The dreaded church search. Yep, I did it again. After attending three different churches during my three years at PHC, the church we were at decided that due to overflow in the building, they would cut each of the services down to one hour. The result: 20 minutes worship, 5-10 minutes of announcements/tithe, and a 20-30 minute sermon. Followed by another service 15 minutes later, resulting in a sanctuary and lobby so packed that fellowship was impossible because conversations couldn't be heard. All other elements of church were moved to Sunday night service - meaning that if we wanted toparticipate in communion or get involved in a small group, we would have to forgo our service in AWANA. And the sermons, much shorter than they used to be, lost their depth. Milk, and not meat. Josh and I made the decision to move on for the sake of our spiritual growth as we enter a new phase of life.
And here we are, at a Presbyterian church (neither of us have ever attended a Presbyterian church) that meets in a middle school. The pastor spoke 3 out of the first 6 times we were there. It's small,the elders take turns preaching when the pastor is out, and the music is not fantastic (although they choose good songs). The pastor gives excellent, deep, well-researched and supported sermons. But then, we didn't get to hear him the first week!
What made us stay after the first week to give it a second chance is that the Body of Christ is in effect there in a way I have never witnessed in a church, particularly in the area of hospitality.
We have been attended there for almost two months. Our first week there, we were approached by five different people who, after they found out we were moving, asked if we needed help moving. We walked out with the business cards of both the youth pastor and the pastor with numbers to call when we moved. And they were serious. Since we had no furniture, we didn't take them up on it (two carloads of boxes isn't exactly worth the time). But in the time since, we've witnessed the system with which the entire church shows up to help move someone in.
We have been invited over for a meal three times. Once, a homeschool family invited both us and another new couple over for lunch so we got to know not only a member family, but another set of newlyweds new to the church. Yay for meeting people in the same walk of life! The dad and the kids prepared the house and the meal for us, as mom was out of the town the day before. We found that to be a sweet act of service.
Then just last night, a woman dropped by our apartment with a plate of warm, freshly-baked sticky buns. "I took my daughter to college this week, so I had the house to myself and thought I'd do some baking to share with y'all. Welcome to church!" she said.
I've attended generous churches, churches with good teaching, small churches, large churches, churches where the pastors sincerely love the Lord. I have never attended a church so hospitable. Maybe it's because we're not just college students anymore - college students tend to be overlooked and lumped in with the rest of the college-aged kids. But I doubt it. This church teaches and lives the concept of hospitality as a command.
And you know what? It's contagious. Ever since I was little, I didn't like having people over because I was too shy to enjoy conversation. It is SO easy in a tiny apartment with worn out carpet, a small food budget, and only four chairs to make excuses for not having people over. But I'm learning through this church that the quality of the cooking and the beauty of the home are not substitutes for the ministry that goes on when the church is actively building relationships on a personal level. So we're inviting some students over for games and dessert on Saturday. :)
May I remember this lesson forever - hospitality signifies the establishment of relationships and draws people into the Body of Christ.
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