Searching For Goldilocks

We moved back to our home town a little over a year ago. Since then we've been searching for fellowship, for the place God wants us to settle and serve.

For the first couple of months we visited several different churches. We finally landed in a Southern Baptist church where my old college roommate was the director of children and youth ministries. They had a lot to offer kids, it seemed, and everyone was really nice. We liked the associate pastor a lot. He was an excellent teacher. The big drawback for Melody and I, though, was the music. They leaned toward Southern Gospel (which makes me nauseous), had the traditional choir, seldom if ever did anything contemporary. The senior pastor reluctantly allows drums in the sanctuary once a year for Youth Sunday. But we were blessed to have our one year old's baby dedication there.

After one particularly Southern Gospel-ish Sunday, we decided to try a church I'd been curious about since before we moved back home. This church was the polar opposite of the Baptist one. You walked into the service and were met with loud - really loud - secular rock blasting from speakers. The church looked like a rock club, all the walls and ceiling painted black. The dry ice machines started up five minutes before the service. When worship cranked up the band was lit by strobe lights and multi colored spotlights. There was always a loud, ripping electric guitar solo (which I always loved). During the offering they often played a CD of Bon Jovi singing the chorus of "Living On A Prayer" (I am not kidding). The pastor was funny, like a stand up comic with a passion for souls. We met some really nice people here, too. So we got involved. Melody taught kid's church, I played guitar and we both sang with the band. They had a baby dedication and we had our son dedicated a second time.

But we didn't feel like we were quite where we were supposed to be. It is a seeker oriented church and, obviously, geared toward the young rockers in town.

So we've asked to have some time off, stepped back, left... I'm not sure, really, what we're doing. The first church was too mellow, too "old" for us in a lot of ways. The second church was not mellow enough, maybe too "young" for us. I keep thinking of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. One is too hot, one is too cold. We're looking for that "just right" place.

So for the last two Sundays we've tried yet another church. The worship is sweet. Not too mellow, certainly not too rocking. Melody likes the preacher. I haven't heard him since our son has had a nursery meltdown both Sundays and I've been out in the lobby or in the minivan with him during the sermon.

Is this the Goldilocks church? Time will tell. Maybe I idealize past fellowships and nothing new will ever seem "just right". My great longing is for deep, unhurried worship times where I can soak my soul in His nearness. I also am praying hard for sweet fellowship with close friends. We've missed this for the past seven years. I envy my blogger friends who have found this - whether in traditional or non-traditional settings. So please pray for us - and feel free to counsel and rebuke me. I need it, I'm sure.

Oh, and this new church... they're having a baby dedication in a few weeks!