Hello from a newbie

[OhioMom66]

Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum. I was raised Lutheran (LCA). I stopped going to church after high school except for occasionally to my dad's ELCA church. The past ten years I have been "wandering" not knowing where I belong, not knowing what is truth.

I briefly attended a Baptist church but currently don't attend any church. I moved from Ohio to South Carolina, the "bible belt", and it seems that all the ladies I have met are Baptist or some sort of reformed religion. I was introduced to Calvin and reformed so did some reading on that and that is not what I believe.

Long story short I believe I do want to come back to my Lutheran roots. I think LCMS may be the place for me. I absolutely will not attend an ELCA church any longer. I haven't looked to much into WELS or ELS because there aren't any churches near me for those denominations.

I am hoping to be able to read and gain some wisdom from some of you to help me find my way. Thank you in advance!

Blessings, Beth

 

[alexnbethmom]

welcome, beth! (that's my daughter's name ) there's a LOT of people here who can help you out with whatever questions you might have.....i would suggest going to www.lcms.org also, however, they've redone their site and it's a major pain now trying to search for stuff....

just let us know what kind of things you need help with - and welcome to Confessional Lutheranism!

 

[porterross]

Welcome, Beth. My history is very similar to yours and how grateful I am to have been raised in a Confessional Lutheran church. I hope your experience here is indeed pleasant and helpful.

 

[OhioMom66]

Thank you, ladies!

a&bmom, over the past year I have frequented the LCMS site and I DO NOT like the new one, lol. I had pages bookmarked that no longer work and it is certainly different to navigate.

My daughter and I will be visiting a church tomorrow and I am excited and scared all at the same time. I don't like going to new places, but I know that is just silly. I am excited to go into the Lord's house and feel the comfort of the liturgy, confession, and hymns. It's hard to explain. They are having communion and I know I cannot partake, and that is ok, I understand the rules, I will be happy just to be there.

I would so welcome your prayers.

Blessings, Beth

 

[alexnbethmom]

you've got 'em, beth - there is something INCREDIBLY comforting about the traditional liturgy....i have never felt God's Presence as strongly as i have in the Lutheran church....

have an absolutely wonderful blessed day in the Lord tomorrow, beth....

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

Hi Beth! Welcome....

 

[QuiltAngel]

Hi Beth, welcome to our corner here. I was LCA back in the late 70's and switched to LCMS when I got married. I really appreciate the LCMS.

 

[DaRev]

(that's my daughter's name )

My Bethy!

 

[seajoy]

Welcome to the forum, Beth. I am WELS - but there are some cool LCMS'ers that I hang out with here. We are like a family - kind of.

 

[LilLamb219]

Hi Beth, how did the church service go?

 

[Studeclunker]

Hi Beth and welcome to the forum. I do hope you find what you're looking for. I also hope the church you attend hasn't been infected with the Ablaze programme. If all hopes are granted, you should feel right at home.

I also came out of LCA. Our congregation was dragged into the merger as well. Eventually I jumped to LCMS and wish the local one wasn't ashamed of being Lutheran. However, the WELS church is excellent, so there's no complaints there. All the best and I hope you find a home quickly.

 

[OhioMom66]

Thank you all for the warm welcomes you have sent!

Hi Beth, how did the church service go?

LilLamb, first, thank you for the blessings. I couldn't pm you a thank you note because I don't have a high enough post count.

The church service went very well. It is a small church, as in small sanctuary therefore small congregation. The service book didn't seem different than what I remember...it was just like old times, lol! The organist was very good and she played a song on the flute before the offering. It was strange in that they did not have a choir. Their website says they do, but there wasn't one. They do not have a rail so everyone stands for communion. I have only taken communion at a rail. A number of people said hello to us afterwards and I was able to chat briefly with the pastor. He thanked me for not coming up for communion, explaining what I already knew about close communion. I like that they have next weeks lessons in the bulletin so you can study them before hand.

