Church Hopping

Belief-o-Matic

2009-01-26T16:50:00.005-05:00

At my Chalice Circle (small group ministry) last night, we were talking about the Belief-o-Matic quiz. I first took the quiz a couple of years ago, when I was still active in Church Hopping-- in fact, it was a greeter at First Unitarian that pointed Bradley and myself toward the quiz.

My results haven't changed. My awareness of my beliefs and my morals has definitely heightened since I joined Heritage, but I still am who I am and I believe what I believe.

I'm proud to be a humanist-- not because of what a quiz told me, of course, but because I feel we should take responsibility for our actions, good and bad.

If you haven't taken the quiz, do so. Let me know how it pans out for you. Any closet UUs out there?

Outdoor chapel in autumn

2008-11-02T19:57:00.007-05:00

The most recent post I made was about HUUC's beautiful new outdoor chapel. I thought I'd pop in and show you some gorgeous pictures of the same chapel, now that it's autumn.

I'm still very close to HUUC. I'm newly involved in our Chalice Circles, which are a type of "small group ministry" that helps us get closer to members in smaller numbers. As we grow as a church, we don't want to lose that sense of person-to-person contact. This is one way of combating those growing pains.

Heritage has also helped me become more involved in the current election. I'm really excited about Tuesday and I hope you'll all be out there voting, even if your views don't align with mine (which I think we've already discovered!).

Here are your Church Hoppers! We miss you!

Outdoor chapel

2008-06-22T17:15:00.008-04:00

It's been a while since I've had anything blog-worthy to discuss about HUUC. The church is still "spiritually feeding me," but it's basically a similar experience each time. I don't think that's so odd for a church.

Today, however, threw me for a loop. Half of our service was conducted indoors, and for the second half we were directed to our "new outdoor chapel." We'd been hearing allusions to this chapel for months; it was a Scout project by one of our youth members, Logan. And so, in my head, I expected it to be... I don't know. A lean-to or something?

But as we were lead down a mulched path, through the woods behind Heritage and down the hill, we came to a clearing that gave me goosebumps. There was a small pulpit area at the bottom with a small chalice and a ribbon around it, and there were tons of benches centered around it. I am adding pictures so that you can get a better idea what I'm talking about here, but without a fuller, more panoramic view you can't really get the full effect.

Reverend Bill gave a small speech and let Logan cut the ribbon. As he talked I could not help but look around at the gorgeous woods that almost entirely surrounded our new chapel. There is a small, rarely-used road behind it, but it's overwhelmed by the smell of leaves and the sound of birds. You can see the church if you try, but mostly what you see are trees.

When we were finding our seat, Bradley asked me where I'd like to sit and I said, "Where I can see a tree." This is a joke of course, but what's funny is that every time we sit down in church I sit where I can see the woods through the windows. Bradley doesn't ask where we should sit anymore, but when he used to I always used to reply in the same way, "Where I can see a tree." Now, as if someone rebuilt the church just for me, we've been transplanted (pun?) outside into the very heart of our little piece of forest. (And of course I know that I am not the only one who feels this way; most of the congregation are forest-loving hippie-types. That's why we work.)

If I ever start to doubt my choice to come to Heritage I hope I can remember this day, when I felt renewed and in love with the ideals of my church as if it were the first day all over again.

Another thing that I remember about the very first time we visited Heritage: when Bradley and I were driving away and we had realized that we both wanted to come back, one of the things that we discussed was how cool it would be to just spend some time in the woods. Bradley was into meditation at the time and I was feeling the need to have Somewhere Else to Go in Times of Escape. We talked about finding big rocks and spending some time on our own, centering in the ways that we find work for us individually.

I hope that we make good on that this summer, and find some time to sneak away, find our own corner of Heritage's woods, and make good use of the new outdoor chapel to awaken whatever's lying dormant within us.

Commitment

2008-01-27T00:20:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow morning (er, later today-- it's 12:30am!), Bradley and I sign the membership book at Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church. Can you believe it has been something like eight months already?

Wish us luck*!

*I have no idea what luck would do for me... but send me some energy or something!

'Sbeen a long time since I rock-n-roll'd

2007-12-28T12:56:00.000-05:00

Hello all! I noticed there are still some people subscribed to this blog, so I thought I'd throw an update your way.

First off, at the beginning of the year I'm starting a new project. If you'd like to follow it and toss me some suggestions, the blog is here: www.YearofPhilanthropy.blogspot.com

I didn't want this post to just be a plug for my new project, but if I can borrow some readers, why the heck not?

Heritage is still awesome. Bradley and I have been visiting more or less every Sunday, with the exception of all of October because of a bunch of traveling I had to do. With the Year of Philanthropy I'm hoping to get a little closer to my church family-- I've been too stressed and busy to fully participate in all the things I'd like to. Hopefully 2008 will change that.

Bradley and I will become members of the church soon. We've already been invited to do so, but it came at a time when things were too hectic to focus on the church and make sure we'd be making a smart decision. But it's definitely in the plans for 2008 as well.

This past weekend, Brad and I attended the Crossroads Christmas show ("Awaited"). We were invited to last year's show, "Imagine," and had a fantastic time-- this year was also a blast. We even brought someone from Heritage! The show was evokative, gorgeous and packed-- I heard they gave away something like 20k tickets?! Before the show they had free coffee, hot chocolate, cookies... plus free family Christmas portraits! Are you kidding?! The whole experience, from the moment we walked in to the moment we left, was inviting and fun. If you want to see what a welcoming congregation looks like, stop by Crossroads some time-- not just for the Xmas show, either. *high fives to the megachurch*

Alright, that's about it for me. Leave me a note at the new blog if you still read this! The project kicks off January 1st. :) I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season!

Heritage updates!

2007-07-08T19:11:00.000-04:00

A number of you... albeit a small number... have inquired as to how things are going at Heritage UU Church. I'm more than happy to oblige.

In a nutshell, things are going marvelously. I can honestly say that I understand why many churchgoers churchgo. I did not know a place like this existed and finding a place like Heritage has changed my life for the good.

Some less abstract goings-on:

*Bradley and I attended a Litha (summer solstice) party at a church member's house. There were other congregation members there, as well as members from other UU churches, members of the local pagan organizations, and friends and family of the host. It was an eye-opening and unforgettable experience that culminated in Bradley jumping, fully clothed, into the host's in-ground pool.

*Every other Sunday morning, from 9-10:30am, Heritage holds a religious forum. (The other Sundays are a political forum.) Bradley and I attended the last session ("Heaven and Hell") and this morning's session ("Enlightenment"). Forum is fascinating-- there are such varied schools of thought presented at Heritage... all of them vocal. ;) We want to start visiting the political forum as well, but I'm loathe to relinquish that extra hour of sleep. ;)

*Church members were invited to tour Eastgate's Hindu temple a week or so back, and that was another amazing experience. Not only did we get a mini-tour of the breathtaking temple, but we were encouraged to sit in on a service. It was incredible-- beyond words, really, and something I never would have guessed I'd be doing on a Thursday night in Eastgate.

*As of this morning, I think Bradley and I are on the "communications committee"-- that is, we've volunteered to help structure the HUUC website. *beam* I hope we aren't in over our heads!

*I had my first "solo flight" last week-- Bradley didn't come with me to service, because he was in the HUUC Youth Group. He'll also be joining the Youth Group in August for a retreat that I know little to nothing about. Hahaha...

*Two weeks from now, they're having a service with poetry as a major element, and I was asked to read something of mine! Eek!!

*There is so much other stuff going on in Heritage-- book clubs, film nights, potlucks, yoga classes, folk dancing, Religious Education classes... it can be overwhelming, but in the best possible way. The congregation has been so encouraging (ew, I sound like Jane Goodall or something all of the sudden) and has never pressured us in any way. I find myself always looking forward to something, which is a fantastic feeling for someone who so craves variety and experience.

I'd like to open the floor to any questions about the HUUC experience, hahaha....

Vanish'd

2007-06-14T15:52:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, I know. I've been gone for a while, no? Thanks for all the comments while I've been out and about (yes, all of them, even the scary apocalyptic ones).

Until further notice, I guess this blog is on hold while we explore Heritage and UUism. (Quit making the sign of the devil, please.) Bradley and I have found something unique and compelling to the both of us, and we've agreed that what we most want at this time is to explore the church-- to dive in head first and see how it feels.

I don't consider this journey to be over, but I can't say when, if ever, Church Hop will be regularly updated again. If you would like to be notified when something new happens here, email me at redrabbit[at]gmail[dot]com. Or use the RSS feeds, whatevs.

Thank you for your readership, and definitely for your feedback on all matters Church Hop. :)

Church #37: Heritage UU Church REVISITED

2007-05-29T11:43:00.001-04:00

Happy belated Memorial Day!

On Sunday, Bradley, dad and I re-visited (or visited for the first time, in dad's case) Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church. We were greeted with the same warm welcome as the first time, directed to make our name tags, etc.

I was able to introduce Bradley and myself to Reverend Gupton, though we weren't able to really talk because he was preparing for the day's service. The service was an emotional one, as the congregation spoke of loved ones they'd lost in the past year. It was a very reflective and sombre service, and it was good to see another side of the church.

My feelings toward Heritage and UUism are positive ones. As soon as my dad writes up his post I'll add it here, and I'm sure Bradley will throw his two cents in soon. Still no decision on how to balance Heritage and Church Hop... any thoughts?!

First Unitarian follow-up letters

2007-05-23T19:17:00.000-04:00

It has been a while since we received a non-form letter from a church, so I thought I'd post both letters that we received from First United. (I'm not trying to glib, I just think it's funny that we're getting some "not UU!" attitude, but they do so much to stand out from other churches!)

The first letter we received on Tuesday, from Reverend Sharon Dittmar herself.

The second we received today (Wednesday), from Linda, and though it is more form-y than the first, it still makes specific reference to the blog, etc.

I'm not going to type 'em up... just click 'em and they should be legible.

Church #38: First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati

2007-05-20T14:33:00.000-04:00

Church #37: Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church

2007-05-13T13:53:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How welcome did you feel at this church?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 10?
BRADLEY: I think this might actually be my first 10.

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church
2710 Newtown Road
Cincinnati, OH 45244
http://huuc.net

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
No, but people have been suggesting that we step outside the traditional Christian church (and really, that was the idea from the beginning... it's just easier said than done). Also, I had heard about UU churches when I was in college but was never able to visit one.

6. Time/duration of services:
10:30--noon.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Universalist Unitarian, and thus many religions.

8. Who did you meet?
Many people... lots of fellowship. Several Bobs.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hoppers personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: Well well well. Didn't really see this coming.

Service was over hours ago, but I'm still a little floored to have found so many of my "prayers" answered today. I'm really not sure where to start.

This project, as I have mentioned before, was never really about finding a church home. It was about an exploration and personal growth. That being said, where has this church been all my life?

Let me back up. Last night, I watched a religious debate, which left me incredibly frustrated. We had some churches still on the queue, but they were more of the same sects we've already visited, and I needed something else. UU has always been in the back of my mind because a professor mentioned it to me once, when I was in college. He said they were about questioning faith, and that interested me (though not enough to hunt them down, until just now).

So I Google'd "Universalist Unitarian" and my zip code, and voila... the internet did what the internet does and I had this church. I was excited to be doing something new and unfamiliar.

We found the church with no problem. Parked in the first time visitor spot, across from a Rav4 with an Obama '08 bumper sticker. There was a lot of green... trees and flowers and a little garden.

When we walked in, everyone was clamoring for one another's attention-- hugging and congesting the lobby with small talk and handshakes. Very loud and very upbeat (though yes, something difficult to walk into as an outsider). We got our program and found our seats.

I'm a sucker for windows. This church had bare walls, few if any decorations anywhere... but a giant, round window in the front of the auditorium (the way we were facing), and tall windowed doors to our left, which looked out into more green green green. The windows were the first thing I noticed-- the second was the lack of the cross, or of any religious artifact whatsoever. (Anyone who knows about UU is probably bored with this post already, but I knew very little going into this.)

Bells to start service. Bells to transition. Hymns about life, compassion, the Earth... not a mention of God, Jesus, higher powers. [Edit: Reverend Bill Gupton has informed me that they do mention God, but they "don't tell you what God is."] Silent reflection (I loved this so much) instead of guided prayer. "Sharing our abundance" instead of holy offerings. A segment called "How We Serve": this week's was about the church's Green Team's new compost heap. Welcoming new members, where the congregation pledged to "renew our covenant to seek and speak the truth, to love one another, and to serve humankind in fellowship."

Is this not what I've been talking about for a year now? Being a good person, serving your community and your fellow human beings, without the threat of hell or the promise of heaven? A journey and a search and the ability-- the encouraged ability-- to question and to doubt?

This is not a church without religion-- they still watch movies about religion, hold forums with religious discussion, have an entire religious education department... but during services, it isn't necessarily about invoking The One Power and swearing allegiance. I could not be happier to know this exists.

Celebrating Life, Creating Community, Seeking Justice. ...Yes, please.

Now I know I've gone way tangential, because this blog was supposed to be heading toward a "welcome" notion. But today I found something I really needed to find, so grant me this.

And the church was welcoming, though not in any specific way that I've outlined with other churches. There was a guest registry, some hand-holding during Benediction, some quick fellowship, open invitations. But finally the way I think and feel and believe was welcomed, in a way I hadn't really found yet.

Bradley and I want to go back. Bradley expressed the desire before I asked him about it, which is just one more thing that tells me this was a great thing. But neither of us want to give up this project-- we aren't done with it yet. We're considering Hopping every other week, and on the other Sundays re-visiting HUU to see if it gives us that same feeling consistently. Any suggestions on how else to keep exploring, while maaaaybe considering giving the church home thing a try?

Brad: Wow. Just wow. This church really blew me away, and put me in a place that is the hardest thing to put into words that I've ever had to face. This church really put my mind in an awkward place-but a place that was so foreign it wasn't entirely a bad experience. In fact, quite the opposite. This church was like nothing I had ever been to, and to be honest, I'm liking it more and more.

I had a good feeling about this place upon entering when I saw that one of the cars outside had a sticker reading "Obama '08". This put a grin on my face that would last the entire duration of my experience at this church. When Erica and I walked in, there was no crucifix on the wall, and no large cross on the wall behind the pastor. It was simply a clean white room, with simple architecture and a large amount of folding chairs. The end of the room had a large circular window that outlooked into a sort of courtyard that would later be mentioned.

We sat down and took it all in. I was already thinking this would be a good time (which was later proved right) because (for some odd reason in my mind) it looked like all of the people here were science teachers. It might have been the high "beard rate" or the intelligence level, but something just gave me that vibe.

The whole service started, but with the (and not complete, but lowered) absence of God related references, and the induction of several new members who all were "tired of the guilt" of other religions. They were all shrugging off their old ways to bring on this new way of thinking. It was around this time that I was thinking I could be doing the same thing.

I don't know if it's just the idea of being able to keep the same thought I have right now, and just apply them within a community of people who are all in the same boat, looking for the same type of answers. It just was very appealing to me, and it's still brewing in the back of my mind. While the goers of the church seem a bit wiser, it'll still be nice to be with people of the same thought process behind what we want in life. Plus, I noticed a man interested in eastern thought, something I'm finding has more and more to offer.

I'm hoping that giving this church a shot will pay off.

Church #36: Greater Cincinnati Church of God

2007-05-06T18:19:00.000-04:00

Church #35: Solid Rock Church

2007-04-29T14:17:00.000-04:00

Agnostic Advice

2007-04-26T13:16:00.000-04:00

Look what I found!

Happy Almost-Birthday, Jared!

2007-04-23T12:04:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure where you're reading from, but in my part of Ohio it was *gorgeous* this weekend. And as one of my best friend's birthdays is fast-approachin', we went camping to celebrate.

I wanted to go to church, but camping makes one scummy. There was a really cute church (stained glass windows, a small graveyard in back) near the campground, but I was in no condition to enter. Ick. :)

In other news, we've made over EIGHT DOLLARS (ooooooh!) through Ad Sense. They only cut you a check once you've racked up $10, so if you want to see a church bring in that kind of sweet bank, you'd better start clicking things more dilligently. Should I add more stuff?

P.S. Next Sunday will be our first anniversary! We have big plans...

Church #34: Mother of Christ Catholic Church

2007-04-15T21:32:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How welcome did you feel at this church?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 9!
BRADLEY: 8, for great music, and a great time

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Mother of Christ Catholic Church
5301 Winneste Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45232
http://motherofchrist.homestead.com/

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Yes! I met Ena during a computer class I was taking, and she pointed me toward her home church. (Thank you so much for the recommendation!)

6. Time/duration of services:
10:30am--noonish.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Catholic.

8. Who did you meet?
I was able to introduce Bradley to Ena and her son. Yea!

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hoppers personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: Bradley and I have been very interested in visiting more... diverse churches than we have been. While each church is a new experience for us, they've mostly had... let me just say this... predominately white congregations. I hope the distinction doesn't offend anyone. It's just the truth.

I was incredibly excited when Ena invited me to Mother of Christ. For one thing, it's a major honor when people invite us to their church at all, because it's such a personal and trusting gesture. But it also took us out of our tiny Eastgate comfort zones, which is so much of the idea of Church Hop in the first place. Go do new things, visit new places, meet new people. All that jazz.

Bradley and I made a 40 minute trek to step out of those comfort zones, and we were rewarded with an incredible experience at Mother of Christ. The people were so warm and inviting, well before Ena showed up and took us under her wing. One woman brought us each visitor cards attached to small name tags so that people might address us by name-- no one had offered us that before. Other people stopped at our aisle on the way to their seats just to welcome us or shake our hands.

The music was incredible-- a passionate, gospel feel that carried on through the entire service. Before offering, during communion, after the sermon... whenever there was a pause, there was energetic gospel to fill in the holes. One woman in the choir signed along with the music beautifully, which was another thing I hadn't seen before but it added a great layer to my experience.

Communion passed without incidence, to my delight. The pastor gave a warm, relevant and briefish sermon. The woman doing the announcements welcomed us by name (visitor cards!) and the congregation welcomed us in unison.

A lot of my experience came from Ena, too... though she tried to keep her distance during the service so that we could pull our own experience from it. Still, she whispered page numbers to us so that we could follow along (a LOT easier in a borrowed missal than in a Bible, by the way), and afterwards she told us about the beautiful mosaics and murals in and on the church. There were wall-sized scenes of religious moments, with members of the congregation depicted in the scenes.

Sometimes I wish more churches had art like that, but I know it's not every church's style. Still, Mother of Christ was beautiful to me in so many ways. I appreciate being invited, and I especially appreciate being welcomed before anyone even knew I was invited.

