Jaroslaw99
12-09-2006, 07:11 PM
Hello, my name is Rik, I live in Hamtramck, Michigan. It is a tiny 2 square mile town basically surrounded by Detroit.
I am searching for a church home - Catholicism is a big deal, being Polish and all but I just can't continue there with JPII & Pope Rotweiller's pronouncements. I do continue on the board of directors of a closed parish, the first Polish Church in Michigan, St. Albertus. Usually named St. Adalbert at other churches. It is extremely beautiful and knowing that my ancestors mortgaged their homes to build it is a great motivation to keep it going as an historic site.
I tried MCC, I really like the pastor there in Ferndale, but the congregation seemed all paired up and not particularly friendly to newcomers. They weren't unfriendly, it is hard to explain. Much of the service is quite repetitive - they sing a LOT, the same incorporation type songs that are the same from week to week. It is a good place overall - I just didn't feel included there. I did donate things besides money, went on a canoe trip and participated in a number of things but it just didn't seem to gel. An interesting aside, the Gay Pride festival is in Ferndale every year, and they always have a booth there. They get a great influx of people afterwards and then it dwindles, so I am not the only one who feels that way apparently.
Then I tried an Episcopal/Lutheran church with a Gay pastor. Again, he was great, his sermons were extremely creative, but the organist "amused" her grandchildren by letting them beat the drums and cymbals for every single song which got tiresome also. They had a large homeless popuation, which I am not being judgemental, but they were forever getting up and down, going to the bathroom etc. It was difficult to concentrate sometimes.
So now, I pray at home and study myself. I will keep looking but God is an important part of my life. I feel a lot like one of the posters who said "trying to live up to the Sermon on the Mount, I fail every day."
Being truly Christian is very humbling. I am thankful for the many friends I have and all the blessings I do have. I definitely am glad I found this organization - it certainly puts to rest the idea that all Gay people are shallow and self centered! Not that I didn't know that, but it is a joy to converse with like-minded people.
I am searching for a church home - Catholicism is a big deal, being Polish and all but I just can't continue there with JPII & Pope Rotweiller's pronouncements. I do continue on the board of directors of a closed parish, the first Polish Church in Michigan, St. Albertus. Usually named St. Adalbert at other churches. It is extremely beautiful and knowing that my ancestors mortgaged their homes to build it is a great motivation to keep it going as an historic site.
I tried MCC, I really like the pastor there in Ferndale, but the congregation seemed all paired up and not particularly friendly to newcomers. They weren't unfriendly, it is hard to explain. Much of the service is quite repetitive - they sing a LOT, the same incorporation type songs that are the same from week to week. It is a good place overall - I just didn't feel included there. I did donate things besides money, went on a canoe trip and participated in a number of things but it just didn't seem to gel. An interesting aside, the Gay Pride festival is in Ferndale every year, and they always have a booth there. They get a great influx of people afterwards and then it dwindles, so I am not the only one who feels that way apparently.
Then I tried an Episcopal/Lutheran church with a Gay pastor. Again, he was great, his sermons were extremely creative, but the organist "amused" her grandchildren by letting them beat the drums and cymbals for every single song which got tiresome also. They had a large homeless popuation, which I am not being judgemental, but they were forever getting up and down, going to the bathroom etc. It was difficult to concentrate sometimes.
So now, I pray at home and study myself. I will keep looking but God is an important part of my life. I feel a lot like one of the posters who said "trying to live up to the Sermon on the Mount, I fail every day."
Being truly Christian is very humbling. I am thankful for the many friends I have and all the blessings I do have. I definitely am glad I found this organization - it certainly puts to rest the idea that all Gay people are shallow and self centered! Not that I didn't know that, but it is a joy to converse with like-minded people.