Overall it was very positive. Odd being in a new place surrounded by new people, but comforting all the same.

Blessings, Beth

 

[OhioMom66]

Hi Beth and welcome to the forum. I do hope you find what you're looking for. I also hope the church you attend hasn't been infected with the Ablaze programme. If all hopes are granted, you should feel right at home.

I also came out of LCA. Our congregation was dragged into the merger as well. Eventually I jumped to LCMS and wish the local one wasn't ashamed of being Lutheran. However, the WELS church is excellent, so there's no complaints there. All the best and I hope you find a home quickly.

Hi Studeclunker...is that like a studebaker that is a clunker?? lol

In what way is your congregation "ashamed" of being Lutheran?

Could you explain your comments regarding Ablaze? Is it the missionary aspect itself, or their mission partners, or??? I know nothing about it, only what I read briefly on the LCMS website.

Are you LCMS? I think from your comments you are, but you are also recommening WELS. I actually misspoke (mistyped) above about having only LCMS churches in my vicinity. There is actually a WELS church near me.

Thank you for the warm welcome and sorry for my twenty questions, lol!

Blessings, Beth

 

[seajoy]

Hi Studeclunker...is that like a studebaker that is a clunker?? lol

In what way is your congregation "ashamed" of being Lutheran?

Could you explain your comments regarding Ablaze? Is it the missionary aspect itself, or their mission partners, or??? I know nothing about it, only what I read briefly on the LCMS website.

Are you LCMS? I think from your comments you are, but you are also recommening WELS. I actually misspoke (mistyped) above about having only LCMS churches in my vicinity. There is actually a WELS church near me.

Thank you for the warm welcome and sorry for my twenty questions, lol!

Blessings, Beth

I don't normally answer for folks - but I've known Stude a long time. He used to be LCMS but, I believe, lives in a quite liberal area where things may be a bit different from the norm of most LCMS churches. Stude is now WELS.

Both the WELS and the LCMS offer fine churches.

Now Stude, where are you, so you can correct everything I said. :o

 

[Studeclunker]

Nothing to correct, Sis, did a great job as usual!

the only thing I might add is California is the ultimate of the Salt Water D's. That is to say, this particular Coastal District is about as nutty as they come. Then again, what do you expect for California? Yeah, one can read Corinthians, and read in Californians. Pity is, we have things going on here that I think even the Corinthians would blush at! If a denomination has a liberal wing, we have the most out there group there is. After all, we have San Fransisco, need I say more?

Oh, yes I do drive Studebakers. A '56 Parkview and a '62 Champ. The Champ looks really good pulling my '58 Miley Horsetrailer.

 

[seajoy]

Nothing to correct, Sis

Whew!

 

[Tangible]

Welcome, Beth.

 

[Aibrean]

Hello from a fellow Ohio native

 

[Luther073082]

Nothing to correct, Sis, did a great job as usual!

the only thing I might add is California is the ultimate of the Salt Water D's. That is to say, this particular Coastal District is about as nutty as they come. Then again, what do you expect for California? Yeah, one can read Corinthians, and read in Californians. Pity is, we have things going on here that I think even the Corinthians would blush at! If a denomination has a liberal wing, we have the most out there group there is. After all, we have San Fransisco, need I say more?

Oh, yes I do drive Studebakers. A '56 Parkview and a '62 Champ. The Champ looks really good pulling my '58 Miley Horsetrailer.

Ahh I was sort of wondering about that. I'm not old enough to remember Studebakers but I near and work in South Bend which used to have a large Studebaker factory. In fact the owner of the company I work at, his Father-in-Law (Long passed on as the owner and his wife are in their mid 80's) used to work at the Studebaker factory.

 

[goldbeach]

Welcome

Studebakers were aerodynamically ahead of their time but people weren't ready for it. They were into big block muscle cars and not flowing designs that would save them gas. Those 50's-60's designs would be popular now days because of low wind resistence.