I honestly can't believe that we've been down here for 4 weekends. Yesterday marked 1 month since we moved...it's been a difficult journey to say the least. To say Jeremy and I are social butterflies would be inaccurate, but we are definitely missing time with our AVL friends. Thankfully our friends in the CLT area have treated us well! Just can't wait to start meeting people! I'm still jobless (prayer request!!!!) and Jeremy's working like a dog at O'Charley's. (If you're in the area, he's at the O'Charley's in Monroe, and works lunches. He'll take right good care of ya! :))
OK. So we visited another church this week. I let Jeremy pick since none of the ones that I have chosen up until this point turned out to be "good fits". So, Jeremy used some of his best reasoning skills--which one has the latest service time? Just kidding....well, it *did* end up being the one with the latest start time, but he chose it for other reasons. This one is fairly close to where we live, so it only took us 10-12 minutes to get there, which was nice.
It was a little confusing when we got there, because the church's name wasn't prominently displayed on the building, but we found the entrance (only because there were people standing in it :)) and went in. The front lobby area was pretty small, but the sanctuary was rather large. We went in to find seats and no one really talked to us, but, then again, we've gotten kinda used to that. Once the music started, we knew we at least recognized the first song! (I must say that I think 3 of the 4 churches we've visited have all done "Our God"...popular song!) Turns out we knew every song they did! What a welcomed change from the other churches we've attended! I did have to pop out to use the restroom during the 3rd song ("How He Loves", one of Jeremy's favorites--or "How He Loves" if you want to hear the original artist singing it). It was then that I figured out where the rest of the church "space" is....it appears that the church shares space with a gymnastics studio. Seemed like a very good place to have children's activities! But the restrooms were so far away that by the time I got back, I was VERY confused, as the band was playing this little ditty. Apparently I had missed the prayer for the offering and this was their fun way of taking it up. While playing some late '70s rock (ish?). I can definitely see some way(s) you could use that song in a religious setting, but it was definitely a surprise after leaving when I did.
Moving on. The sermon was really good. Jeremy and I both said afterward that it was something we needed to hear this morning. The pastor was relatable and funny, and a very good speaker. As I have alluded to, the band was really good as well. All men (I always have to think if I could "fit in" since music is my thing) and all kinda rocker-looking (several of them with shaved heads). Lead singer had an awesome voice, and the band was spot-on.
So.....this one is a possibility. Jeremy and I both noticed that there wasn't a "greet your neighbor" time, which we both like, and again...no altar or "altar-like" location. I know there are some things we'll have to compromise, and I'd rather compromise that than anything related to beliefs or scripture :)
All-in-all it was a good service, and I can see us visiting again down the road!
Now I've got to convince Jeremy to pick next week, too, since he seems to be having better luck :)
Progress!!
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