Pamela's Brain Explained...

Just found jud's comment a few blogs down about CFC being not being a family church - just thought i'd explain myself because i dont think i got my point across too clearly. I do think that CFC is a family church - it is not just a student church or youth church - I dont want to give out labels like that. What i meant comes from thinking about what i needed to find in a church that i could go to at nighttime. Originally my plan was to find somewhere where the worship or teaching was what i would choose. Somewhere where i could learn and be challenged, somewhere i could worship in a style where i would feel free to be myself and worship in my own way. I'm reluctant to say that its somewhere where i would get something; because worship is not about me. The second criteria was that it would be close enough to walk to.

After going to a couple of different churches i quickly realised that if i didnt want to leave knock i was going to have to find a church where my heart wouldnt feel torn between two places - for example EBM. I have thought about moving to go to EBM before and decided against it because i was just looking for a church that didnt have the same problems that i can see in knock - but then every church has its problems - so i decided against moving. If i went to EBM at night i know people, im comfortable, i feel at home.

A wanted to go to a nighttime service where i wouldnt feel torn. I've been going to CFC at night for 2 months and i dont know anyone. I'm not looking for a church family to be a part of, I have a church family at knock. What i was looking for was somewhere for worship and teaching, where i could get teaching because when i'm out at sunday school im not in church for a month. but i dont think that came across too well.

I have a real respect for CFC - for all that they do in all their different services, for their vision, for their outreach into the community in all the things they do - the last one i noticed was a poster for english as a second language classes which is such a good thing to be doing. Im amazed at all the childrens and youth things they run as well as the fact that their 3 services a day are packed. So i definately think CFC is a family church - but its not a family that by going to 3rd service everyweek that i will get so involved with that i will feel torn between there and knock where i know people, i recognise people, i know how things work, i know the layout, style and ins and outs of. A place where i'm comfortable - I guess what im trying to call it is a home. If i got fully involved in cfc yes i probably would consider moving because it would become a place like that for me to, but im not going to get to that place by just going to 3rd service and slipping in and out of church quietly.

Its not a perfect plan and honestly it is treating it a bit like a christian event like mannafest - buit its what i need at the moment. Its all to easy for me to get caught up in doing things that i go for a long time without spending anytime on my own with god, any time learning growing and being challenged because im not disciplined enough and my quiet times honestly are far and few between or else rushed. Its not a perfect plan but its a step that i feel is right for me.

Feel free to question or comment and i'll try again to explain my thinking...