Getting Connected

After searching for three weeks, I think we may have finally found our new church home, Rolling Hills Community Church.  We have been searching endlessly since we arrived to Oregon to find a place that we as a family could connect with people to build friendships and grow in our relationship with the almighty, Jesus.  Our first experience was fine, we visited a church just down the road.  I felt like we were walking into Destiny seven years ago when we were meeting in the gym and all systems were kinda new.  Marc and I had talked about being ready for some praise and worship but unfortunately we only got the praise part. The church was set up where the kids went into the sanctuary during the praise time and then they would be directed to go to the children's rooms afterwards.  Big distraction for momma!  We had good preaching, praise was not moving and we didn't feel we would grow there.  So the search continues.

Week two, we looked up churches online and were super excited about our next church possibility. They had almost the exact set up as Destiny. We pull into the parking lot and was greeted and directed to someone who helped us know where to take the kids.  The kids rooms were exciting and they were greeted at the door with a friendly face and were instantly connected to a small group leader. We were pumped.  We even met a girl who used to go to church with someone who went to Destiny.  I met the children's director and instantly connected with her. I was feeling like we may have found our spot.  Then it happened.  We walk into the sanctuary and praise and worship started......The worship leader was amazing and you could tell she was feeling it because her legs went none stop like she wanted to jump up and down but remained in the same pose the whole time.  People sat yes sat in their seats while singing.  I sat at the edge of my seat waiting for someone to stand up or for someone on stage to tell everyone to stand.  ARG! Come on people. I so wanted to worship.  They had great multi media videos, etc. And Marc and I said well we may can get use to the praise part since everything else was meeting our expectations but were let down once more.  The sermon series was on the last days.  Our pastor had taught on this a few series before so I was excited to hear more on the topic or hear a different perspective on it.  But it quickly turned into the world hates Christians and toward the end of times it will get worst and nothing a Christian does will change how the world sees us. So we as Christians should love each other and the world will see we are Christians by how we love on each other not the world.  WHAT?  Did Jesus not go into the world and love on the world. I so wanted to just get up and walk out but we stayed.  They even started talking about another church that was doing some things they didn't agree with.  Darn.  So we picked up the kids and Hannah didn't like her class.  So we knew we were off to try again. 

Week three,  we had done our homework this time.  Thankfully Rolling Hills had a video where you could go on a watch a sermon beforehand.  We loved everything we saw.  So as Sunday comes, I didn't want to get too excited bc we had been disappointed before. But right when we walked into the church I felt a peace.  The children's areas were amazing.  The worship was amazing and the message was amazing. They are teaching on the Jesus Experiment. 

Which is basically about going out into the world and being like Jesus.  How ironic is that?  lol.  We plan on visiting next week again to make our final decision.  I am so ready to get connected again. Coming from Destiny and growing so much there we are so ready! Stay tuned.