Categories: spirituality
Tags: Church
Date: 13 April 2008 11:37:02
When I moved to my New Home, I was taken to a Methodist church by a friend who had been brought up in that church, but has since moved away. It was relatively similar to both the church that I was brought up in and the church I attended in Swansea. Within a couple of weeks of going there, I met for the first time, someone who I had known for a long time, via small world connections. He told me about an alternative worship church which meets on Sunday evenings in a parish church up the road. So I went along, and found myself settling in quicker than I could have settled in the Methodist church. The average age is much lower, with most people being in their 20s and 30s, and they still have their regular elderly members. We meet at 8pm for a hot drink, the service starts at 8.30 and is led by members of group, and afterwards we all go to the pub. There is instant socialising incorporated around worship, which meant that I made friends quickly. One friend there nicknamed me 'Trouble' within 2 weeks of meeting me! (I don't know where he could have got that impression from... (A) ;) )
For a little while I was attending both churches. But around my shifts, this grew increasingly more difficult. I can go to the alternative worship church after a day shift in work, and even after some weekends away. The only time I tend to miss services is when I'm on nights. Whereas the Methodist church service not only requires me to not be working, not be away, but also awake! If I've worked several long shifts in a row, and then I have a day off on Sunday, I'd often not wake up till after 10am, making getting to a 10.30 service (20 minutes walk) interesting! Consequently I haven't been there since Christmas. I do feel a little bad about this, like I'm going against my roots and all I've previously known. But on the other hand, it doesn't feel like my church. It never has done.
This alt worship church, although separate to the parish church its held in, is part of the local diocese and its official 'leader' is one of the vicars from the parish church. In practice the vicar doesn't do a huge amount to lead it, I've never known him to lead a service and he even delegates the job of chairing the recently formed church council meetings. And services don't bear any resemblance to traditional Anglican services. Its kinda ecumenical, although most members could be classed as 'post evangelical'.
Because of the close connection with the parish church, we're often invited along to events and special services there. The alternative worship church didn't have a service on Easter Sunday, so I went along to the Anglican service instead. Being a Methodist, I'm not used to the 'bells and smells' (as a friend puts it) of traditional Anglican services. But my friends were going, so it felt the natural place to go, rather than the Methodist church which I haven't been to since Christmas.
And its just a bit odd. All my life I've been involved in the life of a Methodist church. Except now. On the other hand, the alt worship church feels right for me at the moment. As much as I love a traditional Methodist service, they can get to the point where they rarely stimulate you. And around my shifts, both spiritually and physically, the 'God time and space' that the alt worship church provides, is often just what I need. Especially after a Difficult Week in work. As well as stimulating me spiritually, its also provided me with a friendship group, a boyfriend and a house (which has just about been confirmed!).