BRADLEY: Well, Erica and I finally reached out to a farther church than we normally go to visit Mother of Christ Catholic church. I have to say, the journey (although mapquested) was very much worth it.

This was a great church, and so much more diverse than I'm used to, so it was a really awesome experience to collect and gather views from other areas of the community. Upon entering, I noticed that this dumped us out right into the main auditorium, and even though Erica and I were a little early, there were already people setting up and hanging out. We grabbed some seats, and I had a good chance to look around. The building was an older building. I could tell everything had been used, but in a good way.

The service started, and I was dipped in some of the best singing I have ever heard come out of a church. The choir, which had around 12+ people were just singing their hearts out, which made it really easy to just get lost in the words. It was really something special. Erica's friend Ena (who invited us) was there to help us along through the service. (which was really helpful) That's what is really hard about Catholic churches, but this church wasn't as formal as some of the Catholic churches we've been to, which I really liked, just for the sake of it being new.

Then the pastor came up to give his sermon, which was all around too brief, because I would have liked the chance to hear him get into a larger service, to hear what he had to say. He seemed like a really cool guy, and while I wasn't always in complete comprehension of what he was saying, he delivered a powerful message. During our greeting, people were hugging me and shaking hands, and going out of their way (even the singers came down) just to say hello. That rocked.

Usually when we visit a church, you can see who is there just to say then went to church, and you can see the people who are there to get in touch with their community and reach out with some fellowship. At this church, I saw more people trying to reach out then I've ever seen.

Easter Sunday

2007-04-08T10:58:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter Sunday!

First off, if you haven't read yesterday's post about advertising, please do so, and leave me some helpful comments. :D

Now then, to churchin'!

Bradley and I definitely wanted to visit a church today... but it's Easter. When we visited Catholic churches during Lent, we took away a different experience than one would normally get. Right? So we didn't want to visit a church on Easter, knowing full well that it wouldn't be a regular church experience.

Soooo, we did something we've been wanting to do for a while: we re-visited our first church. That church, Loveland United Methodist Church, was our big foray into the project, back when we had no idea what we were getting into. We'd had no basic for comparison either, so Bradley and I have always wondered what it would be like to go back.

LUMC was very welcoming, again. Some things had changed-- there are video screens now, and an elaborate sound system, for instance-- but for the most part it felt much like it did the first time (almost a year ago!). We did get to hear the pastor speak, though-- last year, they had a guest speaker when we were there.

We didn't want this post to be the same as a regular Church Hop post, because we don't plan to start re-visiting churches right and left. But it was nice to spend Easter at a church that had great meaning for us.

Happy Easter, everyone, whatever you believe!

Mad Scratch

2007-04-07T01:10:00.000-04:00

Ahoy, Church Hop readers! (No, this is not a notice about how we aren't going to hop this week... we absolutely intend to.)

On the left side and bottom of the site, Bradley and I have added some AdSense elements. The site has been seeing abnormal traffic lately, and we thought we'd give The Man a try. HOWEVER, this comes with a stipulation that hopefully you can get behind. Bradley and I will be donating any money that we amass from the ads on Church Hop. We currently give $2 ($1 each) to the church that we visit, and if things go well with AdSense, we'd like to add that income to our "tithes."

Does that sound right to you? Comment with some feedback, positive or negative. If you want to support the Hop, click on some links why don'tcha? In the next couple of months we'll be playing with which ads work, if they work at all, so things might change a little. Just to give you a heads up. :)

Thanks for your interest in Church Hop (even if you hate the project-- after all, that generates hits, too). We'll keep you updated on our AdSense venture.

Church #33: Love & Faith Christian Center

2007-04-01T16:13:00.000-04:00

(Insert Church Name Here)

2007-03-25T11:17:00.000-04:00

We tried, very hard, to go to church.

There's a church that you can see from 275, which appears to be right off the Beechmont exit. I pass this church every weekday when I drive to work, and it has a big marquee. Unfortunately, they only use the marquee for inspiration, not fact. No address, no directions, and... surprisingly enough... no website. I'm positive this church HAS a website, so why they don't flash it on their jumbotron is beyond me.

Finally one day I caught their service times (8:30 and 11am, I believe), and so Bradley and I decided to try to find it. Certainly there was a sign or something, near the correct road? This morning we spent an hour driving along the back roads of Beechmont, searching for a church that seemed to be right off the exit. Finally we gave up when services would have been starting.
Soooooo... this seems like common sense, but let me put this out there for any church in a situation like this: flash me a dang website. If you have a huge, eye-catching marquee, the very best thing you can do for me is USE IT to tell me how to get there. They had other messages that implied that they wanted me to visit-- various "Come as you are!" type messages-- which is fantastic, but does me no good when I can't find your freakin' church.

Maybe I just haven't seen the website or the address-- but for looking at it at least five times a week... well, it just shouldn't be that difficult, should it?

The Church of Snooze Buttons

2007-03-18T17:39:00.000-04:00

You can guess what I'm going to say, can't you? ;) My darling friend Jared drove down from Columbus this weekend, and as he's not much of a church-goer we all got a little extra sleep this morning. We'll be back in action next week, and if things go as planned, we'll have one or two guest 'Hoppers with us! Have a great week!

Church #32: Guardian Angels Church

2007-03-11T19:06:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley, Erica and guest-hopper Alex!

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How welcome did you feel at this church?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 4?
BRADLEY: 5, this was a very different church (then what I'm used to)
ALEX: 5 (about average)

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Guardian Angels Church
6531 Beechmont Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45230
(I was unable to find a website.)

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
No-- we drove past this huge, beautiful church two weeks ago.

6. Time/duration of services:
10:00--11:00am.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Catholic.

8. Who did you meet?
Yeah right.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hoppers personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: Alright, I was determined to visit another Catholic church (and yes, we'll visit more; pipe down). We passed this hulking beast of a church a couple weeks ago-- this place was seriously gorgeous. (Pardon the picture-- we did the best we could do while driving away from the place.)

My friend Alex volunteered to tag along, and as he was raised Catholic I put him in charge of keeping me from looking like a jackass. Welllll, easier said than done. This time we had sit-stand-KNEEL, which I'd been warned about but had yet to experience. Combine that with pages of memorized material and I was just plain out of my element. ...Even more so than usual.

Let me at least say that this church was flippin' beautiful. The altar was in the center of the huge auditorium, and there was seating all the way around. The stained glass... oh la la. Very gorgeous. The acoustics were great (which helped when you could hear a pin drop before services started, geez).

But as far as "welcome," no, I had the same feeling as with our first Catholic church-- that I had infiltrated. That I was doing something I shouldn't be doing, something that was wrong. That I was unwelcome. I tried my best to keep up, I really did, and luckily people were fairly intent on their own worship, because I must have looked like an idiot. I certainly felt like one.

BRADLEY: First of all, shouts to Alex, who went with us on this church hopping adventure, and who knew a little more about Catholic churches than I did.

Two Catholic churches, a double dose of back to back Catholic action is quite a task. This is clearly something I could not do. It's not that I have such a strong connection to the newer churches, it's just that Catholic churches seem to be steeped in a very thick and deep tradition. (Didn't I say that last time?)

When we came in, we came in on the side of the church, snaking past the pews in the side. I then saw something I had never seen before in a church. There were seating on all four sides of the main stage. People, again, were dead silent. We took our seats without making too much noise and looked around. The pews were old, worn with church going. The church held a lot of people, and it was nearly full. Still, the place was silent.

It hadn't really made the connection until reading Erica's post, that during this time (when I was sitting, looking around) nobody offered a hand as to who they were, or who this church was. Again, I didn't expect it, because it seems like Catholic churches are something you are raised in. While conversions are normal, just tapping into it seems like a task.

The service itself didn't seem that bad. Catholic services (according to Alex) seem to get it done much quicker than any other service we've been to. It was wrapped up in an hour. That's pretty cool, but the whole service I was very lost. Standing up and sitting down. Kneeling, again, something that's not meant to be taped into. So we went through communion, we went through the message and reading. Despite that fact that I didn't know what I was doing, it seemed like a pretty alright church. Very amazing visually too.

ALEX: Hello everyone!!! My name is Alex and I'm a new and visiting face to the Church Hopping Blog as of March 2007. I met Erica about a week ago and became enamored with her and her brother's idea of seeking out new churches to experience and learn from each week.

This week is my first Church Hopping Experience with Erica and Bradley. Although, I've been doing my own sort of low key church hopping since I've moved to Cincinnati in July of 2006, it's great to go with others each week. I've grown up Catholic and underwent the whole baptism, first communion, and conformation ordeals but have found myself drifting away from the strict Catholic teachings and beliefs for a few number of years. Three years ago, while living in Philadelphia and during the in the middle of medical school, I decided to try and attend church more regularly and encourage myself to find opportunities to learn more about my faith. Since relocating to Cincinnati, is my third Catholic church that I've attended (the others being St. Monica - St. George and Xavier's Bellarmine Chapel).

It's hard not to notice the hugeness of Guardian Angels Church when first turning into the parking lot and driving to the rear of the church. Entering however, it becomes apparent that the congregation is just as large. This is the first church I've come across with an alter located centrally to all the seating. The alter was on a square island surrounded on all four sides with this week's church goers. We sat on one of the smaller side wings, which happen to put us facing towards the backs of the priests for this service.

Being the time of Lent, the alter was decorated with the traditional purple runner, and purple candles were being lit as we sat down to enjoy the service (although one young alter boy had to call in for back up in order to light a stubborn candle). There was a grand organ with fully exposed pipes on the traditional front wall, and stained glass adorning both the side walls.

The service was typical of most Catholic churches with singing, praying, reciting, kneeling, and communion. I felt comfortable with the service and thought I could blend in well if need be. I wouldn't say that the service and homely was particularly directed towards any one group of people, nor would I say that it spoke all that directly towards me.

I jumped right into holding hands with Bradley and Erica while reciting The Are Father prayer, which I thought was a Cincinnati thing to do, but wasn't so popular at Guardian Angels. I think that threw Bradley and Erica for a loop and shocked them a bit. Sorry guys! [Note from Erica: It didn't shock me too much, as they held hands at our other Catholic church.]

Church #32: Anderson Hills United Methodist Church

2007-03-04T14:26:00.000-05:00

Church #31: Saint Veronica

2007-02-25T14:50:00.000-05:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How welcome did you feel at this church?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 3.
BRADLEY: 5, this was an alright church.

3. Picture(s) of the church
(Just got the one, sorry.)

4. Name/location of the church:
Saint Veronica Parish
4473 Mr. Carmel-Tobasco Road
Cincinnati, OH 45244
www.stveronica.org (must have the www)

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Nope, although we've had requests to go to a Catholic church.

6. Time/duration of services:
9:30--1030am.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Catholic-- our first.

8. Who did you meet?
N/A.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hoppers personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: I was the one who'd been putting off Catholic churches for a while, out of apprehension. Bradley didn't seem to care either way, but I was nervous this morning (though still excited).

Unfortunately my apprehensions were realized: I did not, at any point, feel as if I were supposed to be there. (And I'm sure many of my critics will jump on that statement and point out that I really wasn't supposed to be there at all. Still.)

When we first entered the parish, I was immediately taken with how dark it was in the auditorium. Pretty stained glass, a large, open room... but incredibly dark. In fact, a light burnt out during our services. We took a seat to the middle-right, toward the front, and sat quietly because it seemed most people who were already there were praying. No groups of people welcoming one another, catching up from last week, exchanging pleasantries. Before Church Hop started I would have thought this was the norm, but by now I've come to expect a church body to be active, social, buzzing. But not here, so we clasped our hands and waited for services to start.

...And start they did, without missing a beat. No "good morning," no "what a fine Sunday," no church announcements. Nada. The pastor started speaking, the small choir sang a hymn, and services were up and running.

We had no program-- no one did, that I could see. We followed the stand-up sit-down say-this say-that as best as we could (what did Pastor Zorn call that-- liturgy?), but without programs we were unable to join in to the majority of the congregational responses. These are things you learn when you grow up in the church, I guess. This is the reason you go through a process of having a sponsor and learning the faith and rituals before you become an active member of the Catholic church. Please, don't think I'm criticizing, because I'm trying to realize these things about the church and its sects-- it's just that it was clear this was not a church that would embrace being "hopped."

My discomfort continued. No one in the congregation smiled... ever? Not at children, not at one another, not when new members were being accepted into the church. It was all very serious, which goes against my tendency to show love and devotion through energy and enthusiasm. I couldn't understand most of what the pastor said or how the congregation responded-- it was so ingrained in them that it was all mumbled and even the improvisor in me was unable to fake it.

And of course there was communion, which I will probably always struggle with. When we left we were handed the church info that I have scanned and posted, but by then I was thinking of home. Bradley seemed surprised at my discomfort-- this will most likely be a case of varying opinions on the church.

I'd just like to throw out there that I'm sorry to the Catholics that read this, especially my friends. I tried and we will almost certainly visit other parishes to get more opinions, but Catholicism isn't what I'm looking for and I clearly am not what Catholicism is looking for.

Brad: Aside from Church Hop, I've never really had much experience with Catholicism in my life. I'd never been to a Catholic church, attended anything related, or read anything of value on it. This really put Erica and I at a loss when we went in, because of the customs and things they had to do. It was very awkward being the only few people that didn't know the prayers when certain things happened. But, this is why we do Church Hop I guess, to help ease that gap with learning new customs.

When Erica and I walked into the church, it was extremely quite. I mean, there were more than 100 people in here, and you could hear a pin drop. That was another new thing for me, because I usually point out that a church has all its members congregating in the lobby before the service starts. Also, I noticed that some people would bow on one knee before sitting down, if anyone can explain what that symbolizes, please let me know.

The service itself was all very intimidating. I really didn't know what was going to happen next, and since there is no real "guide to service", I was very confused a lot. I was on my feet, and back to sitting down very often, which normally dosen't bother me, but trying to keep up with the people around me proved harder than it looked. Most of it seemed pretty obvious, but it took some getting used to.

The priest was also something I was not used too. I could tell he was extremely familiar with what he had to do, knew where everything was. While it was hard to follow his words, it all seemed to wrap up in a nice package of what the message was. I guess you could say it looses personal touch in such heavy tradition. Normally I like tradition in churches, but this was a little too much for me. That being said, I can see why people would go here, but it's just not for me.

Snowstorm

2007-02-18T17:38:00.000-05:00

No church this week... we kind of got snowed in. We were surprised to suddenly have another snowstorm, and the roads were completely slick and icy. According to every since news station, countless churches had closed their morning services, so Bradley and I took that as a hint that we needed to take this week off. Sorry to disappoint!

Church #30: Springdale Nazarene

2007-02-13T14:57:00.000-05:00

1. Who attended? Bradley and Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How welcome did you feel at this church?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 7-8.
BRADLEY: Around a 7, for it's exceptional music.

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Springdale Nazarene
11177 Springfield Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45246
http://springdalenazarene.org

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Yes! A while ago! Someone I know through Flickr.com suggested we visit the church she grew up in.

6. Time/duration of services:
11am--noon.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Church of the Nazarene.

8. Who did you meet?
I am really slacking on this part, aren't I? We need to stop going so late-- it's easier to stick around afterwards when you're not thinking about lunch.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hoppers personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: I was really, really surprised by this church. Whatever expectations I had when I went in, they were exceeded. I gave this church a 7-8 as far as feeling welcome goes, because we had to hunt down a person handing out programs (we went in a different door), but otherwise they made it very clear that visitors were welcome in their church.

The music was amazing-- truly. Their big, energetic choir belted it out with passion and they had a full orchestra (I couldn't see their faces, but I'm sure they were into it too). There was an amazing male soloist who was obviously singing his heart out, and it was a beautiful thing to be a part of.

The sermon was interesting and engaging, and the pastor was articulate. (Out of 30 churches now, how many times have I used that word?! I need a thesaurus.) The church itself was big and gorgeous (although I was dying to see the stained glass behind the projector screen, but I never got the chance). The auditorium was huge but filled quickly. The congregation seemed mostly older but I didn't feel alienated.

It was just a good experience, being there. I loved the part when they brought the "UPWARDS" kids to the stage-- cheerleaders and basketball players-- something like 350 kids in all-- and had them sing a song. Very cute and heartstrings-pully. And the whole thing still ended up being a little shorter than most of our recent hops-- it came and passed so quickly.

BRADLEY: This church blew me away.

So Erica and I got dressed in our sweaters and such, and went out in search of this church. We were driving through a very nice area, eying the small churches along the way. We scanned each marquee to see if it was ours, but no luck. Then we both looked up on this massive, gigantic church. Maybe it was just the front, but this thing looked huge. And yet, upon entering, people were doing the same thing as normal. Offering hugs and greetings to there fellow church goers.

Erica and I found some seats near the side, kind of close. After scoring programs, they welcomed to the stage the musical talent. And I gotta tell 'ya, they were absolutely amazing. A full band, complete with brass and string, not to mention the 30+ member choir. It just blew me away. They started a few songs, all better than the next. It was around this time when a soloist came up on the stage.

This man was amazing!

He hit each note with soul and power, leaving me wanting more. It was just a fantastic thing to be a part of. The crowd was cheering, and everyone was happy to be worshiping together.

It was a little after that settled down, when the announced the church's basketball team. They had over 350 players, and a gazillion helpers. After a few minutes of loading them onto the stage, they talked about mission programs and numbers, finally ending with a song, sung by the kids. It was all very cute, but very hectic.

Then the pastor came out. This was the only part that didn't amaze me. Usually I talk about how much I live the pastor or preacher tying in personal stories with the sermon. It brings a more, "real life" feel to things. Well, I found out that you can go to the other side of the spectrum with this. He related a little too much for my taste. He wasn't bad, but he would constantly pause and repeat words. I know it's for effect, but it really looses that effect after the 6th or 7th time.

This was a smart, and very spectacular church.

*****
ALSO! We haven't had a thank you card in a while, and this week we received one from Full Gospel Assembly (last week's church).

The inside reads: Erica & Bradley-- It was so nice you came and visited our church. We really enjoyed having you. It was great meeting you both, and we hope you will come again. Jesus loves you very much. God bless. Full Gospel Assembly

Church #29: Full Gospel Assembly (Loveland)

2007-02-05T11:09:00.000-05:00

1. Who attended? Bradley and Erica.

2. How welcome did you feel at this church?

ERICA: 7.
BRADLEY: 5, for it's length

3. Pictures of the church: Okay, I screwed up this week. I only remembered one picture this time, and I'm lucky even to have that. AND the church doesn't have a website so I can't steal one. Use your imagination. It looked like a church.

4. Name/location of the church:
Full Gospel Assembly
11850 Lebanon Road
Loveland, Ohio 45140

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop? No, it's on our way to our grandmother's.

