Looking for a church
This large copper vessel was originally used in the manufacture of chocolate in Norwich and was re-fashioned and presented to the Cathedral for use as a font. Photo Imogen Wegman
Sign explaining how the copper vessel came to be in the Cathedral at Norwich. Photo Imogen Wegman
From a first-time church shopper
The Shopper: Imogen Wegman, on a twelve month exchange at the University of East Anglia
The Place: Norwich, Norfolk, England
Background: Imogen has grown up going to her family church, and has never had to find her own before. She is looking for somewhere with Bible based teaching, community, students, good music and a location that is easy to get to without a car.
I've always said that Christians are fortunate because we can go anywhere in the world and find a ready made community waiting in a church building. While I do not revoke this opinion, over the past four weeks I have moderated it.
Christians are fortunate indeed, and churches can be a place of comfort when the travelling process becomes a little overwhelming, but that community is not an instantaneous discovery, and the seeker may be forced to question what is truly important to them before they settle somewhere.
So far, I have tried four different churches in Norwich, plus the university's Christian Union. Considering there used to be a church for every week of the year, this is not very many, but there's only a couple more I really want to try before I must make a decision.
I miss being involved in a church, and know it will take some time to adjust from working in a church to attending it.
One church had a fantastic sense of unity, with attentive welcomers tending to me as I stood looking lost in a corner. The worship wasn't to my taste however. Another had music I could really worship through, but was very High Anglican and not my weekly cup of tea.
One left me reading the notice board for two minutes, but had good preaching (and very friendly people when they noticed me). I've found one a little horrifying, with no welcoming of newcomers whatsoever, despite running evangelism events to draw new people in.
One church had my kind of music and a dedicated welcoming team, but a forced sense of community and some theological viewpoints that disagree with my own.
What's the lesson here?
I'll check out another couple, then will have to decide on what I can compromise on, what is truly important in my faith.
Would I rather have dreary off-key music, or never hear a woman preach? Is 10am or 6pm the holier time to worship? 80 people or 300? I'm very quick to dislike and judge, and I'm learning that God will be quick to counter this by rebutting my assumptions.
I cannot ask 'Is God present at this church?', and it's unfair to discredit a church after just one visit (we all know the weird things always happen only when there's a potential future member in the congregation). But I need to settle somewhere, and soon. All I can do is remember I'm not going to find my Hobart church here, and trust that God will place me where he wants me.
As for you, I cannot emphasise enough just how important welcoming newcomers is.
Don't leave them reading about last year's church fête, staring awkwardly at the stained glass window, or just walking out. Introduce yourself, find out what they do and pass them on to someone with similar interests.
Even if the service isn't really to their taste, there's a good chance they'll stick around just for God's love shining through you.