A note on our interfaith church attendance schedule

Here’s a reminder of what our interfaith family church schedule generally looks like:
1st Sunday of the Month — Whole family attends evangelical church
2nd Sunday — Husband & daughter attend LDS church, I attend evangelical church alone
3rd Sunday — Husband attends LDS church alone, I attend evangelical church w/ daughter
4th Sunday — Whole family attends LDS church
Today is the 4th Sunday of the month of April, which means we’re all attending my husband’s LDS ward. I’ve fallen into the routine of laying out our clothes for attending the LDS church the night before in case we accidentally sleep in on Sunday morning. If there’s anything I hate, it’s running around the apartment in a hurry, trying to get ready for church and not being able to findmy push-up bra the skirt I want to wear or my daughter’s tights or something.
As I was laying out our clothes tonight, I realized something: I am really, really looking forward to church tomorrow. This made me pause and reflect on why. I’m respectful of LDS sacrament meeting, but any form of regular Sunday assembly which lacks exuberant praise and worship accompanied by guitars is rather painful to me. I always feel somewhat self-conscious as I tell the deacons “no thanks” on the Sacrament and even more self-conscious as I desperately try to stop my two-year-old from stuffing fistfuls of bread into her mouth. My husband’s Sunday school class is studying the D&C, so I have a hard time remaining interested in that. Our solo ward is serviced by four full-time missionaries and I always cross my fingers and pray to God that my shoulder-baring attire will make them too nervous to approach.
So, what is it that I’m looking forward to so much?
The answer is pretty simple. It’s one of the two Sundays of the month when I get to attend church with my entire family. I love being in church with my husband and I love it when we’re both there for our daughter. I love greeting people as a couple—Paul’s always much more sociable when I’m around—and I love sliding my hand into his or resting my head on his shoulder in church. As a bonus, it’s the one day of the week where I have a good excuse to make my husband dress up in a suit. Did I ever tell you that I think suits on men are hot? (And thus we see what my real attraction to Mormonism is…) In any case, I’d give almost anything if that could be us every Sunday instead of half the month.
If that is you every Sunday, I’m writing this post to tell you, I hope you know what you have and that you’re thankful for it. Have a good time at church today with your families.
Oh, and if you want a good song to listen to today from my repertoire of evangelical worship music, here’s “The Valley Song” by Jars of Clay.

Comments

A note on our interfaith church attendance schedule — 10 Comments

  2. I recently came across this website and how refreshing! I appreciate the calmness and friendliness you show as you discuss your religious feelings with others. I’m a Mormon and a little frustrated when I go to the Easter Pageant in Mesa, the Palmyra Pageant or a Mormon Conference that I’ve got people screaming at me and my grandchildren. I always think, “Are these people trying to “Win Friends and Influence People?”. Anyway, thanks for your pleasant personality and for sharing your experiences? I wish you and your family the very best.
  3. Did I ever tell you that I think suits on men are hot? (And thus we see what my real attraction to Mormonism is…)
    Ah-ha! I knew I’d get to the bottom of it one day. :)
    It is a blessing to be able to attend church as a family. Thank you for the reminder.
    And your new header looks FANTASTIC!!!!!! Hooray! :D
  4. Glen ~ Thanks for dropping by. The poor relationship between Mormons and evangelicals has been on my heart for a long time (and especially the negative treatment EVs often show Mormons) and I try to do my part to fix that.
    MadChemist ~ Hmm, highlights of my church visit.
    ~ We were late as always, this time late enough for the sacrament bread to be done but the water was still going. I hastily grabbed a water cup and helped my daughter drink it. When I saw that Paul didn’t take one, he explained to me that you aren’t supposed to take the water if you’re not there for the bread. Huh. Guess you learn something new every day.
    ~ The bishop spoke in sacrament meeting about how blessings are conditional on our obedience. I can’t say I’m a big fan of that line of thinking.
    ~ After sacrament meeting, we took Harley up to nursery only to discover that one of the nursery workers had called in sick. Paul wanted to fill in for her but apparently isn’t allowed to work in the nursery without his wife. So I got stuck in the nursery—AGAIN. AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!
    ~ Someone made a crack about me joining the church, getting a temple recommend and wearing garments. /twitch
    ~ The head nursery lady worker was very nice, and obviously much better with happy-meal-sized children than I’m ever gonna be, though the prodding for me to attend church more regularly does get old. I guess it just comes with the turf. Every member a missionary…
    That was my visit to the LDS church. Next week it’s back to my church.
    Katie ~ I guess my secret’s out.
  5. I second what Katie said: nice header.
    “aul wanted to fill in for her but apparently isn’t allowed to work in the nursery without his wife.”
    What?! Never heard that one.
    We had testimony meeting today and a non-member who comes with his member wife stood up. He thanked everyone for their prayers on his family’s behalf (they’ve been struggling the last few months), then said, “I don’t have a testimony of your church so I can’t bear it, I just wanted to thank you for your prayers.” Then he sat down. = Awesome
  6. Well, two options:
    1) It’s a rule for just our ward. We have 36 registered sex offenders living within 1 mile of the ward building.
    2) She was lying because she wanted me to stay.
    Glad you guys like the new header. Thanks again Katie for pointing it out to me.
    Oh, and I agree Brian. That testimony = awesome.
  7. “Paul wanted to fill in for her but apparently isn’t allowed to work in the nursery without his wife.”
    As a seasoned nursery worker and former Primary presidency member, I can confirm that this is true.
    The rule is that you must have at least two adults in there at all times. They can be two women, two men, or a married couple. You can’t have a man and a woman who are unmarried (I think this particular rule is more for propriety’s sake for the nursery workers as opposed to concern for the children). In very small wards or branches where there are small amounts of kids or not enough help, you can have just one woman in there with special permission–but never just one man.
  8. Ahh, yes: was she the only other adult in the nursery? Sorry, I’m used to wards that have very large nurseries (actually, multiple nurseries—25 to 60 nursery-aged kids total), so there are always several adults serving there.
  9. Confirmed: When I worked in the primary I had two choices: teach the class with my wife present, or open the door.
    The ostensible cause is the number of specious lawsuits filed by lawyers who talk abuse victims and judges into equivocating between Catholic Priests and Mormon Priests. To protect the Church, and to prevent misunderstandings, no man is permitted to watch over the kiddos without in turn being watched over by the women.
    It made for an interesting Sunday the time I propped the door open and had to answer the “but Why?” cavalcade from the class’ most sarcastic and persistent nine year old:
    “Your dad will tell you why if you ask him.”
    “You really need to bother your parents for the reason.”
    “OK FINE. It’s so they can be sure that *I* don’t talk you into an illicit and abusive sexual relationship!”
    Once nonplussed, then teachable. As I recall, the lesson was about Jesus or something.
    Say, Jack, I have to wonder: if they wouldn’t let Paul teach, and they would let *you* teach in the nursery, why wouldn’t they let both Paul *and* you fill in together?
Categories:

Related Post:



0 коментарі:

Post a Comment

ClobberBlog | Mormonism, Evangelical Christianity