6. Time/duration of services: 10:45am until somewhere near 1pm.

7. What type of religion does the church cater to? Um. Even Wikipedia was clueless on this one-- can anyone lend a land here? It was Christian... that's all I have for ya.

8. Who did you meet? Okay, this is why I usually write responses on Sunday, right after services. There was one woman who was exceedingly welcoming and nice... I believe her name was Cindy.

9. If applicable, scans of tracts/handouts/etc. We never got a program and we couldn't find one on the way out. Nothin' doing.

10. Church Hoppers' personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: As you can see, I dropped the ball on this one. I forgot to take a picture, which must have been bad luck from the beginning. We couldn't find a handout, either, and there's no website. So I'm not a lot of help this week.

Full Gospel Assembly was... interesting. A heavy focus on music-- and I was astounded to see so much GOOD music. Seriously. We started off with one hymn, all together, and then we were told we could sit. After that was a full hour of various churchy duets, solos, full band numbers... you name it. There were guitar solos, multiple keyboards/pianos, and soloists-- mostly older woman-- who can seriously belt out a note. It was really quite dumbfounding.

Unfortunately, the sermon completely lost me. It was the driest to date, and probably the longest. It was very teach-y, speaking to specific scripture and elaborating on what it meant-- like an adult Sunday school, but I believe their actual Bible study was at a different time. (By which I mean that I don't think we accidentally stumbled into an actual adult Sunday school, though I know they exist.) Here's the thing, though-- I seemed to be the only person having a hard time paying attention. Most everyone else sat there attentively, for which I commend them. Maybe it's an acquired taste, but I did not enjoy it.

So the church balanced out for me. I really loved the first hour but the second one left me uninspired (though I honestly tried to listen and take it in) and unaffected.

Brad: Well, Erica and I visited another very, very long church.

When we first got there, we saw that their weren't a lot of people at this church. We had to wait in the car a few minutes before we saw where everyone else was going in. Upon entering, I saw the normal things-people greeting other people in the lobby. The previous service was still running, so sis and I just walked around until things were ready. We came in, and the band was setting up on the huge stage. The church looked very nice, and clean too.

The beginning was ok, although I still have to mention how long it was. I was waiting for us to sit down, but after every song somebody would lead us into a prayer. It all took so long before the sermon, it really made me loose interest, despite by best efforts to keep up with it. There was a lot to take in too, the band was amazing, but overall overpowering.

Then came the sermon, which I found a little dry for my taste. I guess the preacher gave a more "classic" style sermon, because he went on to quote, then define a scriptural passage.

All in all, with the exception of it's length, this wasn't a bad church.

Church # 28: Lakeview United Church of Christ

2007-01-28T14:33:00.000-05:00

excuses, excuses

2007-01-22T10:02:00.000-05:00

Alright, alright, I know I've been AWOL. I have good-ish reasons and no, this is not the end of Church Hop.

Two weeks ago Bradley was out of town for his birthday (which is actually today-- happy bday, Brad!), and Church Hop really isn't the same without him. Then this week, we were both up and at 'em, bright and early... just to find heaps of snow on the ground, and more importantly, on the roads. We didn't feel up to braving the uncleared roads (or the people who drive like idiots) to drive half an hour to church, so we stayed in.

Barring another act of winter (yea snow!), we'll be back in action on Sunday. Sorry to have bored you so much... I'm sure we've lost a few readers this way. Aye yi yi.

Church #27: Vineyard Church of Columbus

2007-01-08T09:41:00.001-05:00

1. Who attended? Bradley, Erica & Erica B.

2. How welcome did you feel at this church?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 6.
ERICA B: 8, then 5.
BRADLEY: 5, this was an odd church

3. Pictures of the church:
4. Name/location of the church:
Vineyard Church of Columbus
6000 Cooper Road
Westerville, OH 43081
www.vineyardcolubus.org

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Yeah, it kind of was... Bradley and I were visiting friends in Columbus for the weekend, and our friend picked a church she'd heard of.

6. Time/duration of services:
11:30am--12:45ish

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Christian.

8. Who did you meet?
Many people welcomed us but we didn't meet anyone.

9. Church Hopper's personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: I'm going to let Erica B's little blurb sum up most of it... because it does exactly that. This is one of the two physically largest churches we've been to, and that was impressive, especially since it was very full by ten minutes into service.

One thing that I didn't like was when they asked who the visitors were. I've talked about this before, with another church-- I hate being singled out when I'm brand new there. Once you raised your hand, they gave you a registration card and a free CD, which I thought was awesome-- but I bet if it was my first time there (and I wasn't used to visiting churches), I wouldn't have raised my hand just so people didn't stare at me. Maybe that's just me, but I doubt it-- especially when you're surrounded with as many people as I was on Sunday.

As for the rest, Erica B pretty much nailed it in good detail. I felt welcome in most ways, as people greeted us and shook our hands and gave us a CD, but things still felt detached for me. Oh! But I should mention that they invited new people to meet the pastors after the service-- they were very clear about wanting us to do that, but unfortunately at the end we were kind of uncomfortable because of the "come down and accept the Lord" twist in the sermon, so we left afterwards. Not the church's fault, really-- I appreciated the gesture.

ERICA B: Erica and Bradley came up to Columbus this weekend, and I was very excited that I'd be able to be a guest-hopper again! They let me pick the church, so I told them about Vineyard Columbus - a large church complex that isn't very far from where I live, and one that I've received invitations and seen advertisements for.

The place is huge, but finding our way around wasn't really a problem since the auditorium was clearly marked. Inside the auditorium were cushioned chairs set up in pew arrangements, and a balcony that had wide steps with additional seating on them. I wanted to sit up in the balcony to ensure we'd have a clear view of everything, which we certainly did.

There were two large screens that displayed announcements before the music began. We were welcomed by at least one person walking by, and everyone seemed very friendly. In general, I felt that this church was very inviting and excited by newcomers. The music was great - it was contemporary songs performed by a band, and everyone seemed to be singing along. There were even a few getting into the music so much that they began to dance and wave their arms around. The singer was really good, too, which made it even more enjoyable. Personally, I prefer singing traditional hymns, but the music was definitely suited to the contemporary style of the church.

After the music was some additional announcements, communion, and the offering. They had an interesting way to do communion - there were small containers of juice and crackers at each entrance, and everyone was welcome to pick them up as they entered. Everyone took communion at once, led by the pastor. It was a very efficient process, and made it less awkward for those who chose not to partake (myself included), but that also seemed to make it less personal, at least in my opinion. But with such a large congregation, I can definitely see the benefit in doing things that way.

The sermon, led by the senior pastor, started off good but declined for me as it progressed. Some of what was said conflicted with my personal beliefs - not that I wasn't prepared for that, but an uncomfortable situation nonetheless. The discussion of Hurricane Katrina, along with what was said about sexual relationships as prescribed by the Bible are two things that stick out in my head.

At the end of the sermon, the pastor asked anyone who wished to accept Jesus in their life to stand and pray with him. Many people stood, which I'm sure was a difficult thing for them to do, but this process also made me uncomfortable. I guess to me, religious beliefs are very personal, and the idea of standing up in front of a very large congregation to profess something that personal seemed very awkward and strange.

Again, those are my personal feelings - everyone has a different way of doing things. I just don't feel as comfortable with stuff like that. In any case, I felt that although I had been welcomed as a first-time visitor, the content of the sermon turned me off and made me feel more uncomfortable than I had when I arrived.

Brad: It's always been hard for me to say something critical about a church I didn't care for, because I don't want to make it sound horrible-but I always try to point out something I didn't care for.

This church was very odd. It was as large as some of the churches we've been to before, and could quite a large about of people. The outside of the church looked just like the Crossroads. I was a little excited, seeing how this was such a large church. It started off with a few songs (too many for my taste) which were performed by some great singers. After a while of that, they moved on to the opening announcements, followed by the preacher's main sermon.

Now, it wasn't the man himself I didn't like, it was the things he was saying. He talked about Hurricane Katrina, which particularly confused me, and what he had to say about how people should be together also struck a cord, because of my beliefs. It just all seemed too personal, and way to involved. I like a sermon to ask a question in my mind, not tell me what I'm doing is wrong.

10 Myths About Atheism

2006-12-28T10:28:00.000-05:00

No matter what you believe or disbelieve, please read this quick article. Myths #9 and #10 actually address something I've brought up before, in this blog.

"Ask yourself, which is more moral, helping the poor out of concern for their suffering, or doing so because you think the creator of the universe wants you to do it, will reward you for doing it or will punish you for not doing it?"

Imagine Show

2006-12-24T13:07:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, everyone! It's Christmas Eve, and I hope everyone has had a chance to spend time with their family and their friends.

Despite being up late playing new video games and making room for new books (yeah, we already had part of our Christmas last night), Bradley and I got up bright and early to attend the Imagine Show at Crossroads Community Church.

The show was really a great time. Bradley and I had been looking for a chance to go back to Crossroads, since we'd both really liked it there. This show was a great opportunity, and it did not disappoint. The music was *amazing,* the message was relevant and inspiring, the show itself was flawlessly executed and very funny... it was a great way to get into the Christmas spirit, no matter what faith you subscribe to.

Thank you to Rachel, Glenn and Crossroads, all of which invited us to the show. Have a merry Christmas, everyone!

P.S. Sorry for the shoddiness of some of those pictures-- I wanted to capture the magnitude of this show, but it was really hard without my flash. There were a TON of people there, and ours was one of five or six time slots.

2006-12-19T09:38:00.000-05:00

Sorry that there wasn't a post this week! Bradley and I spent the weekend picking up our brother from college, so we could spend the holidays together. We do have some Christmas Church Hop plans, so hang tight. For now, go spend time with your family. :D

Church #26: Northstar Vineyard Community Church

2006-12-10T13:27:00.000-05:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 9.
BRADLEY: 7, for reasons mentioned in my post.

3. Picture(s) of the church
4. Name/location of the church:
Northstar Vineyard Community Church
Address? It was in the Loveland Middle School auditorium.
www.golovelive.com

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Nope. It's in the same vicinity as most of our Loveland churches, en route to my grandmother's house.

6. Time/duration of services:
10:30--noon.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Christian.

8. Who did you meet?
Sorry, had to high-tail it... but a friend from college was there! (Hi, Wes! Sorry I had to book it!)

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hoppers personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: This church really blew me away. I'm sad to say that I went in with some major hesitation-- the church we had loosely planned on going to changed their marquee so there were no service times on it, so we had to find an alternative quickly. We'd seen the signs for this church but it was weird to go into a church that was in a school. When we actually parked and headed in, we were still hesitant because everyone outside was pretty young-- high school or younger-- and we weren't sure what we were getting into.

I know Bradley wasn't as enthralled with this church as I was, but I'll let him speak to that himself. After I got inside I really changed my tune-- I liked the idea of using a school auditorium as a church, since a church doesn't necessarily need the space all week long, and the school doesn't need the space on the weekends. I'm sure they get into some scheduling issues now and then, but I liked the idea. It made it feel kind of neutral. I'd been in schools before, and felt a little more inherently welcome there, I guess.

The music started right as we cruised in, and I have to say that the lead singer had one of the most beautiful voices I'd ever heard. He had a great band backing him up and they played songs I'd heard countless other times, but really brought a new energy and passion to it. I was amazed at how different a single song could sound. And here's the other great thing-- the entire auditorium sang along, loud and proud. No one ever said that we should stand or that we should sing, but everyone did. Hearing those songs in boisterous surround sound-- it was really something that I'd been looking for, and there it was.

I found the sermon pretty natural and down-to-earth-- the pastor put a Christmas message in layman's terms, but didn't try to shoehorn modern lingo into it or anything. Like I said, it was natural (except, maybe, when he mentioned the three wise men "whooping it up," haha).

What really, really moved me was communion, though. If you've been reading, you know I've had some issues with communion. Today I feel like I found the perfect ritual (for me!). It's really hard to put into words but of course I'll try.

There were five stations for communion, with the bread and wine but no one manning them. At people's own pace, they started getting up and forming lines behind the stations. Then a group would approach the station-- and by a group I mean a couple, a family, a group of friends, or just an individual-- and take communion at their pace. The rest of the line hung back like it was an ATM, and let the group have their private moment for prayer and reflection.

The atmosphere was amazing to me. The band kept playing and I watched people hold their children and say a quiet prayer together, or a young couple bow their heads together and share a moment. Since everyone was getting up and sitting down at different times, no one paid attention to the fact that Bradley and I were still sitting there. In fact, if you asked me who didn't take communion I absolutely could not tell you. Everyone was clearly in their moment, even in line before the stations-- eyes closed, reading their Bible, talking quietly, whatever.

There were also people waiting to pray with you if you had need for it, and every now and then someone would just get up and join the group to pray together.

Trying to explain it here has stripped it of all the emotion it carried for me. People have asked me how I can "judge" (I hate that word) a church based on one visit, and it's hard to explain that some places just have a feeling that I'm looking for. This is not the right church for everyone, by any stretch of the imagination, but I assume that in each person's own church, they feel something like the warmth I felt today. However they feel it. It's not really something you can express to another person-- that's the magic about it.

Okay, I've rambled on and on and on. This church left me excited about the project and about the journey-- as does each church, really. If anyone needs a break from their home church, stop by Northstar (9am and 10:30 services) and let tell me about your experience. As I'm sure Bradley will illustrate, it won't have the same effect on every person-- but then again, is it supposed to?

Bradley: Usually, there is a template for most churches. I can safely say most places have a few rows of pews, with a raised platform in the front, maybe a small stage. Some have a small tech booth in the back or side, and it's all relatively small. This was the first time I've ever seen an auditorium turned into a church. I was taken back by the great design, and awesome us of color and space.

However, this church-felt like high school. It was mostly because of the teen-oriented atmosphere, and the familiarity of the auditorium feel, but it felt like church mixed with high school. This idea was taken to the next level for me, when the pastor came up. I really could tell he was speaking to a younger audience, because of the way he talked-about family and the true meaning of Christmas.

I did agree with Erica though, the communion of this church was excellent. Just totally excellent. Little groups of friends, or families would gather in a small huddle. Somebody would say a few words, and they would all join together. Now THAT'S a good way to do it. It's small, and personal but lets you know you're not alone. Don't get me wrong, traditional communions are cool too, but I really like this style.

The band also struck a few cords with me, I guess it's just the fact that I can't stand teen bands, and that's what they were. This church just conflicted with some of my personal things, which kind of gave me a bad effect. The church itself was great, with a great meaning and service, but the overall effect was lost on me.

Church #25: Northeast Community Church

2006-12-03T15:15:00.000-05:00

Church #20 (Lutheran Church of the Resurrection) revisited

2006-11-28T11:34:00.000-05:00

This post actually made me lose sleep last night! Haha... I couldn't stop thinking about all the things I needed to say and how it was already Tuesday night.

Okay. First off, thank you all for commenting. I really, truly appreciate all the support. Hopefully you can tell that this project means something to me (and to Bradley, but I let him speak for himself). I hope you'll keep reading, and maybe even posting from time to time.

Secondly, the post! This week was a special situation, and I don't feel it should really be forced into the template that we usually try to follow. We revisited the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. Since we first visited (Church #20, for those of you keeping score at home), I'd been in touch with Pastor Zorn quite a bit. He snail mailed me, then we kept in touch through email, then I met up with him in person, etc. He had concerns about the project. ...Don't we all.

After talking with him in person, Pastor Zorn asked that Bradley and I come to their contemporary service some time (as we'd already been to the traditional service). I assured him that we would do our best, and this week it just worked out for us.

When we got to the church (11:45am service) we noticed that there were fewer cars than there had been last time. We entered the lobby area-- not nearly as scary the second time, haha-- and signed in to the guest book again. There were no greeters this time around, but we were welcomed by a member of the congregation and then Pastor Zorn saw us and welcomed us. We were ushered in to the main auditorium and greeted again by the woman passing out programs and hymnals.

Then it got weird, because when Bradley and I were sitting down, we heard our names. Sitting in front of us were two women talking about us, and we weren't really sure why. We flipped open our programs and there, stuck in the middle, were printouts of the LCR Church Hop entry. The day's sermon was about whether or not worship should be evaluated.

I was... dumbstruck? Pastor Zorn had warned us that he was going to talk about the blog at one of his services-- I had no idea it was going to be the one we were sitting in, and that it was the focus of the sermon. ...Wow.

(I've been wrong to omit the Joyful Noise band-- there was lively music playing through the entire service by a small band up front as part of the contemporary service. Hence the separate hymnal/songbook/whateveryoucallit. They were great and energetic but Bradley and I were more than a little distracted by the goings on.)

The sermon was-- eye-opening. I really enjoyed it, though I was pretty embarrassed. Pastor Zorn didn't point us out or anything, which was great. He talked about going to church with a consumer mentality, which struck me as slightly hurtful until I really thought about it. Yeah, I guess that's what I do. Is that wrong?

That was his question too, and he didn't draw a definite line. He talked about blogs, about today's mentality in general, about what worship should be and what Lutheran worship should be. All very even and fair, in my opinion.

Then it took a turn for the personal (not in a bad way)-- he told the congregation about meeting me, and paraphrased what I had told him about the project. He treated the subject respectfully and from what I could see, the congregation didn't hate the idea of the project. I have to admit that I was worried that someone would say something horrible, not knowing that I was sitting right there in the pew. (It was a stupid thing to be anxious about but put yourself in my shoes for a second.)

Communion time. If you remember, it was after the LCR Church Hop that I asked my question about communion-- what do you do if you don't take communion? I listened when he was explaining it, then Bradley and I came forward (with everyone else) and we folded our arms. Pastor Zorn gave communion to his congregation and when it was our turn, quietly blessed us. It was a scary step but it was the least I could do-- not only for me and for Bradley, but for Pastor Zorn and for a church who were welcoming and accepting to our ideas.

In the past couple weeks, I've been given a lot to think about. This was the icing on the cake, I guess. Like most people, I have times when I want to change the world. I want to leave my mark. Especially as a writer-- I want my words to affect people. Sitting there and listening to a sermon that I clearly had a hand in-- it was crazy. I'm still not sure how to react to all of it-- I wasn't prepared, and it happened so quickly.

I have a lot to mull over. Recently I've been getting a lot of questions, and some of them will always be hard for me to answer. "What do you believe?" "What are you looking for?" "When will this be over?" I've never forced myself to answer these questions, but they're coming from other people now. I guess they'll all be answered at once-- when I know what I believe, and if I understand what I am looking for... then I guess it will be over. For now I want to push this project further. I've learned a lot so far, but what is now becoming clear is just how much I don't know.

Brad: Wow. I can't say that I've ever had a sermon that was tailored around a blog, or a certain group of people who were question the goings on of the local churches.

