Finding a Home in London -- Church-wise
Hmmm...picking a church is hard.
Last year, I went church hopping to see what church would be the best for me here in London. I went from LCAC to North Park to West London to Nazarene to GTA, stopping at GTA for the greater period of my first year at Western.
I was turned off by GTA's "rowdiness"--people didn't quiet down and ready themselves for worship before the service, in preparation for their meeting with God. People stood around to continue talking even when the service began; and when I reflected this in the summer, I thought GTA would not be a place I would go back to with running arms. I guess another thing was GTA's worship. It seems very performance-like in the same sort of way as North Park.
This year, I thought I'd give LCAC a try, seeing as I only went there once last year. One thing that bothered me was that it's a Chinese church, and I don't really have the best spiritual memories coming from my Chinese church at home in Markham. So I've been to LCAC for about a month and I'm trying to get a feel for what the church is like and all about, also trying to get a feel for the type of people there. They have a service pretty much like the one back at my church at home. Only thing is that the preaching seems devoid of passion (ok...so maybe not that extreme...'cause I know the pastor has some heart into it), but there's a Sunday school with great people.
...Thing is, when I went to GTA today, all the things I reflected about in the summer that bothered me didn't bother me so much today. The passion was evident from the singspiration and the people appear passionate there too. I suppose it's just because I haven't entered the community of GTA, which labels me as "outside" until I get into the church group. Anyway, I received a word from God that was coherent and understandable at GTA; whereas, with LCAC I just don't get what the pastor is getting at. There just seems to be life at GTA. The main thing is that GTA spoke to me in a really different way than LCAC.
Man, picking a church to call home for 3 more years is tough...
...This is where listening to what God wants and where He wants me to go would come in handy, as opposed to going where I think is best for me spiritually. As we all know, He knows best. =)
-abe
Last year, I went church hopping to see what church would be the best for me here in London. I went from LCAC to North Park to West London to Nazarene to GTA, stopping at GTA for the greater period of my first year at Western.
I was turned off by GTA's "rowdiness"--people didn't quiet down and ready themselves for worship before the service, in preparation for their meeting with God. People stood around to continue talking even when the service began; and when I reflected this in the summer, I thought GTA would not be a place I would go back to with running arms. I guess another thing was GTA's worship. It seems very performance-like in the same sort of way as North Park.
This year, I thought I'd give LCAC a try, seeing as I only went there once last year. One thing that bothered me was that it's a Chinese church, and I don't really have the best spiritual memories coming from my Chinese church at home in Markham. So I've been to LCAC for about a month and I'm trying to get a feel for what the church is like and all about, also trying to get a feel for the type of people there. They have a service pretty much like the one back at my church at home. Only thing is that the preaching seems devoid of passion (ok...so maybe not that extreme...'cause I know the pastor has some heart into it), but there's a Sunday school with great people.
...Thing is, when I went to GTA today, all the things I reflected about in the summer that bothered me didn't bother me so much today. The passion was evident from the singspiration and the people appear passionate there too. I suppose it's just because I haven't entered the community of GTA, which labels me as "outside" until I get into the church group. Anyway, I received a word from God that was coherent and understandable at GTA; whereas, with LCAC I just don't get what the pastor is getting at. There just seems to be life at GTA. The main thing is that GTA spoke to me in a really different way than LCAC.
Man, picking a church to call home for 3 more years is tough...
...This is where listening to what God wants and where He wants me to go would come in handy, as opposed to going where I think is best for me spiritually. As we all know, He knows best. =)
-abe
posted by enochtang at 11:45 p.m.
9 Comments:
It's tough, but for me, when I started to go to TCAC in Toronto, I chose it because it is a church where i can see myself serving. That's one of the criterias I have, is that i'd call it home if i can actively participate and serve there. Might be something to keep in mind in terms of what we can contribute to the church. The way i see it, as long as the churches doctorine is solid, there really is no different except our own preferences of worship and sunday school and how the word is taught. Choosing one that suits the way u learn is good, but if such a church is not available, why not adapt to the awy they teach and learn from them.
