Are You There God? It's Me, Michelle

So, I'm in the market for a new church and I've been checking out what my new town has to offer. Church for me, for the most part, has always been a good experience, draws me closer to a sense of equilibrium, closer to God.

I have not been to church in over two years, since moving down here and living up in Massachusetts. Whenever I went home to NY I'd try to catch Sunday masses or if not, then weekday masses. I still pray and when I go walking I see and feel God in everything around me, but only recently have I started walking again and I don't think saying "oh God" in bed constitutes prayer.

So, feeling disconnected and since it's a Sunday I went online and saw the choices I had. I picked four interesting/safe/ooh huh?/hmm churches, from the town website.

First was "The Church On The Edge" which is actually held at the Loop and not in my town, but funny enough, Rich and I stumbled upon the Loop the other day while driving around (is this a sign from God?). They claim to create "F.U.N." people. People who focus, unite, and nurture in God's love and purpose. It actually looks as if they're all older people trying to gear towards the younger gen. and missing it by a few notches. What's interesting is that it seems more like a convention meeting with topics and series rather than what I was used to...

Which is the good ol' Catholic Church, safe, something I'm used to and comfortable with, something that doesn't really change and something cold and aloof and prudish. It's actually held at the high school cafeteria and that's different from all the little chapels and churches I've stepped foot in all my life. I wonder if they'll have holy water beside the double doors of the cafeteria, and will I have to sit on benches or individual seats...

The next one, which is the town's community church, is also held at the high school but a half hour after those prude-y Catholics leave. What's a little daunting is that they claim "you'll be met by the friendliest people in the whole world. You are guaranteed not to make it to your seat before someone introduces themselves and asks you to sit with them ". Ahh. That sort of throws out a few warning signs because I like the anonimity of my Catholic Church, except for that purge in the middle/end where we shake hands with our neighbors. Then I scroll down further and get a little more disappointed because they spelled "plugged" wrong. So instead they write "get pluged in" which sounds like a dirty deed with other congregators. hmm. I hate bad spelling. I pluged it in my ear!!!

The last one, the church worship held at the AMC movie theater, their website looks like a tech site where I buy junk for my ipod and computer. What I like is that I can get their podcasts and watch a sermon video and download free music for a limited time*. Also dress is casual which is kewl, although, I do like to dress up once in a while for church.

What's odd is, are they all going that direction where it's just about Christianity and some other religions thrown in once in a while and no staunch, real sect and denomination? I'm more unstable now than when I began!

Maybe every Sunday I'll try a different church. I'll even attend the Havdalah Shabbat Service next Saturday at Temple. I'll be a progressive theologist. Going to church or temple, mosque or cafeteria every Saturday/Sunday. In a way, I rock this idea (still trying out a new phrase) because by being a part of everything I will know my fellow man and perhaps find the understanding I need to be less judgmental, more forgiving, more Godlike. Who doesn't want to be a god or, goddess, in my case. Or I'll just become so oversaturated that I don't care about anything or anyone. Really it all boils down to the same thing, which is, we're all the same so we're all screwed.

What a good way to start the morning!
Cheers,
Me.

*You cannot download free music for a limited time!!