Coming around the second time was a lot different from the first, not to state the obvious, but I was more relaxed, and felt more comfortable with meeting Pastor Zorn, and what was about to happen. When Erica and I walked in, our heads were turned by the actual use of our names. Bradley Garwood said out loud. It was extremely weird. Despite that fact that people seemed to have an idea of who we are, it didn't hit the climax until we opened our programs. In the handout, was a copy of our exact post (via blogger) with little copies of the photos just how they are on the site.

When Pastor Zorn got up to speak-after the great band finished a few songs-it was such a great sermon. It filled my head with a wild assortment of ideas about what I believe in. Questions in my mind about the "ethics" of our church hopping. This was a great example of how our hopping effects people. I watched the heads of the people listening. Bobbing motions followed almost everything he said, as people stuck to his words. I can admit I was one of those people.

I can safely say that this is one the best sermons I have ever heard.

Later in the service, we put our new-found knowledge about communion, and about just going up and bowing your head, with hands folded. This was very awkward, I must admit more awkward than sitting there, but it felt good to be doing what seemed like the right thing in most of our eyes.

Explanations

2006-11-21T13:09:00.000-05:00

Alright. As you can see, no church again this week. A lot has been going on behind the scenes of Church Hop, and that is what I would like to talk about today.

For better or for worse, this blog has recently gotten some attention from several groups and individuals. I'm not going to mention names or groups for a number of reasons, the most important reason being because I feel I need to respond to all of them at once.

I would like to start with some general defense of this blog. At this point I would like to state that I am speaking for MYSELF-- Bradley, my brother and co-blogger, doesn't even know I'm writing this right now, so leave him out of it.

1. I have done the best job I can to keep this blog open. Comments are enabled and I have responded to almost every one individually. My e-mail address is easily found on my profile, and I have responded to e-mails personally. I leave the URL at every church that I visit, so that I am not sneaking behind their backs and "picking on them"-- they have access to the blog immediately, and they are just as able to e-mail me and comment as anyone else.

2. I gain nothing from this blog itself. We don't advertise, we have no sponsors, no one is paying us in any way to do this project. What I gain from Church Hop is personal, which leads me to...

3. ...My journey. I am being criticized a lot for going into churches with no intention of finding God. That, dear readers, is your assumption. What "agnostic" means to different people varies greatly, but for me, personally, it boils down to a search. I accept that there might be a God. That's one of many options to me, and one that I feel is worth exploring.

I come from a small, close-minded town. I grew up without religion, and no one laid the options out for me. The people I knew who went to church "chose" that church because that's where they had been going for all of their lives. What I wanted for both myself and for my younger brother was a chance to get a feel for what different churches were like, first hand. I wanted him to make his decisions based on experience, not based on habit or discomfort with exploration. That's where this started-- a small town where you have to seek out diversity and new opinions.

This is my "church." My idea of church is visiting different ones, meeting different people, getting a look at how different people praise their different ideas of God (or gods or whatever they believe). It is no more ridiculous than your ideas, no matter what they are.

4. I have been as honest as I can be while still being diplomatic and open-minded. If at any point I have been critical of an aspect of a church, I have done my best to re-state that these are my opinions. I am entitled to them, just as you are entitled to have your opinions of this blog. I have been crystal clear that I am an uneducated church-goer, and I have nothing but first impressions to go by.

5. The rating at the beginning of each entry (which will be going away soon, as noted over a week ago) expresses Bradley and my comfort level with a church. Not how good a church is, not how right their ideas are, but how comfortable they made us feel while we were there. All churches are different but they do have one thing in common: we have to make the first step into their doors. I guess I can see how you might think this is "judgment," but to me it is putting a number on how I, as a person, felt in a church, based on a number of factors.

6. I have never asked a church to change, nor would I ever do that in the future. The only reason I have pointed out the blog to them is so that they don't feel I've been doing something secretive and back-handed. I never leave it as a "here's what you're doing wrong" hint. I am a firm believer in "to each his own."

7. As a rule, we only visit churches that say "Welcome" or have their service times listed on the marquee. Maybe they're assuming that it says "Welcome Christians" or "Welcome if you're already certain what/who God is," but that's not how everyone reads it. We all have to start somewhere, whether we're 15, 23, or 140 years old when we decide to make our major life decisions.

That's all I have time for right now. There will almost certainly be an "Explanations Part Two" when I get a little more time. For now, that should give you something to react to.

To the people who criticize my blog and/or me as a person: say what you will. That's the joy of the internet, to me. It's what I'm doing and I would be a hypocrite to ask that you only say nice things. But I also invite you to say them here, on the blog, so that I can respond to them and defend myself once in a while.

Also, I ask these same people to scroll back one entry to where I asked for feedback. If there is a way that you think we can make this blog more fair, more of an exploration for everyone, please let me know.

Overhaul?

2006-11-12T21:48:00.000-05:00

Sorry guys, no new church today! Bradley and I had company in from Columbus and we elected to take some time off.

BUT!

I do have a question for you, oh loyal readers. I really want to overhaul Church Hop soon (first of the year seems as good a time as any). What are we missing? What would you change? What aren't we pursuing enough? Read through the charter and the questions we answer each week, if you get a chance. Then leave a comment (or email me, redrabbit[at]gmail.com) with your suggestions.

Changes I'm considering:

*It's pretty obvious that we need to branch out... haven't even hit a Catholic church yet, much less a synagogue or something.

*Removal of the rating number. In our heads, the rating number is a scale of how welcome we felt in the church. However, we have heard mention that the rating seems like a comparison of churches, and that's not what we're aiming for at all. Is there a better way to scale something like this, or should it go away altogether?

Church Hop has quite a few readers, so I hope that you guys will chime in and help to shape where this project is heading. I am surprised, to tell you the truth, that it's still running at all. Back in April, I wouldn't have guessed that we would find so much of a journey behind the project but we've had great support and enormous interest, so onward we go.

That being said, Bradley and I absolutely invite your feedback.

Church #24: Eastgate Baptist Church

2006-11-05T21:19:00.000-05:00

Church #23: First Church of Christ (Burlington, KY)

2006-10-29T19:39:00.000-05:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 5?
BRADLEY: 6ish, for the reasons listed below.

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
First Church of Christ
6080 Camp Ernst Road
Burlington, KY 41005
www.1stchurchofchrist.org

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Um... yes! Brian Heckber, the "Pastor of Involvement" at this church, emailed me to ask if we would stop by and "see how we are doing." I was more than happy to, but the request was kind of surprising to me.

6. Time/duration of services:
9:30am--11am.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
They say on their website that they are non-denominational, but I question that.

8. Who did you meet?
No one, but not exactly for lack of trying.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: As I said, the request to visit this church was kind of... surprising. For one thing, it's at least half an hour from any church we'd be to thus far, so it definitely seemed out of the blue. Still, it's exciting for me to hear that a church actually wants us to visit them, and doesn't feel duped or used.

I think what Brian wanted was to see if we felt welcomed. For that reason I'm going to be as detailed (and as honest) as I can be.

Right when we got there we realized it was a much larger church than we had guessed at. Cars flooded the parking lot and since we were coasting in just before 9:30 (underestimated how long the drive would take) I was nervous about finding a spot. However, I saw a sign pointing to guest parking, and there were some spots right up front for guest to use. That rocked.

When we got inside we wanted to look around but I could hear that the service was beginning. We were greeted very warmly right away and shown to the main lobby. There were two places to go immediately-- one that was clearly for teens/the younger crowd, and one that seemed to be a more traditional worship service. I'm not sure which one I was "supposed" to go to but I headed for the more traditional, because that's typically where I feel more at home. I'm not really into the cool-for-cool's-sake kind of church, and I could tell just from peering inside that it was a loud-music-and-strobe-lights kind of deal. (Just first impressions-- I'm sure the services are awesome.)

When we got inside the place was packed. By the time we got our seats the place was completely full-- and we're talking about a huge auditorium here. A few minutes into the first song, every single seat was filled (ushers were helping to fill them) and a few people were standing in the back. Something was odd about the room, to me-- I realized that there were zero windows and zero decorations, so it was a giant, drab gray room. Nothing hanging on the walls. I even had to search for the cross, which was hidden under the projector screen.

The music was nice-- I felt more that I was being sung at than being asked to participate, but I definitely didn't mind. The songs were traditional but heartfelt, loud but well-sung. The lyrics always kept up on screen, but again I really felt that I was supposed to watch, not participate. This went on for a while, but not annoyingly long.

It was at this point that I noticed the bulletin didn't have a schedule in it. I really like when the bulletin has a list of when communion is (if they take it), when offering is collected, etc. It saves me from putting my offering in the wrong plate, as has almost happened a couple of times, and gives me a chance to prepare a little. No luck this time. The bulletin was pretty much geared to members.

The sermon came next, and this is when I started to wonder what "non-denominational" meant. For a non-denominational church, they certainly make a lot of decisions about who is and who isn't going to heaven. They take the Bible pretty literally. They laid down some rules that I felt a non-denominational church shouldn't be committing to, because in my head it means that any number of belief systems can exist under the same roof. I would love if someone from First Baptist could respond and let me know how they view non-denomination, because while they didn't make me uncomfortable by mentioning groups of people who might not enter heaven (homosexuals, abortionists, whatever), it definitely seemed as though there was a specific belief system being practiced at this church.

After the sermon they took communion (as a congregation by passing the trays around, which I was happy about until the guy next to me gave me The Look) and then took offering (the lady passing the bowl was really impatient with Bradley and I wrestling with our wallets). After another dozen prayers and a solo song (very good), services were over... for most people.

At the beginning and at the end of service, the preacher mentioned that guests should come to the front after services. "We want to meet you." Bradley and I thought that was cool. Then... when services were over... we went down to the front, where we'd been instructed (twice) to go. ...And we stood there. Other people were conversing but I didn't even know who I should talk to... no one approached us and I couldn't find the preacher who'd told us to come down front. We stood there. No one said anything to us. I had no way of knowing if there was someone I should talk to specifically and I wasn't about to just start asking random people. After a few minutes of feeling really weird, Bradley and I left.

I was excited to go to this church, especially with the honor of the invitation we'd received. I think there is a lot of potential with the way they tried to welcome us, but in many areas it kind of misfired and we were left hanging. Thank you so much for the invitation, Brian, and I hope this helps. I hope we'll get a chance to visit again some day and maybe hit up the youth service.

BRADLEY: Well, Erica and I were very excited to go to this church, because of our invitation to go to this church. It was a little further than any other church we've been to, but it didn't matter.

When we got there, the church was very large, and teaming with cars. We found our spot, and walked in. After a quick at-door greeting, and some exploring, we realized we needed to head into the service. There was two different ones, one for an older group, and one for a younger audience. We headed into the older one, where everyone was standing, and listening to the music. The music went on for way too long.

When everyone sat down, they jumped right into the message, and the preacher who gave the message was a very static and energetic man. He was very happy and upbeat, and gave everything a great. He was just a great speaker. He started off with a story (that was obviously fictional) that was very funny, and a great lead-in to his message about the new heaven and earth.

This church was very large, but still didn't have the personal touch I would have liked. It's very had to explain, but everything seemed so new and clean, like it hadn't been used to the full potential, and they everything was glossed over. The programs were thick with text, and didn't show much enthusiasm. Regardless of this, the church was pretty good, and the speaker was amazing.

Church #22: Clough United Methodist Church

2006-10-22T14:20:00.000-04:00

(Hey! If you haven't read last week's guest hop, be sure to check it out!)

1. Who attended? Bradley, Erica and Bill!

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: I think I'd say a 5.
BRADLEY: I'm going to say 5 as well
BILL: 7.

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Clough United Methodist Church
2010 Wolfangel Road
Cincinnati, OH 45255
http://cloughchurch.org

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Nope... it's on a road we are familiar with.

6. Time/duration of services:
10:30am--almost noon.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Methodist.

8. Who did you meet?
No one in particular.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: I'd been excited about this church for a while because it seemed so beautiful. It sits atop a hill, has a giant bell, flag and cross, and has hints of stained glass all along the outside.

When you get inside it really is just as beautiful as it lets on. The windows are absolutely gorgeous-- I only got a picture of one because taking pictures in a church is weird. The room is bright and large. Oh, and then you walk into the lobby area, there are signs pointing you toward the various parts of the church-- thank you. :)

One of the first things I noticed was the table of nametags-- most people wore them through the entire service. I thought this was a great idea and that it really spoke to the welcome feeling of the church. However, no one really went out of their way to welcome us, even during fellowship. Don't get me wrong; it was not hostile at all. It just felt as though they had their own community and if we wanted to enter it, that was up to us.

I really liked Pastor Jonathan. He was very animated (I overuse that word, don't I?) and cheerful. The service from start to finish was incredibly long, especially if you're not a regular member of the church because there were entire (unneccessarily long) presentations about the current finances of the church, for example. Even with the music at a minimum (a few unenthusiastic hymns and a very impressive song by a member of the congregation), I felt like I was there for an eternity.

BRADLEY: Erica and I have seen this church for many years. It's been driven by, by so many people, that everyone has seen it. Well, for the first time, I finally got to go in. When we all three walked in, I noticed the large group of nametags sitting on the tables in the lobby for it's members. Kind of ackward not having a "members" tag (and if there was, we didn't see it), but everything else was a slow pace as we shuffled into the main room.

This room was very cool, the wood theme, on top of the long size of it all, and when you combined it with the stained glass windows, everything looked great. I can't say the same for the actual service. When the announcments came on, a very nice guy went through the weekley goings-on. Then came a very ackward and slow message about there program of giving more to the church. There are so many ways to hint and ask, but I realize at one point, you're going to have to address the congregation. It just seemed like it could have been more prepaired.

Then came the sermon, giving by a very intresting fellow. At first glance, he seemed like an average guy, but with his slight accent, and slow speech-it was totally different. I don't know why, but I really like him, and while his message was a little shaky at times, it all wrapped up nicley.

BILL: Today was my first time attending an official service at a non-Catholic church, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. The Catholic mass is very methodical, structured, and, at times less than captivating. My only basis for what services are like within other denominations has been television, which isn't exactly a trusted source. Regardless, it has left the impression that more upbeat churches exist and Clough United Methodist Church met that expectation.

We were greeted by several people which made me feel welcome. The pastor, John, seemed really excited to be there and lead the congregation and I appreciated his enthusiasm. You can't expect the congregation to be enthusiastic unless they are led as such. During the the part of the service where those around us shared recent joys and concerns from their lives, everyone appeared to know each other fairly well. Pastor John was familiar with their names and situations. That is something that is less common in a larger congregation like the one I've attended, and seemed like it would be really nice.

The part of the service I least enjoyed was the segment on finances, especially the part where they listed how many people gave certain amounts regularly. It seemed like telling the people who gave less than the norm what they ought to. Churches do cost money to operate, so it is a necessary evil I suppose (for lack of a better term). All in all, it was a good church experience for me.

Church #21b: McLean Bible Church (guest hop!)

2006-10-18T13:00:00.000-04:00

Hurrah! Guest Church Hopper Rachel sent me this review of a church she visited in McLean, Virginia. I really, really appreciate this kind of remote Church Hopping... so if you've done any lately, send me a report! (Not on your home church, please.) Without further ado... Rachel & co's guest hop!

1. Who attended? Rachel, Andrew, Amy and Paul

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

Rachel: 7
The other people: Averaged out at a 7, too.

3. Picture(s) of the church

I didn’t know that I’d be writing a Church Hop, but I DID take some pictures. They aren’t of the regular sanctuary, but of the Jr. High room – it was awesome!!! The rest of the church was WAY more traditional than the Jr. High room. It was mostly white. White walls and counters – with green carpet and chairs. The main auditorium was one big room with graduated seating towards the back. I read in a info sheet that it holds 1500 people.

4. Name/location of the church:
McLean Bible Church

McLean, Virginia

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
We were visiting my brother in DC, so we went with him.

6. Time/duration of services:
We went to the 9:00 service; it was just over an hour.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Non-denominational my sister-in-law says. It was pretty close to feeling Baptist if you ask me.

8. Who did you meet?
A few people who worked there, including a lady who ran the special needs ministry for kids with disabilities. I was really interested in that, but she seemed too busy to answer any of my questions. The volunteer at the Jr. High room was SUPER nice.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc
We got a handout of all the upcoming events when we walked in. It was like a small novel. Lots of stuff going on at this church! There were ads for weekend seminars, groups, and it explained the 5 different services you could go to.

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

RACHEL: As we drove up Amy yells, “A parking garage? I can’t believe they have a parking garage!!” She has designed churches as an architect and tells me that to build a parking garage you spend $25,000 per parking space instead of $1500 per space for a parking lot. WOW – that’s a big difference. As we walk up there are people walking in that are in jeans, some are in khakis, some are wearing ties. I guess anything goes! We feel welcomed by the “greeting team” (not sure what they are called) as we walk in. The people are generally nice, and we follow my brother into the main sanctuary. They do point out where the bathrooms are (down a hall and around the corner) in case we need to find them later. We’re all toting our Bibles along with us. Not because my bother told us to, but because we saw that he and my sister-in-law had them, so we bring ours to fit in. Good thing we did. Lots of people are carrying in Bibles.

We take a seat front and center. The giant screens have several community announcements going on, and then the service starts with music. It’s a lady singing and playing piano, she’s very good. We sing several songs. Then the pastor walks out. He announces that we are going to take communion. I get nervous. Instantly, I get nervous. Will I know what to do? They pass it down the isles, so that’s easy enough. But then, we have these little plastic shot glasses … what do we do with those? Amy and I stack ours and put them on the floor for now. More songs, and then more. There is about 30 minutes of music. That’s a little on the heavy side for me, but hey – some people could sing the whole hour. After several songs, they show a video on the big screens. A lady is telling a story, but it is very vague. Then, that same lady comes out and does an interpretive dance. That is a first for me! She was a good dancer, but I wish that the video would have told the story. Instead she just said she had gone through a hard time, and God was there for her. I want some details! The pastor comes back and gives a serman about how to know the path that God wants you on. I agree with some of his points, and disagree with others. He is using a lot of churchy language that I am not used to. I get somewhat distracted by the churchy language from time to time. The pastor is a Jew for Jesus – he was Jewish, and then became a Christian. I think that is fascinating, and I wish that I could ask him a bunch of questions about that. We never crack open our Bibles.

The service ends, and they invite all new people to a 10 minute info session following the service. As good church hoppers, we go. It’s a small room with seating for about 20 people, and the room is full. The pastor comes in, and I’m impressed that he took the time to do that. He tells us what the church’s mission is, and that he is glad that we are there. He introduces us to the “pastor of new people” and she is very well spoken, and well dressed. They tell us they know that the church is big, and that you can get lost (apparently 10,000 people go there), so they have the “pastor of new people” to help you meet new people, volunteer, answer your questions, etc. I think to myself, “this meeting is a GREAT idea”. It really was nice to know exactly what was going on there and who to ask questions.

