A new chapter
Today marked the last page in a chapter of our life. Towards the end of last year, Brian and I came to the conclusion that we needed to find a new church family closer to home. We've been making the 42-mile drive to Antioch for about a year-and-a-half, and it was just becoming more than we could take. We didn't want to just stop going with no explanation, though. So we let Rick, our worship minister, know about it before we left on our vacation. We also let a few other people know ahead of time... ones we knew would be wondering where we were.
Anyhow, even though he's only known me this short time, Rick knew me well enough to ask if I wanted to be "on" praise team for my last 3 Sundays there. Today marked my last time to sing with the group and I managed to keep it together throughout the service... until after the final song. Virginia just had to go and say how she will miss singing with me. Well, that is all it took. I'm going to miss singing with her and the rest of the gang, too. I am so tired of saying goodbye to people, and the fact that we had been there a short 1 1/2 years doesn't make it easier.
We did get to have lunch at UNO with Rick and Virginia after church, though. It was good to spend time with them. I told Brian on the way home that I really feel like they are a couple we would spend more time with if we lived closer. I have a deep respect for both of them and am going to miss our Wednesday evening praise team rehearsals together. (Hopefully we'll be seeing them soon... there is a Mark Schultz/Big Daddy Weave concert over there in March, and we are planning on going; they may go as well.)
So next week begins our search for a place closer by. We'll be looking outside of our tradition (church of Christ), as the churches nearby are just not a good fit for us. It will be odd... we are used to a cappella worship, so the whole praise band thing feels strange. But worship style is not the most important thing, so we will give it a shot. We'll probably be trying the local Christian church first; I've heard good things about it from another homeschooling mom (who used to attend a church of Christ nearby, but also left for reasons similar to ours).
Have I ever said how much I hate starting over??
7 comments:
Oh, I know how hard this is. I'll be praying for you as you look for another church.
I feel your pain...but the journey gets kind of exciting too...The unfamiliar sometimes stretches the way you think.
Ya'll have had so much change--I pray God will transition you quickly into a family where you feel real roots!!!
Hey, I get a new phone in April. Every two years I get a new phone. What's that have to do with anything? It was two years ago I got a new phone and you left. You're halfway through!! Make sense? Only to my warped mind. Take care. God bless you on your continued journey. JW
All the moving, all the change, all the saying goodbye to people...that's one of the things I hated about being in the military. And I suspect it's twice as hard saying goodbye to a church family. I hope you find the perfect fit closer to home... Just think, when Brian retires you can pick a place, and will never have to leave unless you *want* to...
Karen, I sure do understand that unsettled feeling. It's not an easy place to be. God does provide in some beautiful and unexpected ways, but there are just these things that have to be worked out... visiting churches, all the emotional energy that it takes to meet new people and even feeling like a stranger in a strange church too!
Seriously, this could be the best thing that's happened for you and Brian in a long time. Not to say best equals easy... but *we* will be here for you! We are your community too!
Tons of love to you and your family!
Um... just thought I'd let you know that you are being missed over at my blog! There's a wee note for you in one of the comments.
YOU ARE LOVED!
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