Choosing churches in an interesting thing. We tend not to in our home town and yet when we're away we tend to put so much thought into it.
i hope you don't mind lei, you're the example today. Lei, i believe North Park is your church in LO but there are many reasons you go, serving the church is not one of them. It's like me in TO and how i went back to scac instinctively at first. Why are we not so critical in our hometowns and yet when we're away we are? lol~ sorry, thoughts for all.
yes, i firmly believe in the call~ i went to NP for a while, i really liked it there then God called me elsewhere. obedience is key to life. lol~ take care~
this is interesting. yesterday, after going to Nazarene a bunch of us went to TKs for lunch and Sonja asked us first years what we thought about the churches in London and if we'd decided yet. or what we'd liked about each one or what not.
reading what you wrote, i agree with some points. I came to london keeping in mind that I would prefer not to go to a chinese church simply because that's what i do in sauga, and i wanted something different. not because i disliked a strictly chinese congregation but simply because i didnt want to limit myself.. wanted to broaden my circle. so i delayed going to LCAC. having gone, I can identify when you describe the sermon. i didnt get anything out of the service when i went, but i really enjoyed the sunday school. i went home thinking about whether it was because of all the churches i'd gone to, i hadn't gone to a sunday school, or if it was because i was already comfortable with the people there.
the next week i went to GTA. wasn't really sure what to expect simply because they advertise themselves as "a church for people who don't like church". i agree that singspiration is similar to NP, and very performance-like. I remember comparing GTA to NP pretty much the entire time i was there, and afterwards. I didn't have an "OH WOW" feeling about it, but i wasn't turned off either.
going back to North Park. I was absolutely blown away the first week i was there. i mean, i got a lot from the sermon and the worship was amazing. but thinking back on it (and i do constantly) i might have just been really impressed by the size of the congregation and the quality of the worship team... probably because i had slightly unconscious expectations for churches in london to be small, and NP was nothing like what i expected. so i went back a second week, but this time it was completely different. worship was the same, but the sermon.. and the way the pastor presented completely turned me off. i mean, it really did feel like a performance. i couldn't see the genuinity of it. perhaps it's because it's the same sermon 3 times in a row, but i honestly could not see the heart.
I've to go to West London, and then I'll go back to a select few that i've narrowed it down to. as for enoch's question as to why we're less critical at home, it's probably because this is what is "accepted" either you've grown up with it, or it was the first church you've ever been to and you know people there, and you let it become your home. and it's hard to walk away.
i know nobody in north park, one of the primary reason i went was because of my parents, and before i thought they would stop going if i didnt go, but now that i'm in TO, they still go, so its not that important anymore, but one thing for me is i never really genuinly church hopped before, i usually hop 2 churches and decide on one of them, i dont know its just way i see it. Each church has their own benefit and downfalls, if i see the benefit good, if i see the downfalls maybe God could use me to do something about it.
this is something that I've kinda/maybe having some trouble with lately. I'm going to LMCAC (m = mandarin), because I know that I'm needed there to serve. on the other hand, when I go I almost never listen to the sermons... because I'd fall asleep in them anyway, and also, I guess, because I feel like I'm there to serve, not to get a sermon. on the other hand, I feel like it's disrespectful... I always feel guilty about it, but then when I'm listening to the sermon I fall asleep and feel guilty about that, too. :S
but am I being too arrogant in thinking that I'm there only to serve God, and don't need to go to service? or is it alright, and I'm feeling needless guilt? what is your guys' opinions?
-linna
sunday is my sabbath, and i'm there to rest, to absorb and listen to God. To take time and direct my focus on God the entire day. And to fellowship. I'm a little confused why u must fall asleep in the sermon. And again, ur there for ur sabbath, its between u and God. There is no guilt that comes from God, God doesnt guilt people into things, so feeling guilty is not part of the package, dont do things just out of obligation, do it with the intent to serve God and his people, and the intention to rest in him. Those are not conflicting ideas as doing what God calls u to do is all that matters, so ask the Holy Spirit and let him show you.
Linna:
a reminder of what Roger said at retreat:
"Jesus does not want your service. He wants your Love."
"God does not care about your devo/service. If you are not careful, they will become a substitute for a real relationship with God. Leaders will measure you based on appareance at certain events, etc. God just wants your heart, your love."
obligation is a funny thing, lei~ you can't use obligation and guilt interchangably. Love is rest and love is work~ don't be extreme in thinking it's the one thing. some days love feels like no effort at all and somedays we can't handle being around and yet we stay. Even been mad at God? doesn't change the fact that you love him and he loves you, just a bit more work on those days~ if it's only one or the other it's incomplete i think~
i guess loey's point is something i can live with. if linna isn't getting her "vineyards" taken care of then it's gg for her. Hence my xanga post about taking care of yourself first. Loving his people doens't come before loving him~
what i was referring to as work on the sabbath. If Linna has to work, and that work is taking her away from her time with God, then its not what sabbath was intended for. That was my bad, i didnt intend to use obligation with guilt, should've started another line. didnt mean to equate the two.
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