We leave the meeting and my brother and sister-in-law go to get flu shots (YES – they were doing flu shots at church). So, the four of us go exploring. We see the kids area and the Jr. High room. The lady who is running check in at the Jr. High room invites us in to see the place. It is awesome – a skateboard ramp, video games, and arcade games – very cool (see pictures).

The one thing that bothered me about this church is that you have to pay for everything. You pay for coffee, a CD of the service, pamphlets, seminars and classes that you want to take. A few times we started to pick something up, and then saw it was a few bucks. That was a little shocking. Better go to the ATM before you go to church. There was a full coffee shop and a café on site!

All in all, not bad. I wasn’t offended, nor was I challenged to change anything about my life. I missed free coffee.

Church #21: Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church

2006-10-15T11:10:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley and Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 1, I guess.
BRADLEY: 1, for the lack of everything.

3. Picture(s) of the church
4. Name/location of the church:
Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
No, it's right off of 32 so we stopped by.

6. Time/duration of services:
Really? Not sure. The sign says 10, 11 and 6pm.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Baptist.

8. Who did you meet?
HA!

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc
Not applicable.

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: So, the sign seems pretty clear, right? WELCOME, worship services, Sunday 10, 11 and 6. Right? Well Bradley and I get there and we go inside, and there are about seven guys on the stage setting up music equipment, and there are two women sitting in the front pews. I make eye contact with one of them and smile, and she doesn't so much as acknowledge me but keeps talking to her friend.

The guys give us no acknowledgement either, so Bradley and I make our way to a pew in the middle of the church. Everyone keeps doing what they're doing. Everyone has clearly seen us, and we're just sitting there on our own.

15ish minutes pass.

No one has said a single word to us. No one has smiled in our direction. They talk amongst themselves cheerily. It's quarter past ten now, so Bradley and I assume service is... cancelled? Postponed? We have no way of knowing... no one has told us, there are no pamphlets anywhere about a special service, and the sign outside is pretty clearly marked for 10am.

This is not okay by me. Do you know what a difficult thing it is to do, to walk into a new church? If you don't want newcomers, take down your freaking sign that invites us in. If you have a special service, that's FINE, but let me know when I walk into your church and don't make me sit there like an idiot.

When we left, I told Bradley that I didn't want to waste our church time... we had woken up, gotten dressed and set that time aside. So now, without further ado, today's real Hop.

Bradley: This was crazy. Erica and I tried to get back in the grove of things with a Church Hop, and what happens when we get there?

Nothing.

Erica and I cruised around the parking lots of some local 'hoods until it was time to go into the church. We stopped in the parking lot like we usually do, waiting for someone else, because of the few cars. We slowley waited until the time was right, when we walked into the church's main room. When we got in, there were five or six people on stage, all holding guitars. We wern't greeted by anyone, and nobody said anything. Erica and I were all alone, sitting in the pew, waiting for someone to say something about the lack of service.

This was very upsetting, and it was very annoying. This was not a good church hop.

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 6. I wouldn't call it thought-provoking.
BRADLEY:

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Busken Bakery
7756 Beechmont Avenue

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Busken needs no recommendation.

6. Time/duration of services:
10:30ish to 10:45ish.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
The snackish kind.

8. Who did you meet?
I think Jolene rang us up.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc
Not applicable.

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: Much better. Busken was warm and inviting. We spent the money that would have gone to today's offering on iced pumpkin cookies and milk. The music was lacking and the congregation was small, but I felt very "at home" in this intimate little place.

Bradley: Nothing beats a good pumpkin cookie and a bottle of milk on a sunday morning. The woman who served us was kind and prompt, and kept things going. There was also a small amount of people there, who didn't seem to mind us. It was great, regardless of the lack of people.

No new church this week!

2006-10-08T19:16:00.000-04:00

Sorry to disappoint but we had company this weekend! We stayed up to watch the sunrise and it kind of threw off the sleep schedule a little bit.

But no matter! We got some really great feedback from Pastor Zorn from last week's church. In fact, he sent us a personal letter (sorry, he asked that I not post it here) and I might be meeting up with him to discuss Church Hop. The feedback was not completely negative but he did express concerns and I think that our pending discussion will really help to shape Church Hop for the future.

We have also had some (more positive) feedback from someone who attends Crossroads (if you'd like me to link to your blog, let me know!). All in all it's been a crazy week for Church Hop, even without visiting a new church.

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection sent us a "thank you for visiting" letter and information packet. Here are the scans; let me know if you'd like to see anything in particular. Again, sorry for the lack of church this week, but be sure to check back for information about my rendezvous with Pastor Zorn!

Church #20: Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

2006-10-01T11:17:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 7.
Bradley: 6, there was a lot to take in.

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection
1950 Nagel Road
Cincinnati, OH 45255
http://www.lcresurrection.org/

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Nope-- Bradley found this church in passing.

6. Time/duration of services:
9:15am--11am.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Lutheran.

8. Who did you meet?
Many people, especially Kris and Lisa, made us feel welcome. We were also able to meet Pastor Zorn after service.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: I was mostly comfortable here-- we were welcomed right away, shown to the colorful and brightly-lit auditorium, etc. The room was even brighter than usual, as their quilting club had put together quilts for Lutheran World Relief, and they were all over the seats, waiting to be dedicated by the congregation. The room was really beautiful and comfortable.

As with the other Lutheran church we've visited (not last week, as Bradley misspoke, but back in May), the service is too strict for my taste. Granted, the congregation did not seem to be phoning it in at all-- they seemed truly engaged. Still, the "sit now, stand now" approach just doesn't fit with me. I feel too confined; there was very little opportunity for personal reflection and expression.

One thing that was different about Lutheran C of the R-- not only from Prince of Peace but really from all churches we've been to-- is child involvement. When the prelude was being played I winced as a few notes were missed, until I realized that it was a very young girl playing the piano. Kids helped usher, lit the candles, and even read the lessons. They seemed to take it very seriously and did an amazing job with their responsibilities. This really impressed me.

I really liked the pastor-- I thought he was animated and articulate. The service was waaaaay too long for my taste, but what can ya do. This isn't my religion to mess with.

Here's a question I put to anyone who's reading this: I don't take communion, as I feel it's wrong when I don't really believe in what it symolizes, and I feel it would insult the people who do. However, in places like LCR, I felt really embarrassed to be the only one sitting (well, with Bradley) while the rest of the congregation was in a circle in the front. What is the best way to deal with this? This is not the first time that I've felt this way-- some churches pass around the Eucharist and etc, and that makes it a little easier to pass on. But when it's a big event like this... is there a more discreet way to pass on communion? Just a talking point; any feedback is welcome.

Bradley: I'll tell 'ya, this church was beautiful. The looks of this church were what attracted me to go there in the first place. It looked like a giant glass egg, just sitting on a hill. I was very curious upon entry to find out what buildling would look like, and I was very pleased.

We signed in, in the guestbook (for some odd reason, that's only the second guest thing we signed, that wasn't a card, but rather a book), and talked a little with some people from the lobby, who were telling us about the church. They covered some of the things they do, and led us into a brief hallway, full of hand-made quilts. They were all very, very well made. I was taken back by the thought of how much time had to have gone into those. Very impressive.

We walked in, and took our seats, past the small pool of running water. I only say that, because of the destinct sound it made when the room was quiet. We sat down, and got situated, and started to skim our hand-outs, when the morning service started. It was a new thing for me to see teens and kids taking part in the morning service, (lighting candles and such) and it made me think, what is required to do something like that? Hm.

Anyway, they played a few songs, and gave some morning announcements about what's going on. To be honest, I wasn't really listening, because I was still gazing around the large glass windows. It wasn't too long before the sermon started. At first, I really had a hard time getting in the pastors grove, but I guess in retrospect, I really liked the sermon he gave. He pulled in a few messages with references to himself (something I always like), and a strong connection to the church members. The most odd part, was of course, communion. Sitting there, and being the only ones not observing the tradition is a little strange, and makes you feel like an outcast. Erica brought up a very good point in her post, because I sometimes don't belive in some of the traditions, but I don't want to be doing them just to do them, that's wrong for the people that DO belive in it. It's very odd, and this church really made me think about it too.

********
Also! This week Bradley and I received this thank you letter from Anderson Hills Christian Church, which we attended last week. It reads:

Dear Bradley and Erica:

We were very happy to have you worship with us this past Sunday and I was glad to have the chance to meet you. I do hope that you were blessed by your time with us.

I invite you to join us again for worship and to have the chance to get to know you better. We do have an active youth fellowship that meets twice a month and sometimes includes some students from the Glen Este campus. Out next meeting is on Sunday, October 8th at 5:00 p.m. and we invite you to join us.

In His Love,
Nik Donges
Pastor

Church #19: Anderson Hills Christian Church

2006-09-24T18:03:00.000-04:00

http://andersondisciples.org

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Nope. We just pass it from time to time.

6. Time/duration of services:
10:30--11:30am.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Disciples of Christ.
8. Who did you meet?
This church was probably the most welcoming we've been to so far. We shook a lot of hands.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: To be honest, this church didn't start off on the best possible foot. We were definitely welcomed right away by a few people, but then the service itself was unastounding. Plus, it was the kind of church that is very rehearsed (sit here, stand here, say this now, sit here, stand here), which is still a turn-off to me.

The music was nice-- there was a small choir and they sounded really good. They only did a couple songs, and we didn't have to stand through them all. I always appreciate that.

The sermon was uninspired even though the pastor seemed like a nice enough guy. It was very traditional and I didn't seen anyone in the congregation getting too "into it."

We didn't take communion, as we usually don't, but it was an interesting ceremony to me, because there still seemed to be some ritual to it. That was refreshing to me and that's when it climbed from a 4 to a 5. Most churches we've been to that take communion do it individually, but this church took communion together and I really liked that. I guess it's wrong of me to say that I dislike the strict discipline of the services but then appreciate the communion ritual-- call me a hypocrite, I'm just calling it like I see it.

What bumped the number way up for me actually occurred after the service. We could hardly take a step without someone else shaking our hand, but that's somewhat typical. What really changed it was Don-- sorry, I've forgotten his last name. Don introduced us to other people, using our first names right off the bat. He then offered to give us a tour of the church, which I'm making a big deal about because that has never happened to us before. Why?! We've felt so welcome in some churches but I have never been offered a tour. If I were looking for a new church home that would be such a huge gesture to me!

Don ushered us around the nursery, kitchen, common area, etc and talked about what goes on in various parts of the church. He also introduced us along the way, and with each "This is Erica and this is Bradley," I felt a little more at home. It can be nerve-wrecking to go around repeating your name a thousand times, especially when you're not on your own turf. To any churches reading this, especially small ones, offer a tour. It is the simplest thing but maybe you forget how daunting a new church can be.

Based on that welcome, I'd love to go back some day. As is sometimes the case, it was the actual religion that rubbed me the wrong way (not a BAD thing, just not MY thing), but the people themselves were warm and good-hearted. They invited us to their potluck lunch but we already had plans; I would have loved to stay.

BRADLEY:This church, was a misfire.

It was very odd, Erica is always trying to get me to find us a church, so I finally did. So, instead of us going, we both overslept, and with a haze of forgetting the time, we just decsided to go to the chuch right next to it. It's all good. They were both Lutheran, and they both seemed fine. Anyway, when we got into this church, it was full of people in the lobby. Young and old, each slowley filling up the place, as they entered in.

When sis and I took our seat, we looked around, and suddenly, the numbers had dropped. There were very few people in there, but they were all VERY friendley, and they all seemed to want us to stay. So, we sat down, and went through the morning announcements. After all that was said and done, we listened to the sermon.

Not the best, not the worst. The preacher was very cool, with his unplaceable accent, but he gave a simple message, with grace and care, but it didn't quite have the punch it needed, due to a lacking congregation, and an A/V outtage. But, regardless, the church made-up for itself when everything was over. For the FIRST time ever, somebody offered us a tour of the church. We didn't say yes just to be nice, Erica and I actually wanted a tour of the church, because this was such a cool and new expirence. The man that lead us around, pointed everything out, and indroduced us to everyone. That made such an impact on me, because they really took time out of there way to do that.

Church #18: Summerside

2006-09-17T21:48:00.000-04:00

Church #17: First Baptist Church of Glen Este

2006-09-10T20:26:00.000-04:00

(Sorry for the picture... again! I forgot to take my own when we were leaving so I had to grab this one from their site.)

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 4.
BRADLEY: 3. No comment.

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
First Baptist Church of Glen Este
1034 Old State Route 74
Batavia, OH 45103
http://fbcge.org/

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
This was the third that Gail recommended to us.

6. Time/duration of services:
10:45--12:30?

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Baptist.

8. Who did you meet?
Actually, Lisa (?) met us. She was a very, very nice and welcoming woman that sat next to us in the balcony, loaned Bradley her Bible, recommended youth/singles ministries to us, etc. We were a little unprepared for her but she was incredibly welcoming.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: Despite the warm welcome by Lisa (#8), I had a fairly uncomfortable experience at First Baptist. We even had the honor of some mild celebrity attendance but it just wasn't enough.

We were about 20 minutes early for services but the huge church was already filled, casting us up to the balcony. We later found out that they were so overcrowded all the teens had been sent to their own service in a different complex-- that helped explain why we were the youngest ones there and it was pretty impressive to see such a turn-out. Then I remembered that it's 9-10-2006, or 9-11 Eve. It all started to come together a little more.

One thing I really did like: reserved seating for police officers, fire fighters, EMTs, etc. (Elected officials...) I don't know if that was just a 9-11 thing or not, but I was behind it.

A first for me: full choir w/robes and everything, with a church orchestra. That's right... brass, woodwinds, you name it. There was a lot of music. Sooo much music. Some of it was pretty nice, but there were a lot of songs about freedom, etc.

The the PowerPoint began, which I could also handle, even though it was hardly inspired. The same photos of 9-11 I've been seeing for five years now. The same "freedom isn't free"-type mantra that I'm desensitized to. Bald eagles and clip art... you know the drill.

More than an hour had passed with all the music and PowerPoint. I'm sure it was a special service for the occassion and it didn't particularly bother me, until the sermon. Was I ready for anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality? No. Should I have been? Probably. It really hurt to hear the "gay is wrong" diatribe, and then hear a boisterous "amen" from my pew neighbors. What does that have to do with terrorist attacks? Is that just something you have to throw in to every sermon? This of all sermons should be about love.

I can tell I haven't completely captured what I didn't like about the church, and I'm sorry. I've put this post off for a few hours to try to cool down and not by a hypocrite; that is, not post about how much I hate what a church believes, when I was a visitor there and knew what I was getting myself in to. It's not my place to enter a church with established beliefs and then insult them. But this is my blog, damnit, and I would also be lying if I thought I was proud to see high school friends of mine in a congregation that would be so discrimnatory.

BRADLEY:
Well, this was a very interesting Church. It wasn't until after the service was over that I had realized I had been there once before. (With dad, and his Micheal [ex-business partner]) It had been different the fist time I went there, because we went to an evening service, and things were just overall different. But this time, Erica and I walked in to this fairly large Church, and into the main area, where the service was held. He were there 20 minutes early, and the place was already filled. We had to take two seat at the top of the second tier. We were at the very highest, and farthest back, part of the Church. They had a large portion of the front row reserved for special people. That was odd at first.

Soon after the service started, we realized who the seats were saved for. We were at a special service, to remember 9/11. I'm not at all opposed to special services like this, but there is a wrong way to do it, and a right way. It started off with a few songs, with a very large, very good chorus. After a while of songs, they started with the normal anouncements. Everything was going great, until they had us stand up and say "hello" to some new people. The woman (who was with her husband?) next to us stood right up and shook our hands. After a few times repeating my name (what's so hard with Bradley?) she was telling me ALL about this church's teen programs, and asking about Erica's "status" and telling her about the singels program. This did not help our view of the church at all. I'm sure it's not there fault they have a few over the top people, but like I said, it didn't help.

The service started. Another song was thrown in there, and then they introduced the special people. EMTs (shouts to Bill V), Firefighters, and Policemen. They layed on thick, the (close to) hour and a half long power point, about 9/11. Like I said, I'm all for remembering, it's a good thing, but when you'll putting un-resized pictures of 9/11 you got from Google Images ('and I KNOW they were) it's pretty pathetic. He connected it to the "two towers" in the Bible. I can't remember when they stood for, because the woman next to me was thrusting her Bible in my hands. It was very uncomfortable, and extreamly ackward (both her, and the Church). To make matters worse, they talked about how Abortion is "wrong" and babies are being killed every day, and they also were trying to wipe out the disease of homosexuality. *Sigh*, this church was painfully offensive to me. I don't think I'll ever go back.

P.S.
the appearence of "Jean Schmidt" only made things worse.

Church #14 & #15: Thank You Notes

2006-09-09T15:59:00.000-04:00

Wow-- an insanely busy week for Church Hop! If you haven't read Bradley's post on Crossroads, scroll back a bit. Tom will be adding his two cents soon-- getting everyone together to post is impossible!

Besides those two posts, we also received *two* thank you notes within a day of one another. I was surprised by one because we already received (and blogged about) a note from Vineyard Eastgate, but I was still grateful for this:

It reads:
Erica & Bradley,
Sorry for the delay in writing. We appreciate your visit & your feedback. I would love the opportunity to stay in touch!
Peace
John Sinclair
@ Vineyard Eastgate

Enjoy a cup of coffee on us!
(They inclosed a gift card to Starbucks! That was a new one for us. Thank you, Vineyard Eastgate.)

The second thank you note that we received was from Glen Este Church of Christ. It reads:

September 7, 2006

Dear Erica and Bradley:

We were pleased to have you both as a guest, for the worship service recently. On behalf of the Glen Este Church of Christ, I would like to say "Welcome." We hope you were inspired and will return.

We strive to be both friendly, and caring to all, for our only rule and guide is The Holy Scriptures.

If you have any questions concerning the church, or have a spiritual need, please feel free to call the church at 753-8223. Hoping to se eyou again I remain,
Sincerely Lois Metzler

Bradley in particular really liked this letter. It definitely fit into the overall feel of this church. Thank you for the note, Glen Este Church of Christ.

Coming soon: Tom's perspective on Crossroads, and a new post tomorrow!

Church #9 Crossroads Community Church (Revisited)

2006-09-09T15:23:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Tom

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

Bradley: 9
Tom: 9

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Crossroads Community Church
3500 Madison Road
Cincinnati, OH 45209
http://crossroadscommunity.net

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Erica's friend Kim, and later, Erica.

