[jodyel]

No worries, Red. Thanks for the kind reply.

Have never been interested in attending worship services, but perhaps that is my issue of avoidance and getting emotionally entangled with others....plus it is hard enough for me to cope with taking care of my own self and churches always want you to do, do, do for others. I handle doing for others in my own way and not in church ways. We should find another word to call it since church is actually the body of believers.

What could be a good alternative? Building, structure, hang out? :)

Have you ever tried home churches? That might be interesting.

Best,
jodyel

[terycarl]

Have never been interested in attending worship services,

lets see now, you espouse the preachings of s Baptist minister from Atlanta, but you don't think enough of him to attend Sunday services.......O.K. I guess, golf courses are nice on Sunday but don't put down someone who attends Mass EVERY sunday, listens to the bible, listens to the sermons, recieves the Body and Blood of our Lord and doesn't try to formulate his own idea of what religion is.

[RedMonqey]

I think the best way(IMHO) is the personal contact in small groups. Home churches would be more in tune with the way Christ and his apostles did it but I can see problems with very, very heretical, if not blasphemous doctrine created if not carefully observed(see Jim Jones or David Koresh)

I know my beliefs are different from accepted established church and more importantly social morals but I believe it's more in step with a loving forgiving nature of the Gospel of Jesus.(IMHO)

I may occasional attend the church of my youth but to be honest it's more social than prayerful spiritual reflection.

My sister goes to a big baptist church(I've attended it, too) and it meets her family's spiritual needs but, as you said, the church has her involved in church work, which I have no doubt is worthy but she has young children at home and she and her husband barely have time for their kids after a full day at work..

Family comes first then the social needs of the church is my manner of thinking.
But that's my opinion and I keep my mouth shut around her, even though I can see the drain this extra work puts on it...