…the first time I sensed that church was more than four walls. It was a gathering place for the followers of Jesus, committed to serving him as part of his body. For the first time I experienced the true definition of church, a group of people who served as his hands and feet here on earth.
It was an A-Ha moment. And I was in my forties.
Peace.
This is what I wrote about church in my upcoming title contested Bible Study:
C is for CHURCH
Church is:
1. The place you drag your kids kicking and screaming on Sunday mornings because that is what “good” families do.
2. The really, really pretty building with stained glass windows that you go to twice a year (Christmas and Easter, in case you weren’t sure…) that is your ticket to heaven.
3. The place where the ladies with blue hair and too many pearls go on Sunday mornings so they can catch up on a week’s worth of gossip.
4. Those of us who serve as Christ’s hands and feet here on Earth. Through service we demonstrate that we are part of the body of Christ and His committed followers on Earth.
I remember vividly the day I went to church, for real, for the first time…the first time I sensed that church was more than four walls. It was a gathering place for the followers of Jesus, committed to serving him as part of his body. For the first time I experienced the true definition of church, a group of people who served as his hands and feet here on earth.
It was an A-Ha moment. And I was in my forties.
Peace.
Labels: serving, UnDoing Church Bible Study
posted by www.kathypride.com at
11:25 PM
3 Comments:
What you are describing (#4) is what my NT professor in college would have called the "church catholic", as in "little c" catholic, the church universal.
I'm glad you found it!! I hope we ALL do.
We had a great sermon tonight. Gordon taught out of Acts 10, where Peter says, "God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean." (Apparently Jews were not allowed to set foot in a Gentile's house.
He want on to ask, "Who do you consider unclean?" Truthfully, we all have someone, or some group. But he went on to say, if you go far enough down the list, YOU will be on someone's unclean list. I know that's true...I was reminded of some in the church I attended when I got pregnant (unwed) with my daughter... And even now, messy housekeeper, uncouth person that I am, for sure, I am on someone's unclean list.
Quite the perspective.
(I had to laugh at #1, though, as it is quite the opposite at our house. If I don't get my son up in time for church, there will be tears!)
We've discussed this before, but for me, church is where I never fit in. I was made very aware as a child that church was a place where appearances mattered. And you must be on your best behavior (not act like a child). And where, although the minister was always very kind and welcoming as we all filed past him on our way out of services, everyone else there (the blue hairs, especially), sort of looked us up and down LOOKING for some element of us to disapprove and judge.
My memories of Easter services were that I always got a completely new outfit,right down to the dress with matching coat, white gloves and Easter hat. And of course, the black patent leather Mary Janes with pristine white lace edged socks. I loved that part of church!
My parents were primarily C&E Christians, but my grandmother went every Sunday. As a teen, I started going to church more and would sit with her. Those are very warm memories of church, because of her.
I did successfully find a church home for about 9 years when we lived in Albany, and that was because the very first time I went to that church, a man came up to me at coffee hour and talked to me and introduced himself and offered to answer any questions and made me feel welcome without judgment. I ended up joining the choir right away and that was the focus of my church life and I made many friends there.
Church had a different face to show when we moved to MD. I "shopped" at some 15 or so (I lost count) churches, giving each my open mind. After a year or two, I finally gave up. I never felt particularly welcomed or wanted or invited.
I do like churches with stained glass though, particularly the little one in Paris that is almost entirely stained glass. Have you visited the Sainte-Chappelle? And I find the vastness and ancientness of old European churches to be very inspiring.
Sometimes I think we take literacy for granted and forget that the majority of people who attended church "back in the day" were illiterate and the stained glass windows told the story of the life of Christ and the Saints.
Well, that's all for now.
thanks for this, kathy
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