6. Time/duration of services:
10:30am--11:30am

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
inter-denominational (According to the previous post)

8. Who did you meet?
Nobody, but I did see Erica's friend Kim.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

Bradley: Erica was right when she said this was an awesome church. First of all, it's the biggest church I've ever been to. It was amazing. According to dadman (he's Tom [who was familiar with the location]), this church was made from an old Home Depot. Hopefully that can shed some light on the size. Upon entering, dad mentioned how diffrent this is to what he thought it would be. For me, I kind of expected this, but dad really hadn't seen many "Modern churchs". The coffee bar was overflowing with people, like the movie theater at the rush hour. Hundredes of people were there, and the kids section wound through the top platform. People were slowley climbing the stairs, and going through the doors, to the service.

The closest thing I can associate the room with, is a Reds game. It had three levels of seating, two screens, and a 4-room skit area in the back of the main stage. The band was already set-up. They started in with a song, as dadman and I sat down, and checked out the place. It was dark by nature, the lighting was really only on the main stage. People were still taking there seats when the band finished. We went through the normal annoucments, and titheing. (Which, I didn't expect them to pass out plates at a church this size)

Then the sermon started.

I loved, this sermon.

It was SO good, because he brought in a great mix of his own personal stories (how he "meet" Van Halen) and his own quotes from the Bible, with a great mixture of reference to the Jewish culture. That's something that I don't think most churchs do, tie in any references to any other religions. Anyway, he continued on with daily practices, and how praying shouldn't be a "time", but something we are always doing. I like to think it's a good sermon, when somebody non-religious (like me) takes something away. This was a great church, and I know we'll be coming back.

Church #16: First Christian Church (Springfield, OH)

2006-09-05T16:25:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Erica M. & guest Hopper Erica B.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA M.: 7.
ERICA B.: 7.

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
First Christian Church
311 West High Street
Springfield, OH 45506
www.fccconnect.org

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Not really... we were in Springfield, Ohio on "vacation" and we found a church through the hotel visitor's guide.

6. Time/duration of services:
9:30am--10:30am.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Christian.

8. Who did you meet?
I actually remembered to try to meet someone after the services, so I tracked down the pastor that gave the sermon. He was very nice and seemed happy to talk to us, which was nice because there was a really large congregation, so we didn't really have any other personal contact with the church.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA B.: As a first-time hopper, this was a great church to start off with - especially since we had to pick pretty randomly! The church was beautiful, inside and out. One of the first things I noticed were the screens in the front of the sanctuary. There were two large screens that displayed the words to the songs that were being sung, scriptures, and various other pertinent information. I think Bradley would have loved the A/V here; it was very well done. The Powerpoint presentation used on the large screens was surprisingly very good. I say surprisingly because I've seen plenty of bad Powerpoint presentations, and this was definitely not like that. I also noticed (for Bradley's sake) that everyone seemed to be appropriately well-dressed, but also casual enough that i felt comfortable wearing flip flops with my skirt (the only shoes I'd brought with me for the weekend).

After we found a seat, one of the ministers gave a few quick announcements, and then the music began. I was surprised at how long the music went on, and on, and on. The songs were nice and the singing was good, but I didn't expect it to last as long as it did. The songs were all contemporary Christian music, and the lyrics were displayed for us on the big screens. I think it was then that I noticed there were no hymnals or bibles in the pews, because I had expected to sing a hymn or two. (I had "Holy, Holy, Holy!" in my head - but alas, no hymns.) One song that featured a few of the women in the congregation was especially good, and you could tell they had practiced.

During the first part of the music was a "greeting" time, and we shook a few hands. After the music was communion, which I thought at first was the collection plate. I tried to find a list of what order things would happen in the program, and finally did on the front of it. I'm used to churches that have a set program, listing each thing in the exact order it happens (when to sit, when to stand, when to pray, etc.), so not having that was a little weird at first.

The sermon was very good, much to my delight. The minister was easy to listen to, funny, and insightful. The message (the value of work) was one that anyone could benefit from, not just Christians, which is what I liked the best. He used examples from his own life, stories others had told him, and tied it all in with examples from the Bible. There was only one comment I was a little confused about (regarding a bumper sticker), but overall the sermon left me feeling good. Erica and I introduced ourselves to the minister before we left, letting him know that we had enjoyed our experience and how beautiful we felt the church was.

So overall, a good church. There were times when I didn't feel like the whole congregation was really "into" what was happening, but there were plenty of people singing with the music, and the general mood was lighthearted and happy. I personally would have liked to see more tradition in this church, since that is what I always liked about my old church, but I enjoyed myself here nonetheless. Thanks to Erica for letting me guest hop with her!

ERICA M.: Man. After reading Erica B.'s post I don't have a whole lot else to add. She pretty much nailed it.

Just a little back story: I went out of town this weekend with three of my friends: Jared, JT, and Erica B. On Sunday morning we were in Springfield, Ohio... hence the pretty good distance from our other churches. Erica was a delightful Hopper-- I know it's a little intense the first time. I'm just now starting to get used to Hopping, to tell you the truth. She was very open-minded and I was so glad to not have to skip a church. Springfield had a ton of beautiful churches, and this was no different (although they're apparently moving to a different facility in a couple of weeks).

Hm. Erica B. seriously nailed everything. I wasn't as surprised as she was by the AV and the lack of Bibles/hymnals-- a lot of churches have these elements from what I've run across so far. There was a large congregation, including a second floor balcony-type thing, and the songs were plentiful (read: let me sit dowwwwwwn please) and not surprising to me. It was a great standard church and the sermon was great. Like Erica B. already said.

***Coming soon: Bradley & guest Hopper with their review of Crossroads!

Labor Day Delay

2006-09-04T21:38:00.000-04:00

Hello faithful (eh? get it?) readers!

Sorry that there wasn't a post on Sunday... or on Monday... or maybe even on Tuesday. (We'll see.) There *will* be a post, though... in fact, there will be more than a post!

Bradley is working on a post about Crossroads, which I blogged about a while back but he never got to see. So that's one entry, plus his guest Hopper...

PLUS, I visited a church when I went out of town this weekend, and I had a guest Hopper of my own! So fear not... there will be a(nother) slight delay on the post but it will be here soon... you have my word on it. (...Ellipses power...!)

Church #15: Glen Este Church of Christ

2006-08-27T17:05:00.000-04:00

(Oops! I completely forgot to take a picture today. I stole this from their webpage; I will try to replace it with a real picture sometime this week. Sorry!)

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 9!
BRADLEY: 8, this was a great Church.

3. Picture(s) of the church
(Sorry; I'm an idiot!)

4. Name/location of the church:
Glen Este Church of Christ
937 Cincinnati-Batavia Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45245
www.gecc.net

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Nope-- it's on the way to the third church that Gail recommended (which we will visit next week).

6. Time/duration of services:
10:30--noon.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
I'm not really sure-- "Church of Christ" isn't too specific for me, and I couldn't find that information on their site. Does anyone one to help me out here?

8. Who did you meet?
Oh man. A ton of people-- read my summary. I didn't catch any names-- sorry!

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: Woo! I really liked this church-- it's the only other nine+ that I have given since Crossroads. (Remember, ten is reserved for religious conversion.) It was such a different church that Crossroads, too-- pretty much on the other end of the traditional <--> contemporary spectrum as I can imagine.

Right away, we were greeted by a handful of people, all asking us our name, where we were from, what brought us here-- the usual questions. We were "mugged"-- we got GECofC mugs as welcome gifts, along with a welcome packet with church information. I immediately felt a little tug at my heartstrings when the very first guy to welcome me said, "I hope this won't be the last time we see you around here!" Sometimes it kind of sucks to know that it will be. I felt sincerely and geniunely welcome at the church.

Bradley and I found our way to a pew-- the place was almost completely packed, so we sat in the front for a change (out of lack of options). The congregation was predominately-- and I'm talking like 95%-- geriatric. Because of that I was expecting a slow and somewhat disappointing service, but it just served to point out that prejudice of mine. When the music started, everyone stood and sang-- everyone. Not the low drone that I've grown used to hearing, but a heartfelt, faith-driven choir. Definitely what I've been looking for all along-- no one was reading the lyrics on the screen, they were just belting out familiar hymns in praise. It was hard to look around when we were right in front, but from the people I could see and the boisterous singing I could hear, they were singing from the heart.

When the first couple of songs were over, the people in the pews around us greeted us with the same whole-hearted enthusiasm as when we entered. Then there were some prayers and announcements, and they brought up a traveling church quartet, the Melton Family Singers. Although I honestly preferred the music I'd been hearing, this quartet was a fun change of pace and you could tell the congregation was glad for it. It was an interesting thing to be a part of, and the father of the Meltons gave a guest sermon. I really liked the sermon, actually-- it was traditional and full of stories and anecdotes.

The service passed fairly quickly for me, which was nice. When we left, of course, we were thanked and welcomed and invited back by several people. I was kind of sad to leave. I think Bradley and I are going to make an amendment to the Church Hop charter: we're considering setting December aside to visit churches that we've liked over the year. Make sense? Spend the Christmas season at churches that have done a lot to reach out and make us feel welcome? Sounds right to me.

BRADLEY: Well,

This church was great. It was nice to come off a long string of good churchs, to be hit with one GREAT one. When Erica and I first got there, we were greeted through a gauntlet of people. Hands were being shook, "good morning"s were being exchanged, papers, info, questions. After about six or so people, I was asked if I was a new visitor. He gave me a large packet of information (really cool!) and a mug (totally cool). I don't think Erica and I have been given anything like that before. So we have a mug to commemorate our 15th Church. After we walked in, it was a little weird, because the only spot left in the house, was the second row. Some people like to sit there, but Erica and I don't, because we don't know the customs, and we like to be "lost in a crowd." It's easier to observe, when you're not being seen by everyone.

Regardless, the announcments went on, and so did a few good songs. I was really hoping for a church band, but I saw no instruments, (except for the piano). Shortley after, It was mentioned, that a local traveling family band was here today. the "Melton Family Singers" were there name, and they wern't that bad. It was a little weird at first, because I had never seen anything like this before. You could tell they had spent there time, and done it right, because the music was great.

Followed by an even better sermon. The father/husband of the band was also delivering a message. This was one of the better sermons I've ever seen. His thoughts, though scatter-brained, were wrapped up very nicley in the end, complemented by great personal examples. This was a joy to sit though. Before I knew it, the whole time w spent there was over. I could tell that the church connected to it's members. This was a great church, and I really hope that we will come back.

*****
Looks like I'm going to just start tacking on the thank you letters at the end of the posts; it's been working for a couple of weeks now. Last week we visited the Eastgate Vineyard Church, and Bradley and I both received welcome packets from them. We got two different CDs of churchy music, so we're starting quite the collection now! (Haven't had a chance to listen yet, sorry!)

If you're a skimmer, read the bold part where they mentioned Church Hop!

It reads:

Dear Erica,

Thank you for taking the time to worship with the family of Vineyard Eastgate Community Church. We trust that your worship experience was a blessing to you and that you were made welcome by the love and care of this home. It is our desire to connect with you personally and respond to the needs of your life.

Please accept this letter as our way of saying, "we love you." We personally look forward to sharing another worship experience with you in the near future. We also appreciate your honest feedback on your church hopping blog site. It was informative and yet also challenging to the church at large of the importance of making our guest feel welcomed and loved. Thanks again for your honest feedback and for visiting. Feel free to call and let us know how we may better serve you in the days to come.

If you would like to learn more about Vineyard Eastgate please join us for a free lunch on September 10th at 1pm at the Fairfield Inn located in Eastgate. We call this TRACK A= Vineyard 101. Here you will learn our story, history, values, and vision.

Have a great week.
Pastor Chad Werner

Church #14: [Eastgate] Vineyard Church

2006-08-20T11:04:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 5.
BRADLEY: 6, a little low, due to the A/V output.

3. Picture(s) of the church
(Bradley first read this marquee as "Coffee, Guitars, Jesus."

4. Name/location of the church:
Vineyard Eastgate Community Church
1005 Cincinnati Batavia Pike
Batavia, Ohio 45150
www.vineyardeastgate.org

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Nope-- we landed there because a different church we had planned on visiting started at 9, not 9:30... oops. It's right across from the third church that Gail recommended, which we will most likely visit next week.

6. Time/duration of services:
9:30am--10:30ish

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Christian.

8. Who did you meet?
We met the pastor and gave him our names, but I didn't catch his-- I think it was John? He was very friendly and welcoming.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: When John (?) welcomed us to the church, he asked what brought us here. Against my better judgment I told him about Church Hop, which I don't think I'll do in the future because how can you act naturally when you know you're being graded? I doubt it affected the service too much, but I couldn't help but wonder.

I hate to give the church such a low score but it was really drab to me. Even physically-- it seemed as though the church had made no effort to decorate or add any color whatsoever to the completely white walls and ceilings. While that alone is hardly a reason to criticize a church, much of the service followed suit-- the music was effective enough, but the rest was very automatic, right down to the people collecting the offering. Nothing stood out to me, and the message wasn't incredibly insightful.

Again, I wish I didn't feel that way because I was welcomed and even invited to attend other services with them. However, I could never go to church for church's sake, and this one just didn't reveal any passion to me. It's odd because I believe this is a sister church to the one we visited last week-- that was not intentional, but it's interesting to put them side by side. This church didn't offend me, as Milford did slightly, but it really didn't make me feel much of anything at all.

BRADLEY: It was kind of odd, going to another Vinyard Church, so I was half expecting to see a similar set-up, just a different size Church. When I walked into the place, It was a little dull to the eye. We were the first ones in too, so I thought we were going to be a little short-handed on the people. When we went in, they were already playing through the end of the song. I can't say that the music was bad. In fact, the music was great. I liked the songs, and the playing, but the sound quality was a little lacking. This made everything loud and crunchy. But like I said, the music was still good.

After looking at the large amount of food they had set out (I never have any, [I don't know why] but there was fruit!) we were greeted immediately by the pastor. I didn't know that's who he was at the time, because of the normal cloths. That always gets me. I will say that I liked the fact that they said "jeans" on the front message board, so I'm not going to get mad about the way people dressed. The music ended, and a few short announcements were given. That's about when the pastor got up to give his message. Without going into to much detail, I'll say that it was a great sermon, but it lacked some good quality bulk. I didn't have enough meat, but had plenty of potatoes. It's hard to put my finger on it, but the sermon needed a more powerfull message.

I guess with the exception of the audio quality and the lack of meat to the message, this was a great church. We were greeted very nicley, and even given "thanks for coming" packets at the end.

***
LAST WEEK we received a thank you letter from the Milford Vineyard Church (Church #13). It's a form letter but they also included a CD of worship music, which Bradley and I thought was pretty cool. There was a comment card to return about the church, which I haven't done yet, but isn't each Church Hop post its own comment card?! The letter reads:

Dear Erica, (Brad received his own)

It was great to have you as part of our celebration this past week. I hope you enjoyed it and felt welcome. I am looking forward to getting to know you.

We want to help you in any way we can. We believe every person is important. As you looked around, you probably noticed that our church family is made up of people just like you. (Actually, Bradley and I were probably the youngest people in the the room, during the services we attended.) We're glad you chose to attend the Vineyard.

If you're interested in finding out more about the Vineyard, our next "Vineyard Values & Vision" meeting will be Sunday, October 1, 2006 at 12:30--2:00pm. Pizza, drinks and child care provided.

Thanks again for spending time with us. I hope you'll continue to join us each week or as your schedule permits. We want you to feel like part of our family. I'm looking forward to seeing you again this weekend.

Warmly,
Steve Caperton
Pastor

Church #13: [Milford] Vineyard Church

2006-08-13T12:39:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: Hm. 6?
BRADLEY: I would go with a 5

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Vineyard Church
5857 Highview Drive
Milford, OH 45150
http://www.milfordvineyard.com/
(They ought to put that website on their program.)

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Yes; Bradley and I saw an ad at a movie theater, and also this was one of the churches that Gail recommended to us in a previous Church Hop post. (Thanks again!)

6. Time/duration of services:
10:15--11:30ish.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Christian.

8. Who did you meet?
I'm getting bad about this, aren't I? We shook some hands during fellowship but we didn't meet anyone new. Sorry.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: There was a rubber duck floating in the baptismal pool. That basically set the tone for the church. The pastor was very familiar with the congregation, very casual, told a lot of jokes, etc. The church was welcoming and comfortable.

So why the lowered score? Somehow I always manage to score the anti-evolution sermons. It didn't stop at "scientists just can't explain the Big Bang!"... I could have handled that. No, it went on to mention how you should be insulted if someone says you descended from an ape, etc etc etc.

Can I blame the church for this? Shouldn't I have been ready for that? I guess so, but it makes my blood boil every time. I just can't handle it. I feel really guilty going to a church and then getting upset when they make a standard church claim-- but I can't help it! I cannot, even for an hour a week, turn my back on science. And when the pastor emphasizes that parents need to go home and tell their kids where they REALLY came from, I really really have to hold back.

I had a realization during services, which I am not sure I should share here but I feel I should be honest. The long and short of my realization is that the thing holding me back from believing in God is... people. So many people find religion in church where other people help them understand this, believe in that, etc. As for me, it's the church-going crowd that has actually blocked me from my belief.

I have always-- or as long as I can remember-- refused to believe in a God that would tell me it's One Religion or Nothing. A God that would frown upon my decision to explore my beliefs, check out different churches, refuse to commit to one mindset or one decision. Now, aside from the people who have commented here and encouraged me to continue my journey, I continually find that churches act as though they know the one truth. As if there's very little exploration to do, besides your own personal learning of what is set down in the Bible.

That's one of the reasons I will always side with science. It's so progressive. It keeps up with the times, by definition... it discards what is old, outdated, and more or less incorrect. It updates itself constantly. Even the most modern churches-- with their awesome A/V and their casual dress codes-- seem so rigid, so unable to see anything outside of their set-in-stone beliefs.

I know by now I have offended someone, and I apologize. Please know that I am not talking about everyone, or every single church, and also that I have so much more exploration to do. I've only been to Christian churches so far, afterall. Church Hopping has taught me a lot already, and it has definitely shown me that I could never settle at one church. I'm terrified of having my beliefs become concrete. I hope that until the day I die I never feel certain of what God is, or what the answer is, or what life's for. The minute I feel like I have an answer is the minute I feel like I've become the person I hate-- the one who won't change their mind for anything, despite evidence or new perspective.

Okay, sorry to have rambled on so long and again, I'm sorry if I have offended anyone. This is a journey, and we have to take the good with the bad.

