Larger-size Lutheran church near Houston?

[ZeroTX]

On the off chance that there's a Houston-native on this board... Me and my girlfriend (well, girl I am dating) have been looking at Lutheran churches. She's Catholic and I'm Non-denom/Baptist-roots. I like what I've read about Lutheran beliefs, as has she. However, the church we visited last week, with an average of around 300 per week attendance, we felt was too small. It's not that "quantity" is important, but it is important to find a congregation in which you feel "at home" and that means having people your own age and situation. There were a lot of children and a lot of people older than us... We're both in our 20's, both never married, both no children. It seems our demographic is virtually unrepresented in many churches.

However, a larger church will always have more of every demographic, including our own. Her Catholic church has 7,000 members. My non-denomenational church has 10,000 members and an average of 12,000 per week attendance (3 services). I've been unable to locate a Lutheran church in Houston that even has 1,000 weekly attendance.

I'm concerned that we won't be able to find a congregation with our demographics.... Which could make all the difference. For both of us, our present churches have exactly what we need. Unfortunately, I'm pretty strong on the belief that I could not accept Catholicism (due primarily to the Papacy), and she's pretty fervent in the assertion that the Baptist-style communion is not acceptable to her (she is pretty set on the "real presence" belief). I, on the other hand, am willing to make concessions, as I don't believe that ANY church denomination controls my relationship with God. I can worship anywhere... But I am disallowed from participating in Catholic Mass without becoming a Catholic -- which I cannot do....

Anyway. That's getting off topic... on-topic: Is there a BIG church here?

Note: We both live in opposite suburbs of Houston (note: Houston is the largest city in the United States by geographical area covered and 4th largest in population).. so, by "Houston" I mean Houston and Suburbs...

Thanks,

Michael

 

[LuxPerpetua]

Here is a Congregation locator:

http://www.lcms.org/locators/nchurches/church.asp

I also come from a huge church of 10,000 members (Baptist), but personally I love smaller congregations now. It took a little getting used to, but there is something to knowing everyone and having the minister know your name. I love it and would never attend a church with more than 300 now. Just a thought.

 

[ByzantineDixie]

Here is a website that will help you locate a Lutheran church in your area.

http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/locators/nchurches/church.asp

In Houston proper I found Gloria Dei...worships 1696 on average each Sunday. Their website is here:

http://www.gdlc.org/

St. Mark's worships 900 and something each month. I do not know the 'burb names so couldn't check them out.

Let us know how your search is going and if there is any help we can offer.

Peace

Rose

 

[Phoebe]

You'd be hard pressed to find any church with very many 20 somethings attending. Between the ages of 18 and 26, many people break away from the church for a time. Most return when they begin having families.

http://www.elca.org/ScriptLib/OS/Congregations/cdsSearch.asp?state=TX&city=Houston&x=39&y=15

 

[ZeroTX]

You'd be hard pressed to find any church with very many 20 somethings attending. Between the ages of 18 and 26, many people break away from the church for a time. Most return when they begin having families.

http://www.elca.org/ScriptLib/OS/Congregations/cdsSearch.asp?state=TX&city=Houston&x=39&y=15

Well, if you take a church of thousands.... it's not so hard to have a considerable group in my age range. One thing though, we (people my age, as well as youths) are looking for something above average in terms of the sermon and presentation. That's why I joined the church I'm in now... They're revolutionary. They use multi-media (music, video), drama (acting out, self-produced videos, frequently using comedy as a tool), and extremely relevant sermons from an extremely likeable, vibrant, refreshing, intelligent, funny, well-spoken pastor who single-handedly started the church 10 years ago and grew 10,000 members!

So yeah. That's a lot to live up to.... The things that some might not like (particularly a Catholic or ex-Catholic) are the missing rituals... communion is done as an entire congregation only a few occasions per year (though it is offered at the end of each service for those who wish to partake), there's no "liturgy" as it is in the Catholic or Lutheran churches, the pastors don't wear robes... in fact, they usually wear "business casual" or somewhere between "business casual" and "business (suit)"... Outside of the service, you're likely to see them in jeans, being regular people. I love it..... but if I can find a church body that is equally enjoyable and also meets her "ritualistic" needs, I'm open.

thanks guys,

Michael

 

[LuxPerpetua]

Maybe you could attend a liturgical church on Sunday morning and your Baptist???church on Sunday evening and Wednesdays. Just a thought.

