[[Just a clarification: Things I write about that I do not like about a church or church experience is not meant to be taken as "church bashing". I just mean that it is something that I do not connect with.]]
Montgomery County Church of Christ
Last Sunday, Todd and I attended Montgomery County Church of Christ and were finally able to hear one of the main pastors speak. (Please see previous entries to read about previous visits.) Todd's parents were here for the weekend, so they came with us. Todd's friends, Zak and Kat, came with us too. It was good to get other people's perspectives, in as, other people who already know us.
I thought the sermon was pretty good. I looked down at my watch towards the end and was surprised at how long it was (45 minutes?). It did not feel that long though. I would like to go back to hear him talk again.
Gallery Church Baltimore
Today, Todd and I went to Gallery Church Baltimore. We heard about it because one of Todd's good friends, Les, goes there. Today was it's first meeting at it's new location- Pier 5 Hotel in Baltimore. There were signs up but it was still a bit confusing to get to. This could also have been due to us not having very good directions and not knowing what to really expect at all. I appreciated the greeter at the door asking if we had any trouble finding the church.
The congregation seemed to be comprised of mostly young adults. The format, music and graphics were very contemporary. The air conditioning was on... a lot. It was super cold but the church didn't really have control over that. The next time we go back, I will need to layer on the clothing!
The first half hour was all worship (singing). I really enjoyed it, once I got the hang of the type of mellow songs they played. It definitely reminded me of the brother/sister duo called LaRue. (Definitely check out their music on Amazon to hear a sampling- just click on the link!) There was a guy who played guitar and a girl who played violin. They both sang. I was very impressed by the girl's voice and the fact that she could switch so easily between singing and playing the violin. They said they usually have a drum but they did not have it this week for some reason. It wasn't really needed though.
The pastor did not do a sermon today. Instead, a girl named Jenny spoke about her experiences in missions. She worked with refugees in Baltimore and also spent time in India with refugees from Burma. The stories she told were heartbreaking and incredibly informative... but long. Her sharing could have been done in ten minutes but she managed to drag it out into a half hour! I think it felt so long because I was freezing (see above). After she was done, the pastor spoke for about five minutes, kind of about what Jenny spoke about.
There will be a Gallery Church Baltimore Part II... Why do we keep missing when the pastor speaks when we visit churches?
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