BRADLEY: I like to think that I try very hard not to let my own beliefs impact what I think of the actual Church. I know all Churches mean well, and due to this, it was very hard to make an exact opinion. They seemed to have a few strong words on what I belive. (evolution)

Now the overall feel of this Church gave off a good vibe. It seemed to have it's ducks in a row, because it was hip to today's culture and youth, but at the same time seemed to keep it's root in tact. The actual Church was quite large; and finally, in the middle of the pews, (padded!) in the center of the hall, was a large space, so you could walk to the other side of the hall, without having to cut through people. I like little things like that.

The tech booth also seemed to be well set-up. Belive it or not, that actually is somethng I look at in a Church. Anyway, we got through some long songs, and rounded a few messages of the daily announcements, and then things went downhill. The man giving that day's sermon, seemed like a funny guy at first, and mostley was throughout the message. He was well organized, and had some scriptural quotes to back him up. Although, he would slip in little words of his own, to make the meaning of the message, hm, "funnier"? It all seemed very unprofessional. Anyway, when he finally reached the part about how we should "feel offended when somebody says that we evolved from monkeys" I was really saddened. I guess I'm still waiting for the Church that's the bigger man, realizes that theres more than one way to look at the world, excepts it, and moves on. Anyway, this really ruined the whole thing for me.

A few days later, we recived an package in the mail, with a disc full of prayer songs, and a comment card. I filled it out and sent it back, saying I didn't like the messages on evolution, but I did like there Church. All in all, they would have been a great Church, if they just learned to except that theres more than one way to look at our existance.

ALSO! I've been really busy lately-- sorry!-- and I haven't taken the time (until now) to scan a thank you note that we got from Eastside Christian Church. I really appreciate churches that take the time to welcome their visitors, and I'm really sorry that it took me this long to acknowledge Eastside for their gesture.
It reads: Erica-- (Bradley got one, too.)
Thanks for being here this weekend. I checked out your blog and appreciated what you had to say. It's a good idea and sometimes we "church types" need some fresh perspective on what's going on. I pray God blesses your spiritual journey and that through your hopping you'll encounter this God who loves you passionately. Blessings!
Jonathan Wolfgang

This is probably the most personal note we've received as it mentions the blog-- if you're reading this, thanks for checking us out, and also for welcoming us as guests at your church.

Year #23

2006-08-06T15:28:00.000-04:00

Sorry, everyone! No church this week, as I had some friends over for my birthday and we slept in this morning. Bradley & I will be back in action next week!

Church #12: Eastside Christian Church

2006-07-30T20:18:00.000-04:00

Church #11: Branch Hill United Methodist Church

2006-07-23T17:39:00.000-04:00

(Bradley forgot his camera this week, so this picture was taken from the church's website.)

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 5.
BRADLEY: 8. I really enjoyed this Church, and how they did what they did.

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Branch Hill United Methodist Church
370 Bridge Street
Loveland, OH 45140
www.branchhillumc.org

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
No-- we found it while driving around Loveland.

6. Time/duration of services:
11:00am--noonish.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Methodist.

8. Who did you meet?
Everyone was really friendly, and we shook a lot of hands. The only name I remember is Ron Foster, who was the associate pastor.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: Bradley liked this church a lot more than I did. I was a little uncomfortable at times, maybe because I still feel out of my element in "stricter" churches (now we rise, now we pray, now we sit, now we pray, now we rise, now we sing...).

The church itself was gorgeous to me, with real stained glass windows and quiet wooden floors. I told Bradley that it felt like The Church That Time Forgot, because everything in it was so... antique? Everything from the oil paintings to the chandeliers to the pews, Bibles, hymnals... for me, it was to the point that when the associate pastor pulled out a cell phone, it seemed like an anachronism and not the other way around. It was quaint in its way, which definitely holds charm for me. However, the sermon felt uninspired, the music was the least heartfelt that I've heard so far, and I left feeling altogether unmoved.

One thing that did stand out about this church was that there was a quick "children's message"-- all the children sat up near the pulpit and there was a brief message directed exclusively to them. The message wasn't particularly deep and the kids didn't seem all that into it to me, but it was still a different spin that I hadn't run into before at other churches, even the other Methodist church we'd visited.

BRADLEY: What was very odd about this Church, was the fact that on the way in to the place, I just talking to Erica about how I didn't like a Church with a "plan". By this I meant a church that had it written down what to do during the service. Telling to stand up, what to respond to, what to say, and when to sing. This church was like that, being Methodist. Anyway, when we walked in (after being confused about where to walk in I should say) we took a seat in the back, and were greeted promptley. After answering about 5 or 6 different people ask "where and you from, and why are you here?" the service started. The songs started, but I was paying more attention to the church itself. The stain glass, the dust in the corner, and the old air vents. Even the pews seemed liked they've seen a few sermons.

By now we were getting up and greeting people. After about 6 or 7 more people asking where we were from and what we were doing, (and I can't remember if this is before your after) we watched him give a mini-sermon to the group of children. You'll have to excuse my lack of knowing what it's called, but I really enjoyed it. Usually I'm not into that kinda thing, but it was really cool to see him talking to the kids, even if they weren't listening.

That moved us on to the sermon. I didn't love the message, because it was so universal, but it did it's job. I though his presentation needed some different examples of him "forgiving" in his daily life, but what are ya gonna do?. Overall, I really liked this Church. They didn't come off too strong, or not strong enought, but just right.

Church #10: Loveland Assembly of God

2006-07-16T13:32:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 7. Very welcoming, but we didn't get an actual sermon.
Bradley: 6. Very friendley, maybe too friendley...

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Loveland Assembly of God
6541 Arborcrest Drive
Loveland, OH 45140
aomissions@hotmail.com (no website available)

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Nope-- found it by driving around.

6. Time/duration of services:
10:30am--noonish

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Um... not sure?

8. Who did you meet?
Everyone was really friendly and individually greeted us, so I probably met 10-20 people. We also met the visiting speaker, Dick Orcutt, from Gideons International. (He's pictured above; more details later.)

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: This is what Bradley and I have started calling an "old church," where the church itself is old but so is the congregation. (This is not meant to be insulting. I tend to prefer these churches.) Bradley and I were definitely the youngest ones there by at least 10 years, excluding the drummer who was maybe near my age.

The church itself was very cute, with faux stained glass windows (pictures above) and a modest band set up in front. Right when we got there-- before we were even in the church-- people were shaking our hands and thanking us for coming. The music was less flashy than in other churches but with only a guitarist and a drummer, they did pretty well. I'd heard most of the songs before but they seemed to really feel the messages behind them.

The offering was different than other churches I've been to, because they have a chest near the podium and everyone goes up there to give their offering, and also to shake hands, say hi, etc. Offering is a time for fellowship, they said. I really liked that approach... plus, it was a chance to get up for a minute, which I was grateful for.

When it was time for the actual sermon, we were informed that the regular pastor was on vacation and that they had a visiting speaker, a Dick Orcutt from Gideons International (Clermont County North Camp, PO Box 724, Milford, Ohio 45150). If you aren't familiar with the Gideons, these are the "business men" who place Bibles in hotels, nursing homes, college campuses, etc.

He spoke about the organization in what was quickly revealed to be a sales pitch-- it wasn't over the top and obnoxious, but I did feel as though I'd missed the chance at an actual sermon. It ended with a call for donations for the organization, which again I didn't mind because he seemed to have really good intentions. However, I was disappointed to have hit this church on the one Sunday when I would be denied a sermon. It's hard to compare churches, too, when something like this happens-- as has occurred before, I don't know anything about their usual pastor or what this church believes in. Oh well.

Regardless, this was a welcoming church that didn't really say anything to tick me off. (Alright, maybe the quip about "when God finally lets us convert China" or something of that nature.) When we left we were asked to come back and everyone was happy that we came. It made me realize that as much as I like the bigger, more contemporary churches we've visited, for me you can't really replace the person-to-person contact that you get at smaller, more old-timey places like Loveland Assembly. I'd trade in all the fancy A/V and relaxed dress codes for a good handshake once in a while. Many churches phone that part in.

Bradley: First of all, I would like to start off apologizing for the absence of my post. It's been several days; yes I know. For some odd reason the cookies on my browswer were being scrambled, via Google accelerator. Anyway, sorry for the delay, he is my post.

I don't know why, but Erica and I have agreed, we both like older churchs. I say older in terms of the age group of people that speak, listen, and the age of the church itself. There is something about an old church that makes me feel a whole lot better than going to one where I have to be with a bunch of teens. I like to take a seat, and just listen. I don't want to be "related to", or "reached out" to. I just want some good old-fashioned church.

Well, lucky for us, this was an older church, in terms of the people. Also, because of a trip to Georgia, the pastor wasn't there to give a sermon. Nonetheless, the time was still filled by a name from the Gideons. The man that was filling in for the pastor played a few songs (which I liked!) played some gui-tar, and led us through some prayers. I really liked the way they did the collection, they had an open chest at the front, and on your way to tithe, you shake hands and get to know everyone. That was really neat. That being done, the man from the Gideons came up.

He wasn't the best speaker I've heard, but I could tell he'd done this before, and he'd had his fair share of experience. He talked about the placeing of the Bibles in hotels, and a quick story about one school that still allowed Bibles to be passed out. I can't say I would have rather had a sermon, because he had some very cool things to say. A lot of statistics about the businessmen, and the countries they've gone to. It's very interesting to see how far one religion can spread, and how far it's willing to go to push it's message. After he finished, we did a few more prayers, and left. Overall, this was a really well round church, even though there was no pastor/sermon.

No new church, three new hoppers

2006-07-10T15:03:00.000-04:00

Sorry, everyone! No church this Sunday, as Bradley and I were out of town visiting our brother. We'll be back this coming Sunday with a new post.

HOWEVER, as luck would have it, our friends Brianna, Kris, and their son Hayden attended a new-to-them church and Brianna blogged about it! Here's the post if you'd like to read it. I don't know if they intend to do this often but it was really encouraging to see some one else using the charter template and exploring.

Has anyone else been to a good church lately? :)

Church #9: Crossroads Community Church

2006-07-02T12:38:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Erica. (Bradley was out of town today.)

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 9.9? It was really awesome!

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Crossroads Community Church
3500 Madison Road
Cincinnati, OH 45209
http://crossroadscommunity.net

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Yes! My friend Kim attends this church and she invited me along. (Thanks Kim!)

6. Time/duration of services:
10:30am--11:30am

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
I asked Kim if they were non-denominational, and she said that they were inter-denominational. Maybe it's a small distinction but I think it's an important one-- it sounds a lot more accepting, to me.

8. Who did you meet?
I met Kim's friend Christine, who was very nice and eager to introduce me to other people.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc
(sorry for the terrible scan)

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: The only reason I couldn't give this church a full-out ten is that it didn't "convert" me. (I have to leave some room for that, don't I?!)

Kim lives pretty far away from this church, and on the way there I was trying to figure out why she didn't go to one that was much closer. Well, it all made sense when I got there. This church is amazing.

It's huge, for one thing. The picture shown in #3 is merely the atrium where people gather, chat, pick up free coffee/juice, pick up free recordings of past sermons, etc. The auditorium is enormous (Kim says they cater to 6,000 people per weekend, roughly), and the A/V was spectacular. I am definitely going to go back to this church when Bradley is in town, because I know he will love it.

The sermon itself was really relevant and down-to-Earth. I loved the part when the speaker (Brian Wells, who Kim says is an assistant pastor) mentioned that there was a broad spectrum in the room, between people who read the Bible as a piece of interesting fiction, and those who read it as the Truth. He didn't harp on which side of the spectrum was "right," only that it's up to you to decide how you're going to read it, and how literally you're going to take things.

He was a great speaker... very articulate, good vocabulary, humorous, like when he mentioned that you could come to him with questions about "the Bible, soccer, or how to please a woman." He never followed that up with a "just kidding," or anything, and the whole congregation was laughing hysterically. He kept the mood really light but he dealt with some serious subject matter, and he did so in a very academic sense. Good anecdotes, good life analogies, good metaphor, the works. Finally, a sermon where I wasn't counting the minutes.

Brilliant. Loved this church. If I were going to settle down I would have to consider this one. There were so many different types of people there, and there was such a great atmosphere. Everything was relaxed but obviously not just showy for the purpose of being showy-- it really seemed like a place where you could get in touch with yourself. I see why Kim spends so much time volunteering with them and everything. I can't wait to see it again with Bradster.

Church #8: thank you letter & visit!

2006-07-01T21:30:00.000-04:00

Three news items!

1. Today we received our letter from the Mt. Carmel Wesleyan Pilgrim Church, thanking us for attending their services. (Bradley received one, too.)

2. Actually more noteworthy than #1: the pastor stopped by our house to say hello & thanks! We hadn't had that happen before, and we're 100% sure what to think of it. Unfortunately, we were on our way out of the house and couldn't talk for too long, but we did spend 20 minutes or so just chatting, and we ended up telling him about the Church Hop project. He seemed to be really supportive of the idea, which made me happy. I'm always nervous that churches are going to think I'm doing something... dishonest? I'm not sure why. Anyway, he seemed to really get behind the idea and we told him he should visit the website. (Did you?)

3. I (Erica) will be attending church alone tomorrow. Bradley is going out of town and I've decided that I'm going to go anyway, because I got a personal invite and I'm looking forward to it. Check it out tomorrow!

Church #8: Mt. Carmel Wesleyan Pilgrim Church

2006-06-25T15:39:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended?
Bradley & Erica

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 6ish.
BRAD: 5, due to what the sermon.

3. Picture(s) of the church
(Sorry this pic is so blurry-- I was trying to be discreet. --Erica)

4. Name/location of the church:
Mt. Carmel Wesleyan Pilgrim Church
4170 Mt. Carmel Tobasco Road
Cincinnati, OH 45255
askcox@juno.com (no website provided)

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Nope-- it's right across the street from last week's.

6. Time/duration of services:
10:30--almost noon.

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Wesleyan, I assume.

8. Who did you meet?
This church was incredibly friendly-- a ton of people sincerely shook our hands and welcomed us, or thanked us for visiting.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: I really liked this church at first-- as I said, everyone was really friendly and welcoming. (When we left, they even gave us peanut butter fudge for visiting. Wow.) I liked the music-- at first. It went on forEVER. And their AV consisted of a guy switching transparencies on an overhead projector-- I'm not being mean; I thought it was cute. He was, however, always a page behind what the group was actually singing. No big deal.

The actual sermon had ups and downs for me. Example of an up: the conversation about how people who consider themselves to be Christians should give praise to God all the time, instead of just when they need him. That I believe.

Example of a down: comparing God to a battered woman. You see, when you're a Christian who keeps taking advantage of God and then apologizing and then doing it again, you're like the abusive husband, but God, like the battered woman, will keep loving you. ...What?! What a terrible metaphor. I mean, I GET it... but my word.

Other than that the church wasn't all that noteworthy-- I thought it was very pretty, and a little old-timey, which always for some reason appeals to me. The congregation was mostly older, bordering on geriatric, but of course there were kids who *screamed* during the entire sermon and no one would do anything about it. There's a line between throwing a little tantrum and squealing your head off for the entire sermon.

Oh, I also wanted to mention that the pastor yelled the entire sermon. Not to raise his voice over that of the screaming child, but more like for emphasis. Emphasis, however, is supposed to be used on select parts of a message-- this entire (kinda long) sermon was belted at the top of his lungs. Even with microphones and great acoustics. I imagine that would wear thin after a while-- I can't imagine myself getting used to something like that. I could be wrong.

Brad: Upon entering this Church, I noticed that it felt very old. Not old in the sense that it had stood the test of time, or the material used was antique, but that it knew it’s tradition, it knew it’s roots, and it was happy with it. We were a few minutes late, so we hung out in the waiting room right in front of the main room. Despite the awkward morning, the people were very eager to learn who we were, and to welcome us to there little church.

I noticed someone I know who I said hello to over the course of the hand-shaking part, but it was followed by the longest segment of singing. They combined about 4 or 5 songs into 1, and even the main singer took a solo. It was pretty cool, but every Sunday, it would run really thin. Once the songs finally ended, the main man headed on up. When I first saw him, I didn't want to judge, so I kept an open mind, but when he was done with his sermon, I had a pretty good idea of what kind of preacher he was. He talked, VERY loud, and the man in the back that said "amen" to almost everything he said didn't help either.

His sermon consided of one major theme, and that was; using God only when you need him. I liked where he was going with his message, but I think he didn't have much together, because many things he said were the same thing he already covered five minutes ago. He then went on to compare Jesus with a battered woman. About how she will always defend the man that hits here, because she still 'loves' him. It was all very stupid, and in it's entirety, a really bad analogy.

However, I did like some things about this Church. They had a very classic feal about it, everybody was nice. I also thought it was very funny that they didn't have a projector, but an overhead. It made me kinda laugh, because in it's own way it's special. Oh well. I liked this Church, but it wasn't the greatest.

News: Church Hop Updates

2006-06-24T22:28:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to point out that Bradley has added RSS feeds-- check out the very very bottom of this page if you want to subscribe.

He has also added a link to the Church Hop Charter for anyone who hasn't seen it yet-- the link to that post is on the left-hand side of the page.

We're working on fixing the site in IE, as requested, but with the constant internet problems there's scarcely the time to get things posted, much less kinks worked out. But we're working on it.

Thank you to everyone for the recent postings-- we really encourage that kind of feedback and discussion! It's great to hear from people we know and people we don't.

I think that's it-- hopefully tomorrow we'll get enough internet loyalty to get a good post up. Thanks for reading! Check out the previous post about the thank you packet from Mt. Carmel Christian Church.

Church #7: Thank you packet

2006-06-24T21:12:00.000-04:00

This is a late post because we actually received Mt. Carmel Christian Church's thank you packet on Thursday. However, Bradley and I have had major internet issues for about a week or so and I've been unable to post until today. (Warning: tomorrow's post may also be delayed for this reason.)

Mt. Carmel Christian Church sent us an entire packet of information on programs they offer. I have scanned just three of the brochures-- there were six in all. This was an excellent gesture because there was something for everyone in this packet-- each of the programs had a clear target audience. If I were actually shopping for a church I think this would have helped me a lot-- made me feel like there was a place for me, specifically, and all the information was right there in front of me. No calling and internet-ing required.

There was also a "thank you for attending" letter included, which I'll write out for you because I'm not sure you can read the scan I made:

Dear Erica, (Bradley got his own packet, with the same information)

Thanks for coming to Mt. Carmel! I hope you were blessed by the experience. It is our goal on the weekends to let folks know that Jesus loves them and so do we!

I hope our church will be a positive influence on your life and will be a life changing experience like it has been for me and my family. Please look through the information included with this letter; it is a good start in growing your faith and meeting friends. I would recommend that you sign up for our Mt. Carmel Open House class (see brochure), the next class is scheduled on July 16th.