 

[Lotar]

The Calvary Chapel church I am leaving has over 16000 members, I can say I'll be happy to leave it Too big.

I know what you mean though, imagine trying to find a church with 23 year olds, even in the mega-churches they are rare. But remember, 300 is actually a large church. The largest Lutheran church around here has 300-400 weekly. Most of the younger people wonder for a while, or get siphoned off by the mega-churches. They tend to not return until they have children or, like me, they become disillusioned with the modern-generic-evangelical-megachurchism.

 

[LuxPerpetua]

I get really bummed about not having anyone my age at church. Usually if there are a few people in their early twenties they are usually single and since I'm married I feel like I'm in a totally different time of my life from them. Needless to say, I've given up trying to fit in with the few 20-somethings in church and just hang out with the stay-at-home mom crowd.

 

[ByzantineDixie]

Just a word of encouragement for you young folks out there...sometimes God will use you as the catalyst or as the anchor for a younger group He plans to reach.

Shortly after we joined our church a young couple started attending. She was pregnant with her first child. I felt so sorry for them! There just were no others their age and in their life stage in our congregation. They had their baby, brought the baby to church and suffered under the steel eyed glances of the older folks who had long since lost their tolerance for the antics of children in church. I can not tell you how ugly our congregation was about this. There were constant comments to the couple to use the cry room or leave the child with the babysitter. But she held her ground. She wanted to make certain her son attended church and I strongly applaud her for taking this stance. (Now...to be sure...when the baby started crying or was unacceptably disruptive she took the baby from the sanctuary. We are not talking "anything goes" here.)

That was about 5 years ago. Time passed. We got a new (young) pastor. A new choir director (the old one was the number one complainant regarding noise from children in the service). (We actually had another couple return to church when they heard the new pastor was not shhing children during the service any longer.) Today...that original couple leads an adult bible study on Sunday morning where parents along with their infants / toddlers attend. It has become its own small group of young couples with small kids.

I think the key to selecting a church is less about what the church can do for you than it is about what God would have you do in that church. My only caveat would be to make certain the church is alive in Christ...there are some DEAD ones out there. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you in your decision...He will!

Peace

Rose

 

[ChiRho]

Just a word of encouragement for you young folks out there...sometimes God will use you as the catalyst or as the anchor for a younger group He plans to reach.

Shortly after we joined our church a young couple started attending. She was pregnant with her first child. I felt so sorry for them! There just were no others their age and in their life stage in our congregation. They had their baby, brought the baby to church and suffered under the steel eyed glances of the older folks who had long since lost their tolerance for the antics of children in church. I can not tell you how ugly our congregation was about this. There were constant comments to the couple to use the cry room or leave the child with the babysitter. But she held her ground. She wanted to make certain her son attended church and I strongly applaud her for taking this stance. (Now...to be sure...when the baby started crying or was unacceptably disruptive she took the baby from the sanctuary. We are not talking "anything goes" here.)

That was about 5 years ago. Time passed. We got a new (young) pastor. A new choir director (the old one was the number one complainant regarding noise from children in the service). (We actually had another couple return to church when they heard the new pastor was not shhing children during the service any longer.) Today...that original couple leads an adult bible study on Sunday morning where parents along with their infants / toddlers attend. It has become its own small group of young couples with small kids.

I think the key to selecting a church is less about what the church can do for you than it is about what God would have you do in that church. My only caveat would be to make certain the church is alive in Christ...there are some DEAD ones out there. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you in your decision...He will!

Peace

Rose

Unbelievable! "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me..." Babies belong in the Divine Service! They, just like the rest of us, need to hear the Promise of Salvation! We are a Lutheran Church that proclaims the truth that infants can and certainly do have faith...we need to follow up on what we believe. I am glad the family stood their ground! One of the major reasons I despise modern evangelicalism is the fact that they seperate the children from the Word, under the false presupposition that the children are "without the reasoning ability to make a conscience decision to follow Christ!" FAITH IS NOT AN INTELLECTUAL DECISION!! That is the foolishness of man and the work of Satan!

I wish I had the wrought-iron faith of an infant!!!

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

 

[LuxPerpetua]

Excellent advice and words of encouragement, Rose!