A live version 'Google machine'

I attended a new church with my dad this weekend. It was the first time since the closing of the Congregation Church in New Richland that we have attended the same service. Dad tried a couple different churches before deciding on Christ Community Church in Waseca. (I attend church with Deb in Wilton from time to time.) 

 

My dad told me beforehand that I should expect a different church experience from any I’d had before. It would be laid back with lots of music, he told me.

 

I don’t think I would venture to say it was all that different from other services.

 

I enjoyed the music. It was not the typical hymnal and piano music I grew up with (which I also enjoy). 

 

The Bible reading and sermon were essentially combined. I liked that. 

 

Pastor Rick Wolf would read scripture, and translate what was happening into more modern terms. I do read my Bible and I read the entire New Testament alone for the first time last year. There are numerous times where parts are confusing. Reading alone, Google was helpful. 

 

Pastor Rick served as a live version ‘Google machine.’

 

I almost felt like I was in class, learning. 

 

I also like scripture readings on their own and sermons on their own, as has been my experience. Those two parts and the music are my favorite parts of a church service.

 

This type of service was a new experience for me. One which I’ll have to try again before determining if I have a preference.

 

I understand why my dad likes it. The people were very kind, I recognized numerous faces in the room. However, I am not used to services with that many people. It was not a bad thing by any means.

 

Attending church in Wilton with Deb feels similar to my home, now retired, church. Classic music, service, scripture reading and sermon. I enjoy the Rev. Larry Sipe’s sermons. He does a good job. 

 

After church we chatted with a few folks. I was asked if the girl I wrote about in my column was my girlfriend. She is not. Both Deb and my Dad said Madi sounded like marriage material from my writing. I told Deb I’m glad I gave the nice ladies who read my column something to talk about around the tea table.

 

Mind you, the person who asked about Madi I had not met before. But they knew me from my column. 

 

I met Pastor Rick Wolf briefly, and after chatting, my dad and I departed.

 

My dad went to the office and I went to watch the Vikings game with my friends. Dad later said he picked a bad game to skip. I told him I had invited him to watch the game and reminded him I was optimistic.

 

I think the moral of my column this week is simply a snapshot of my journey to call a church home. And to publicly tell my dad I told him so.

 

"Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation." - David Elton Trueblood