I believe that your visit was not by chance. God has brought you here for a reason. It is my hope that we fulfill that purpose. Thanks again for coming. Have a good week.

Sincerely,
John "Didi" Bacon
Lead Pastor

I still favor the brief, handwritten notes we've received in the past, but as I said, if I were legitamately looking to settle down at one church, this information would have been extremely helpful to me.

Church #7: Mt. Carmel Christian Church

2006-06-18T20:30:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: 8. It would be a 10 if it weren't for the anti-homosexual messages.
BRAD: 9. Due to the fact that I know a member*

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Mt. Carmel Christian Church
4183 Mt. Carmel Tobasco Road
Cincinnati, OH 45245
http://mtcarmelchurch.org

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Yes! Finally, and indirectly, an invite! Dad was at a park and people were handing out free bottles of water and invitations to the church. Dad brought it home to us and we decided it was directed our way.

6. Time/duration of services:
9:30am--10:30am

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Christians? It seemed pretty non-denominational.

8. Who did you meet?
No one-- I just realized that. Oops.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: This church was amazing and I thought we'd finally found a "ten." There was a fun band + good music... the church itself was beautiful and contemporary... everyone who spoke was casual and articulate... and most of all, there seemed to really be an air of "let's do things to make people's lives better, through our belief."

Then, finally, came the part when a woman came up and started talking about the therapy and counseling they offer to homosexuals. She read from the Bible about how it wasn't originally God's plan (which I buy, I guess), but then she made it clear that she thinks people can be "talked out of it." I cannot stand behind thinking like that. I think it's great that they offer a community outreach program regarding homosexuality-- I think it's rather cutting-edge of a church. However, when that program offers to "fix the problem," that's when my blood starts to boil. I have a few gay friends myself, and none of them consider it a "problem." They see people's reactions as a problem, and the lack of acceptance as a problem, but their lfiestyle in general is not problematic. I stand behind my friends and it truly wounded me to listen to the diatribe that took place. Especially when it ruined what was otherwise the best church I'd been to, ever.

Brad: Well, first of all, this church was great. That being said, I would have given it a 10, but I really did not like there message about gays, but I'll get to that later.

*When we got there, they had a really cool picture display, and I liked the way they had there tech booth setup (that's a hard thing to do) but I noticed that one of my subs from school was there, Mr. D, who is the coolest sub I've ever had. I knew he must be the singer. ANYWAY, this church had a very, very nice band, that sang some songs that I thought were different, in the sense that they were a little more modern. I don't know why, but that made all the difference to me. Also, I noticed I was a little overdressed (AGAIN!) for this service, but when the day that I fit right in comes, I'll be dancing in the streets.

Here comes the part I didn't like. A very nice woman came up to read a brief message about what our donations were going to lateley. I figured it was the standard relife funds in Mexico, or buying some more eithernet cable for the church's tech booth, but it turns out it was going to helping people battle the disease of homosexuallity. I didn't agree with this one bit. While they have a right to there opinion, I do too, and I just think that's wrong. It's choice you make, but something really didn't sit right with me that you have to be with one kind of person to be right with God. It hard to make a vailid point when I'm this angry, but you catch my idea. I didn't like it.

Now, they kept having people switch out who was giving a certain message, but this guy that really knew what he was doing came up. I couldn't place his accent, but he started talking about Father's Day. He gave a brief history about it, and went into a sermon (?) about it, what it is, and how great it feels to be a dad. That also lead into the messages about how we sometimes are so focused on makeing sure other people do things right, we forget to do the right things ourselves. It was all very well put together.

Church #6: Mt. Carmel Church of God

2006-06-11T14:47:00.000-04:00

4. Name/location of the church:
Mt. Carmel Church of God
4672 Summerside Road
Cincinnati, OH 45244
513-528-7968
This church does not have a website.

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
No-- it was just down the street from us.

6. Time/duration of services:
11:00-12:00

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
I'm not positive, but they believed in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which Wikipedia tells me belongs to Christian Pentacostals.

8. Who did you meet?
No one. No one at all. Sorry-- when services were over, Bradley and I high-tailed it.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc
None were made available.

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: Oh boy.

First off, as I told Bradley... had this been the first church we went to, Church Hop would *not* have made it another step.

But let me start with the positive: the music. While the church itself was decorated with store-bought Jesus chotchkes, money can't buy a 70-year-old man on the guitar. The old-timey music with high-energy pianee and classic hymns-- perfect. I really thought we were on to something, for the first half of the services. And when the preacher got out a scale and people contributed their pennies to orphanages, my heart was warmed.

Enter creepiness. After the music they brought in a guest preacher, whose name I believe was Alan Tutor? The sermon scared me. First off, they are obviously from a sect that takes all of the Bible literally, which I can't really stand behind to begin with. He poked fun of a few other sects that don't believe that they believe, which is another thing I really can't abide. He made it known that theirs was the One Truth, the One Answer, the One God, etc. Nothing too frightening yet. Even when Alan Tutor claimed that he had healed people in hospitals when science had given up on them-- the knots on a woman's head instantly disappeared, and a man with 100 blood clots as a result of a simple knee surgery was also healed with the touch of his hand. That man was supposed to die, but he walked out of the hospital the next day.

Then came the part that pushed me over the edge. At the end of the sermon, when he got a 13-year-old girl from the congregation to start "speaking in tongues." He convinced her that she was being baptized in the Holy Spirit, and after she started crying and he started speaking in some foreign/made-up language, she started spouting her own language. All I could think the whole time was, "In improv, we call this jibberish." Seriously. When you start making meaningless sounds as a form of made-up language... it's called jibberish. We do it all the time.

I was definitely past uncomfortable at this part. There were maybe 10 people in the congregation, and most of them were swaying or crying or praising Jesus loudly. Bradley and I just looked at one another and stuck it out. I almost wish that we had stayed afterward to meet someone or at least ask them their denomination, but at noon I was too repulsed to stay another minute.

Bradley:

This church was really, really awkward to be in. First of all, this church was like nothing we've been to before. I looks like it was built onto the side of a house in order to evade taxes. When we pulled up to the side, we could see kid's bikes and jump ropes hanging off the house this "church" was attached to.

We then proceeded to follow somebody in, out of fear we would walk into somebody's house. Because of this, we started in right as the thing started. We got some strange looks from the eight or so people that were in there. The street-clothed preacher (?) walked up, and started talking about the penny war, and was shortley followed by the really, really good band.

Each time something was mentioned, I could hear this greasy, sleazy, Alec Baldwin like character "praise" God every time anything was mentioned. It really got annoying listening to two preachers at once.

He finally got up

His guest sermon was just unspeakable. He lacked rhythm, timing, grammer, and some basic things needed for all sermons. Now this church said they were Pentacostals (which I had never heard of), which belives in the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, so this like 12 year old girl was up there being forced to speak in tounges. It was very, very ackward. He tried the subtle power plays of looking me strait in the eye, but my dead-pan stare proved him wrong. After his really, really, bad sermon, Erica and I high-tailed it out of there.

Church #5: Video

2006-06-05T17:42:00.000-04:00

Church #5 Video Clip

See a brief video clip from the inside of the church

Church #5: newHope Baptist Church

2006-06-04T22:09:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?
1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

ERICA: It started off as a 9, but ended up as a 7 or 6.
Brad: Averaged Out-7

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
newHope Baptist Church
1401 Loveland-Madeira Road
Loveland, OH 45140
www.newhopeonthehill.com

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Nope. We're back to Loveland this week, close to my grandmother.

6. Time/duration of services:
10:45--12:30

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Baptist.

8. Who did you meet?
We shook hands with a few people, and the pastor (Bill Hounshell) made a point of coming over to us and greeting us personally.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: This church started out as a 9. It's a big, beautiful church on top of a hill (as the URL would suggest). No stained glass or anything, but comfy chairs, a clear podium at the pulpit, a full band, great A/V, etc. We were greeted right away by the pastor himself, who seemed really friendly. There were songs, of course, and then something I wasn't ready for: the screen rolled up and behind it they had a baptism. Right in the wall. Bradley assures me this is standard protocol but I was not ready to look up and see the pastor and a little girl in a pool of water IN THE WALL.

We inadvertantly sat in the youth section, I guess, because we were surrounded by really, really annoying kids and teens who wouldn't sit still and be quiet. I guess it speaks volumes about the church that they were even there at all, but still. Shut up. Please.

But like I said, for the first hour it was a 9. I was comfortable and actually having a pretty good time-- there was even a skit that the pastor and two older guys (associate pastors?) put on about their Sunday school programs. It was cute and everyone laughed. Great stuff.

For the second hour or so... it slid downhill a little bit. Mostly because of the sermon. It was all about families, tying in the prodigal son story, which was fine for the most part. However, the highlight (lowlight?) for me was the line, "Women have no trouble submitting, once they've found the one worth submitting to." ...What?

There was more than that-- much of the sermon I disagreed with. The pastor was a good speaker but we weren't really on the same frequency. I guess that's to be expected.

All in all, a pleasant experience, even if the sermon knocked a few points off. I got to see my first baptism (in a wall?!), listen to some mostly good music, and be in a beautiful house of God with people who see it as such. A pretty good way to spend a morning.

Brad: The word of choice I would use of this church is "Industrial". It really had to cover a lot of people, because of this church's MASSIVE size. This place was huge! I would say it could (and did) hold around 250 people in it's mass service. When we finally got our seats, we ended up with the side of the teenagers, which was the one bad mistake we made.

The first things that happened were the usuall song and then a baptism. Sis was really freaked out by the little tub in the call above the stage, where they held it. It only took about 5 mintues, and we moved on.

The sermon made me angry. You think that by now I wouldn't get so made at sermons, but he said some weird things, that didn't quite make sense, and I'm pretty sure the preacher hates woman. He seemed cool, but it was just annoying. They did put on a skit with main church people, in which they talked about roping people into there sunday school.

This church started out as a 9 or 8, but during the sermon, it seemed to drop in value by a point every 15 minutes. It went on for longer too, but it gave me time to look at the architecture of the building, and it's sweet olive-drab color. It was a giant dome too. It was a very neat church, so if you're in the area, enjoy!

Church #4: Thank you postcard

2006-06-04T22:04:00.000-04:00

This is belated, as we got it on Wednesday:

The handwritten message on the reverse reads:
We hope you found our worship service meaningful. Please come again!

It's only addressed to me, not to Bradley too. It was a nice gesture regardless.

Church #4: Summerside United Methodist Church

2006-05-28T11:06:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica... Bradley's comments will have to wait for a bit because he is out of town until tomorrow night.

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS: How was the experience?
1= I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10= This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

Brad: 3. This Church lacked what it needed.
ERICA: 3. I wasn't uncomfortable, so to speak... I was completely unmoved.

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Summerside United Methodist Church
638 Batavia Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45244
www.summerside-umc.org
(P.S. This church has a yahoo account. Boo. summerside_umc@yahoo.com)

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Nope-- we had very little time this morning so we picked a church that was very near our house.

6. Time/duration of services:
8:30am--9:30ish am

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Methodist

8. Who did you meet?
Nobody. They even skipped over the "peace be with you" part, even though it was in the service program.

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: "That was weaksauce."

Those were Bradley’s first words when we left the church this morning, and I couldn’t agree more. My guess is that the later service—10:40—would be more upbeat or colorful, but the early service was incredibly bland. There was a guest speaker, I believe, because the normal pastor was out of town. She was alright, but she was very…matronly? And she told the kind of stories that a grandmother would. Stories about the darnedest things kids say. That sort of thing. It kept a pleasant smile on the face of the congregation, though, which I would guess averaged at 50 years old.

Basically what I’m saying is that the service was targeting an audience much older than us, so maybe it was perfect for them. I can’t fault them for that, but it definitely wasn’t my speed.

Their service program was helpful, like the Lutheran program, in that it was labeled when I should stand, what page the hymns were on, where visitors should sign in, when the collection plate will be passed, etc.

The church itself was pretty enough, if you could ignore the fact that it looked out at a Marathon station. It was a pretty basic setup, and they had a copy of the floor plan at each pew so I could see that it was a pretty massive church. Basic pews, basic hymnals and Bibles, basic altar, etc. They had some crazy rainbow stuff happenin’ on the crucifix… not sure what that was all about. Just exaltation, I guess.

Oh, and finally a church without a band! This one only had a creepy, creepy organ. (Which wasn’t being played all too well, by the way.) We came in to hear “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which struck me a really weird though I guess it shouldn’t have. The hymns were standard and annoying to me—I guess I’ve been spoiled by churches with bongos and electric guitars. Again, not their fault, and probably perfect for a geriatric crowd.

Brad: Ok, I've always seen this Church as I drove by Summerside road. I've also always wondered what it was like inside it. It had the basic set-up most churchs of it's time have, the large facing wall to the street. When we went in, the cold feel of a bad church was as thick as smog. The pastor, who was (contrary to the sign) an older woman, gave one BORING sermon, and really lacked direction, thought, and all-around common sense.

This church was indeed, weak sauce, and needs to get it's stuff together. The mass and other people seemed to be a collective age of one million. But despite the lousy sermon, the older folk, and the less than fun preacher, the overall church wasn't that bad. It was a fairly clean place, with bright colored fabrics stretching across the room.

I would say this church would do in a pinch. But not my first choice.

Church #3: Grace Church

2006-05-21T16:06:00.000-04:00

1. Who attended? Bradley & Erica

2. CHURCH HOP RANKINGS:
How was the experience?

1: I was so uncomfortable and/or offended that I did not stay to the end of services.
10: This church was welcoming and thought-provoking. I would recommend that others experience this church.

Erica: 6. This church was friendly almost to the point of creepy.
Bradley: 7. I could tell this church made a good effort to reach out.

3. Picture(s) of the church

4. Name/location of the church:
Grace Church
11020 Lebanon Road
Loveland, Ohio 45140
www.LovelandGBC.org

5. Was it recommended to Church Hop?
Nope-- it was in the same area that the other churches have been.

6. Time/duration of services:
9:50--11:30ish

7. What type of religion did the church cater to?
Here's the thing: I'm not sure. I *think* it was Baptist, and the only reason I guess that is because their URL says GBC, which I assume stands for Grace Baptist Church. I'm not really trained in differentiating the different sects of Christianity, and that's my best guess.

8. Who did you meet?
We met a lot of people. Everyone seemed really eager to say hi to us, welcome us, invite us to the picnic. We were asked, "What made you come to Grace Church?" at least a dozen times. There was even a ten minute greeting period, like an extended "peace be with you" session. And we were clearly the only non-regulars present, and everyone seemed to be pretty curious about us. Regardless, everyone was overly friendly and hoped we would come back again. (I didn't bother to break their hearts.)

9. If applicable, scans of handouts, tracts, etc

10. Church Hopper’s personal experience with the church, additional details:

ERICA: This church was really interesting to me. Bradley and I had been considering Grace for a while, but they didn't have their service times posted outside or on their door, so we really had no way of figuring out what time to be there. Today we were shopping around Loveland and Bradley saw that a lot of people were suddenly going into Grace, so we decided to just bite the bullet and walk in.

Everyone was really, really friendly right off the bat. And we noticed that the congregation was really... young. There were some parents and grandparents, but I'd say at least half of the congregation was younger than me. The atmosphere was really relaxed... even the pastor was in jeans, because right after services there were heading to their church picnic.

There were the standard (or so I'm learning) Christian pop songs... really upbeat hymn-like ditties that everyone seemed to know. These songs make me feel really weird sometimes. Especially with men singing at the top of their lungs about being Jesus' bride. This is something I guess I need to work on getting over.

They had a type of prayer open mic, where people would come up to the microphone and talk about things that they were going through or people that needed a-prayin' for. I thought that was an interesting way to build community, and it didn't drag on or anything.

Then there was the actual sermon, which seemed really long even though the pastor was a pretty good speaker. I'm not sure why it seemed so long... maybe because he was trying to touch on every part of the Bible. He was talking about "faith under pressure," and seemed to want to give every Biblical example of someone showing faith. ...And there are a lot of them. Also, he made fun of evolution, which if I wasn't turned off before, I certainly was then. It wasn't in a really mean tone... just the type of "Can you believe there are people who still believe that stuff?" Yeah. Yeah I can.

My final note was that the actual physical church was kind of odd-- there were no pews, only nice folding chairs. And there was no pulpit, only a music stand with a Bible on it. Now this was obviously a pretty well-to-do church, so this seemed really odd to me. No pews means no Bibles or hymnals-- everyone brought their own. I guess this is because people in the community are invited to use the church space for other functions, so it could be disassembled pretty easily. Or something.

All in all this church was pretty alright. They never took our address or anything, so no "thanks and come back" letter this week. I hope their picnic went well.

Bradley: Ok, we all know how mad I get when I get dressed up, and no one else does. Well they finally had a good excuse. They were going to a picnic afterwards, so everyone was dressed casually, which I slowly got used to. Anyway, my first impression of this church was "low-budget". But when I walked in, I must have confused that with just boring decorating, because I could tell that they really reached out to the junior-church-going crowd. Many people there were right around my age (including the really bad drummer).

The pastor seemed really weird at first (Erica said he looked like Steve Carell), but I soon warmed up to him. Half-way through the million hour long sermon I was bored of him again. He started off strong, but that man needs to learn when to cut it off. I did give this church a little better rating than Erica, because of there unintrusive methods. Everyone was very friendly (maybe too friendly) and they wern't all about the tithing. I was actually kind of nice. I would say, if you have teen-age kids, this would be a good place to try, it seems like they know what they're doing in that field.

Prince of Peace: thank you letter

2006-05-14T18:46:00.000-04:00

Sorry, guys, no church this week. Bradley woke up with what he thinks might be strep throat... I regret having to skip one so early in the program but I could tell by his face and voice that he was better off getting some sleep.

There is some news, though: Prince of Peace sent us a thank you letter! I suppose that's protocol, but I appreciated it nonetheless.

The letter is clearly a form letter, but whatever. The Methodists have spoiled me. :) It reads:

Dear Bradley and Erica,

Thank you for joining us in worship this past weekend. Prince of Peace strives to be a welcoming family of faith that provides many opportunities for people to receive and share God's gift of grace in Jesus Christ.

Wherever you are in your life of faith- visiting, wondering, seeking- I hope that you join us again soon. Please let us know if we can assist you in any way as you get to know our congregation. If you wo uld like mroe information about our various ministries at Prince of Peace, you can visit our website (www.princeofpeaceelca.org), stop in at our welcome desk, or contact me.

Thank you again for visiting. May God's rich blessings be with you this day and always.

In Christ,
Pastor Jonathan Eilert