How important is church to you?

Grace2022

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I need and love my church. It is an Anglican church, very small congregation. I never miss a Sunday service, I'm on the Rotas for various duties. They are my Christian family, as we sing hymns together and take communion, it strengthens our bonds. Most of them are elderly, I'm the youngest. We like our services serious and quiet. Most of us have experienced hard times, bereavements and serious illnesses etc. I will never forget how they welcomed me and comforted me in their quiet very English way, in my time of sorrow. We live in a small village, a close community. I love it.

For me Sunday morning is church unless I am very ill or some valid reason. I give a lift to other ladies who don't drive. I have many widow friends who get lonely, it is also our social time. Nice chats over coffee afterwards. Often we have lovely chats about our faith and our problems. I cannot live without this fellowship.

So do you attend church, what kind and how vital is it to you?
 
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Sarah G

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My heart is filled with envy reading this, may God forgive me! What a blessing your church must be to the village congregation. It sounds just right; quiet and serious.

I have never found a church that I felt at home in and don't go at all since I moved here (Netherlands) from Britain twelve years ago. I keep praying for the right church and or the right people but it seems to be my destiny to follow a solitary, ascetic path. My atheist husband wouldn't like me to go to church anyway so that is an obstacle in itself.

I suppose CF is my church and Christian family for now.
 
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Grace2022

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My heart is filled with envy reading this, may God forgive me! What a blessing your church must be to the village congregation. It sounds just right; quiet and serious.

I have never found a church that I felt at home in and don't go at all since I moved here (Netherlands) from Britain twelve years ago. I keep praying for the right church and or the right people but it seems to be my destiny to follow a solitary, ascetic path. My atheist husband wouldn't like me to go to church anyway so that is an obstacle in itself.

I suppose CF is my church and Christian family for now.


Hi

Well, my partner is not yet a Christian a d does not go to church. I recommend you talk calmly to your husband to say how important your faith is to you and that you very much wish to attend church on Sunday's. Be firm but nice. If no church near you, how about a housegroup? If no housegroup then start one? Seek other Christian believers. If you cannot do it at your house, then someone else's. If not, meet somewhere else. Fellowship feeds you, nourishes you and each other.
your husband has absolutely no right to stop you!
I am not married to my partner, therefore he has no authority to control me. That's one big reason I will think long before I ever marry him. I love him, but I love Jesus more and He is my foundation. No human being will ever be more important, no human can assure me my eternal salvation. Stand up for yourself! Xx

Xx
 
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Lotuspetal_uk

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I need and love my church. It is an Anglican church, very small congregation. I never miss a Sunday service, I'm on the Rotas for various duties. They are my Christian family, as we sing hymns together and take communion, it strengthens our bonds. Most of them are elderly, I'm the youngest. We like our services serious and quiet. Most of us have experienced hard times, bereavements and serious illnesses etc. I will never forget how they welcomed me and comforted me in their quiet very English way, in my time of sorrow. We live in a small village, a close community. I love it.

For me Sunday morning is church unless I am very ill or some valid reason. I give a lift to other ladies who don't drive. I have many widow friends who get lonely, it is also our social time. Nice chats over coffee afterwards. Often we have lovely chats about our faith and our problems. I cannot live without this fellowship.

So do you attend church, what kind and how vital is it to you?
I regularly attend a local charismatic assembly which has finally been what I call home. We consist of families with small children which has worked out well for my two kids. My teen happens to be the only teen at church so far but she says that she is happy with that.

I did have a wilderness season though when CF was my only place of interacting with other believers a few years back.

The only time I miss church is if I or the kids are ill.
 
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Lotuspetal_uk

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My heart is filled with envy reading this, may God forgive me! What a blessing your church must be to the village congregation. It sounds just right; quiet and serious.

I have never found a church that I felt at home in and don't go at all since I moved here (Netherlands) from Britain twelve years ago. I keep praying for the right church and or the right people but it seems to be my destiny to follow a solitary, ascetic path. My atheist husband wouldn't like me to go to church anyway so that is an obstacle in itself.

I suppose CF is my church and Christian family for now.
I can relate and big hugs to you :hug:

When I was married to my non believing husband he too did not like the idea of me attending church but as you've found out, I got by with CF and learnt so much during that time.

Eventually I pray that you are able to find a fellowship which gels with your husband enough to where you can also gain support from other believers offline as well as here.
 
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Seraphin29

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My heart is filled with envy reading this, may God forgive me! What a blessing your church must be to the village congregation. It sounds just right; quiet and serious.

I have never found a church that I felt at home in and don't go at all since I moved here (Netherlands) from Britain twelve years ago. I keep praying for the right church and or the right people but it seems to be my destiny to follow a solitary, ascetic path. My atheist husband wouldn't like me to go to church anyway so that is an obstacle in itself.

I suppose CF is my church and Christian family for now.
I have recently been through a dry period when I all but stopped going to church. My husband too is a non believer. I stumbled across a local prayer space on a day off & went as often as I could on weekdays off. Eventually felt just like you, full of envy for my Christian friends who were part of a church they loved. So I started googling and praying, and posting on CF for suggestions. I was then drawn to a small church in my city which I went and tried, and loved. I've never felt more at home or more confident and committed to our Lord before. Yes it has caused some issues at home between myself and my husband, they're still ongoing but our God does not start anything he's not capable of seeing through, and I know will not put me through more than I can bear. I still go to the prayer spaces when I can, that's where I really started to encounter God. So try that strange sounding but awesome combination of prayer and googling! Pray that you will have the breakthrough that I had! In His time it will happen!
 
