- Jul 4, 2023
- 807
- 140
- 69
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Faith
- Protestant
- Marital Status
- Single
At home group it is almost all one of couples (either husband or wife attends), plus me, plus a couple older than me.
I've not been offered membership yet which is either because I don't understand the web page wording that I am supposed to send an E-mail assenting to and don't understand discipline (which they don't want to explain), or because I live outside their usual catchment area (someone friendly gives me lifts to the group I'm mentioning as that's not reachable by bus).
The usual host is very, very quiet indeed.
The usual leader is the elderly married man who is deaf. He sits a long way in front of me and to the right. His wife sits some way to the left of me. She asks lots of questions.
Every time I answer I get told by her husband that I am off topic. Personally I think she should be told not to ask questions. Also that they have got to sit next to each other from now on.
The group material is usually a questionnaire on Sunday's reading and sermon, which i find it difficult to follow because i think it leads them to not think out meanings of Scriptures.
For the last few months there have not been any more questionnaires. Also it gets cancelled most weeks. Often I was feeling unwell and on balance didn't want to bother if I am likely to be told I am speaking out of turn.
Shall I ask if there is a different group reachable by bus, or not bother with groups?
At a lovely lunch someone hosted for newcomers, that I went to, there was no mention of membership.
A few years ago, when we had the minister with us, there were always so many takers for those lunches I was twice among those who couldn't be accommodated. The recently arrived assistant is titled assistant pastor and we are hoping for a pastor (or will he be called minister?) after which the assistant will return to his native region. Both he and the old Minister were / are very good and nice men.
The sermons from the minister and assistant were / are good but those from elders, not. The theology of that church is good enough in parts, as long as they are alert enough to care about meanings. I have never signed any document at a church in all my life.
They do seem poor at organising, overall. It's a very good thing I came across them.
There may be a roughly suitable church nearer my home but there is always a long period when they wonder where you have come from and what you are doing there, isn't there?
I've not been offered membership yet which is either because I don't understand the web page wording that I am supposed to send an E-mail assenting to and don't understand discipline (which they don't want to explain), or because I live outside their usual catchment area (someone friendly gives me lifts to the group I'm mentioning as that's not reachable by bus).
The usual host is very, very quiet indeed.
The usual leader is the elderly married man who is deaf. He sits a long way in front of me and to the right. His wife sits some way to the left of me. She asks lots of questions.
Every time I answer I get told by her husband that I am off topic. Personally I think she should be told not to ask questions. Also that they have got to sit next to each other from now on.
The group material is usually a questionnaire on Sunday's reading and sermon, which i find it difficult to follow because i think it leads them to not think out meanings of Scriptures.
For the last few months there have not been any more questionnaires. Also it gets cancelled most weeks. Often I was feeling unwell and on balance didn't want to bother if I am likely to be told I am speaking out of turn.
Shall I ask if there is a different group reachable by bus, or not bother with groups?
At a lovely lunch someone hosted for newcomers, that I went to, there was no mention of membership.
A few years ago, when we had the minister with us, there were always so many takers for those lunches I was twice among those who couldn't be accommodated. The recently arrived assistant is titled assistant pastor and we are hoping for a pastor (or will he be called minister?) after which the assistant will return to his native region. Both he and the old Minister were / are very good and nice men.
The sermons from the minister and assistant were / are good but those from elders, not. The theology of that church is good enough in parts, as long as they are alert enough to care about meanings. I have never signed any document at a church in all my life.
They do seem poor at organising, overall. It's a very good thing I came across them.
There may be a roughly suitable church nearer my home but there is always a long period when they wonder where you have come from and what you are doing there, isn't there?