AUTHOR: Sandi TITLE: DATE: 10/25/2009 05:44:00 PM ----- BODY:

So, went to Newspring Church Columbia today. We got there slightly late, could hear the bass in the parking lot. At first it was very distracting, between all the "welcome to newspring" people and the loudness and the flashy color-changing backgrounds and the shiny red Les Paul right in front of me, it was a bit concert-y. During the first song I pretty much just oogled. Then the most recognizable drum intro in all of Christian music (you know what I'm talking about) brought me back to reality and I could focus. After which, an amazing version of I Surrender All. The message was surprisingly fabulous. What with the seeker-oriented event type vibe when the pastor speaking, Clayton King, said he was going to talk about hell, I was thinking 'oh man here we go...' But it was really in depth, he gave some context, used some Greek, and passages from Revelation to supplement his main message from Luke 16. Did a really great job presenting a basic salvation message and some food for the already saved. Overall, its size and style makes it not quite what I think I'll settle into as a home church, but then again, maybe something different is what I need. I also feel like this sort of church is quickly becoming more common and the old school 'my great great grandmother was rocked in the same nursery as my grandchildren' churches are sort of being phased out. I'll pray about it for sure, as usual. It is getting really frustrating not having a place to put down my roots around here, I miss knowing people at church and being able to just randomly take over in child care or teller office or whatever, oh and knowing where stuff is, that would be useful. Regardless of where I end up, I will definitely be listening to some of Newspring's messages online, next week they're starting a "don't get married until..." series, very exciting. Now that I think about it actually, I haven't felt this conflicted about any other church I've visited. I really like the preaching and the music, but will I be distracted too much? I don't know If I'm holding back because I'll be uncomfortable with the service opportunities there or because I don't know anyone who will go with me. But then again, do I like it because the preaching and music style is comfortable? The only other church I liked is Faith Pres. and I love the diversity in their church body, I feel like it will be very easy for me to get back to the nursery duty routine, but is that what I need? I'm used to a leadership role in our youth group and I'd really like to be able to be a leader in whatever new context I end up in and I feel like Newspring, being a younger church has room for that where as a family, deacon oriented older church might not, plus I'm not sure I agree with the whole Presbyterian thing. Going into this, I don't think I was looking for a new church home, just a temporary place to worship while I'm away from OVBC, but now I guess I'm finally grasping the gravity of the situation and sort of realizing how scary this is. Ugh, I need someone to prioritise for me. God give me clear leadership towards a church where you can use me and I can know you more, please!

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: aaron d DATE:10/26/2009 02:59:00 PM Sandi,
I'm glad you made it to NewSpring. keep one thing in mind, they have a great line up of communicators. Clayton is their Teaching Pastor, Perry Noble is their Senior Pastor. Both are great and both are certainly challenging.
You know me and music style. If my ears are bleeding afterward, I'm ok. Just turn your gramma hearing aid down and suck it up! hahahaha
Love yas ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sandi DATE:10/28/2009 08:25:00 PM Aw come on! where's the deep pastoral insight? what are you learning in seminary? lols LY2! ----- --------