So many "s's" ...Sunday Service & Socialness

What is it with the "s's"? The temptation for yet another alliteration title with more "s's" was too much for my own good. So there you have another set of S's for the title.

I was going to write this on Sunday, and just because of time, I forgot. But now that It's Wednesday night (almost Thursday morning), I think this is a better time to write it, anyway, since I've had some time to reflect and think about things.

I cannot begin to describe just how big my God is. One thing over the past couple weeks that I've needed was some companionship with friends around my age. (Not that Eric and Brenda aren't enjoyable! I've loved hanging out with you guys so far!) But the desire to meet and build friendships with those close to my age was still there.

So began my journey toward the Ev-Free of Camarillo. The short story of it goes - I needed to find a church that was a)somewhere I could meet friends b)provide a church with similar theology to the C&MA, and c) somewhere to provide the "spiritual" growth I need for the summer.

So Sunday morning I (a little late...darn) drove up to the church. It's structure was a beautiful old-time Californian style. Cream walls with a dark maroon trip around it, with the archway as an entrance...it was a true historical building. Inside was much smaller than I had anticipated. After I found a seat and got my bearings, I compared it in my head to Hawley Alliance - the old building on the corner of 3rd & joseph. The size was about right. Little did I know just how much more similar it was than just the church size....Hawley Alliance has been quite incomparable in the "welcome" factor since we left in 2001. This one definitely compares quite nicely now.

The awkward part for me was once the service was done and waiting around for the college "bible study" (almost like Sunday School...). Standing around for almost 45 minutes feeling all alone - not exactly my idea of a perfect Sunday morning.

But eventually the college group trickled in the room. (The service let out at 10:30 am..the Bible Study didn't start til about 11:15/30 am). But not too long after I entered the room, so entered the bubbly and energetic personality that is Christy "critter" Rutledge. I went through my "schpeel" with her, "I'm from Minneapolis, MN, and I'm in Cali for the summer for an internship with the VC Reporter..." etc. And immediately, to every person who walked in thereafter, she introduces me to the group.

Following the Bible Study, I was invited to go out to lunch. So I did. And everyone talked, laughed...then I was "questioned" about my background and history by the Bible Study leader. haha.

From there I was invited to their Sunday night service, entitled Emmaus - a worship service something to that could be compared to a Vespers + a message. (except it was a small gathering, still...not quite the Bethel Vespers population.)And from there, I was invited to a graduation party.

Within that 12 hours, I met so many people. But more than that, I felt like I was welcomed into this family - a home.

As I thought about it, the only way I could put it into words so that I could convey how I was truly feeling...well..you'll see I stole it from one of my favorite movies, "Sleepless in Seattle." I felt like I had come home to a church...although it was no home I'd ever known.

Tonight proved nothing different. Tonight was spent at Christy's sister&brother's house, playing glow-in-the-dark bocce ball, and just hanging out.

God has blessed me with a "home" church here...and I can tell you all right now - it's going to be pretty hard to say "see-ya-later" after this summer is over.