This morning I went to Pathway's second service at 10:45. It was my first -- and last -- visit there; I ended up leaving before the pastor took the podium.
Following are my reasons and what I felt:
I walked into the somewhat busy and small foray and was immediately greeted by a smiling man who was handing out the bulletins for today's service. I shook his extended hand, thanked him for the greeting and the bulletin and quietly mentioned that I was new as I pointed to what I assumed was the Sanctuary, to make sure I was indeed headed in the right direction. As I started towards the sanctuary, I literally took TWO steps when a woman extended her hand and introduced herself. Very kind indeed -- and I can understand how most would appreciate that.
Without intending to sound unappreciative, cruel and unkind (because I am truly none of those things) please allow me to say -- hopefully without judgment -- that I was really just hoping to try and BLEND IN and fly under the radar. The fact that it was overheard that I was NEW and that it immediately brought a stranger to me wasn't what I had particularly wanted or needed at that moment. Please don't misunderstand me, I know she meant it as a warm welcome and that no harm was intended.
When I went into the sanctuary, I, of course, noticed its small size. Again, that is not in any way intended as an insult. I also noticed that, as a newcomer, I was receiving lots of curious looks.
As I began to look over the bulletin, it didn't say what Book we would be delving into this morning; I would have liked the bulletin to provide more information so I could turn to that Book and be ready.
Nor did the bulletin mention that it was Communion, as it wasn't mentioned until after the Praise band sang FOUR songs (Praise band quite good, I should add; I appreciate and like contemporary music/messages). Again, it would have been nice to have that heads-up as Communion wasn't something I was prepared for.
It was then that I made as quiet and graceful of an exit as possible under those circumstances.
I didn't ever intend to "sneak out"; as a 48 year old woman, that is not something I am prone to doing. My level of discomfort just continued to grow with the announcement of Communion. And with it being such a small church, I didn't feel there was a way to politely refuse it without drawing attention to myself.
I was attending The Grove Community Church, which I LOVED (I was baptized there), but it's a half an hour drive from where I live (I live about five or ten minutes from Harvest Christian Fellowship in the Arlanza area of Riverside) and we have older cars; literally the last few times we (hubby and I) drove to The Grove in Woodcrest, our car BROKE DOWN and our son had to come help us out so we could get home.
I sadly knew then it was necessary for us to find something much closer.
I'm just really having a difficult time finding the right Church-fit for me that provides contemporary messages and music (I'm not into hymns and/or Gospel) and one that isn't overly big and impersonal (as in Harvest), nor so small that there is no room to become extroverted at ones own pace.
If you like the feel of a small church "where everybody knows your name", Pathway, and its friendly congregation, will likely be a good fit for you.
It just wasn't a good fit for ME. read more