As most of you know, we've been searching for our church home since we moved to Airdrie in the fall of 2008. We've visited many and gone to more than one service at most. Actually, the majority of our search has resulted in a few months stay at one denomination or another. Our last church was baptist, which is the denomination I where I was baptized 10 year ago. I later joined the United Church of Canada, which is where my heart has stayed for all these years. After having a family it was important to me that we seek out a church that fits for all of us. We attended Airdrie United for a few months and my husband's new found curiosity for the Christian faith led us to the Roman Catholic Church for a year, but when it came time to convert my husband was leery on the notion that he had to attend classes to "become" a Christian. He strongly believed that it wasn't the church's place to decide when or if he was ready for baptism, because that is between him and God (a decision I fully support). So we went to Knox United in downtown Calgary and the fact that they were an affirming congregation was extremely wonderful, but the drive was a challenge. Then came the local baptist church around the corner and it's main perk, which was walking distance. With the baptist church Morgan wasn't too happy there as he had a bad experience in Sunday School, that totally turned him right off. After many months of talking and trying to work something out, he finally said to me that he'd really like to go back to the church we first went to. He described it only the way a child can, "the place with the stairs in the back, with a special place for the kids to play and draw and stuff, where the adults are. They have cookies there too. You know, the one that's not boring for kids" I knew right away that he was talking about Airdrie United. So I fired off an email to Rev. Dave. I wasn't going to waste a moment, because when children finally tell you where they want to learn and express their faith you run with it!!!
Today we went back to Airdrie United Church. The more than two and a half years of our searching brought us full circle and it was wonderful. Thanks to a quick response from Rev. Dave, I was able to prepare Morgan for it being a little different, seeing as they're going through some renovations right now in the church building and worship service is being held in the CE building next door. Even with the slight change in location, it was like we'd just been there last Sunday. Morgan was extrememly happy to be colouring on the floor during the service and he didn't complain even once. It was a thrill for him to see a tiny baby's baptism and he was so happy that he even helped tidy up the chairs at the end of the service.
We're all very excited for the beginning of sunday school in September. I'm so glad that this is the church he's chosen and that I can relax and know that he's happy learning about God! I think Adam's even happy, seeing as there's a few men he knows there. I'm praying and hoping that this circle has brough us to where we're making our church home, once and for all :)
The closing hymn from today, which I think is quite fitting:
3 comments:
Sounds like a great church -- and right in Airdrie too so no long drive!
Linked from RCUBES. Congratulations on finding a church. I'm a minister, so I hear a lot of stories about how people are looking, what they are looking for. I did a post a couple of weeks back (on Family Fountain) about church styles. You might find that interesting now that your search is over. Will also be posting soon on different styles of spirituality.
You have a nice blog. wb
I'm definitely encouraged that we are about to settle into our church home. I love it even more for it's traditional hymns, while still being able to be spiritually open to different ideas :)
Thank you very much Warren and I'll definitely be reading your blog and some of your writing about church syles. I love reading about faith based matters and how people express it.
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