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Grace2022

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I have recently been through a dry period when I all but stopped going to church. My husband too is a non believer. I stumbled across a local prayer space on a day off & went as often as I could on weekdays off. Eventually felt just like you, full of envy for my Christian friends who were part of a church they loved. So I started googling and praying, and posting on CF for suggestions. I was then drawn to a small church in my city which I went and tried, and loved. I've never felt more at

or more confident and committed to our Lord before. Yes it has caused some issues at home between myself and my husband, they're still ongoing but our God does not start anything he's not capable of seeing through, and I know will not put me through more than I can bear. I still go to the prayer spaces when I can, that's where I really started to encounter God. So try that strange sounding but awesome combination of prayer and googling! Pray that you will have the breakthrough that I had! In His time it will happen!
Hi
how wonderful! Well done. X
 
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theFijian

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I need and love my church. It is an Anglican church, very small congregation. I never miss a Sunday service, I'm on the Rotas for various duties. They are my Christian family, as we sing hymns together and take communion, it strengthens our bonds. Most of them are elderly, I'm the youngest. We like our services serious and quiet. Most of us have experienced hard times, bereavements and serious illnesses etc. I will never forget how they welcomed me and comforted me in their quiet very English way, in my time of sorrow. We live in a small village, a close community. I love it.

For me Sunday morning is church unless I am very ill or some valid reason. I give a lift to other ladies who don't drive. I have many widow friends who get lonely, it is also our social time. Nice chats over coffee afterwards. Often we have lovely chats about our faith and our problems. I cannot live without this fellowship.

So do you attend church, what kind and how vital is it to you?
What a wonderful testimony! If we love Jesus then we will love his church for whom he gave his life! May God bless you and your church fellowship.

PS - I will also pray for your partner!
 
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Grace2022

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What a wonderful testimony! If we love Jesus then we will love his church for whom he gave his life! May God bless you and your church fellowship.

PS - I will also pray for your partner!


How lovely you are. I hope you have a nice church to go to? It makes life even more amazing and satisfying. To simply be with other real believers. There amongst us shall be Christ himself. He is here too, on this forum, this is a gathering of His followers too.
Xxx
 
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TheGirlOnFire

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I am looking for a new church, which can be exhausting, at the moment, bible study, CF and youtube is my church at the moment. I really need church though as fellowship and home church is important i feel
 
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StrivingFollower

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Very important. I try to read the bible everyday but I struggle a lot as I read due to a mental health issue. It saddens me at times, but singing in the church and hearing my passionate pastor speak lifts me. I go to a Baptist Church. The pastor's a unique and very talented speaker. Funny too. The music's great. Easy to sing songs with great lyrics and we get good encouragement to sing. The pianist and singers are good and emotional.

I really liked your story, it was nice.
 
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Grace2022

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I am looking for a new church, which can be exhausting, at the moment, bible study, CF and youtube is my church at the moment. I really need church though as fellowship and home church is important i feel

Hi
by the way, are you a fan of Game of Thrones? Your name. I love it too, best best thing on TV ever!

I think it's wonderful you want to find a church, a family of fellow believers. Just be brave, find the nearest and go speak to them. Tell them how you feel, speak to the vicar and I'm sure they will arrange for people there to sit with you, introduce you to everyone.
Church is very important. It lifts you. I love going. It's important too to get involved
, make the tea, be on rotas to do flowers etc.
Good luck in your search. Xx
 
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Seraphin29

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I am looking for a new church, which can be exhausting, at the moment, bible study, CF and youtube is my church at the moment. I really need church though as fellowship and home church is important i feel
I can so relate to your situation! I found a church h only a few weeks ago after being in your situation. Pray& Google! Also try contacting any you're interested in by email, which is what I did. The initial email response from my now 'home' church was considered, informative and open & welcoming.
I also had some great advice from members of this forum when I posted about looking for a church, God worked through those members to bring me to where I am now, belonging to a church I love but still remaining active in outside church Christian groups which work across churches in our city and help to promote amazing unity and fellowship between all Christians.
 
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Seraphin29

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I am looking for a new church, which can be exhausting, at the moment, bible study, CF and youtube is my church at the moment. I really need church though as fellowship and home church is important i feel
Praying!
 
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Remember its not the building that counts, its the people inside who do. Church just means a "called out assembly". So the people make the church, not the building.

I am an introvert, so I don't really go there to socialize, more to just hear the sermon.
 
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Grace2022

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I go for so many reasons. Main one is to worship with others. Chatting after the service is so important. Especially with those who are old and lonely, bereaved, having a hard time. Just to provide a listening ear and perhaps offer a lift to and from church.
The feeling of singing hymns together and taking communion is fabulous. It's a bond between us. My next door neighbour is a marvellous old lady. Yet for years i ignored her as i haughtily thought i knew better. She was a widow, invisible to me as i led my life of pride. Only when i became widowed and realised that i needed God for my very breath did i realise how lonely she must have been all these years. I had had disputes with her about our properties years ago. I had been horrible to her. But she forgave everything in an instant once i told her my husband was dying. She offered her friendship. I am so humbled by her beautiful quiet christian attitude. We have a respectful non intrusive friendship now. She has keys to my house. She knows i am a true believer too. I aim to be like her, her example influences me. So i will spend my life trying to be of assistance to others too. Our congregation is small and elderly. I love them so much. They helped me through the darkest times after my husband died. Just by being consistent and kind.

A church family can transform your life. I believe we need to be with other christians regularly. Being isolated and struggling is no good. Life is joy if you really join in.
 
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