Week 45 - New Church, OKC

This week we visited New Church, a non-dominational church in northwest Oklahoma City. They have 3 services and since we got an extra hour of sleep, we got out for the first service at 9:00. It was not very full and I suspect the two later services are much more crowded. They have a nice worship band and two pastors that shared the sermon. They were a very friendly and welcoming group and made you feel at home. The theme for the new series they were starting was “Thanksliving” and it was one of those times when I knew I was exactly where I needed to be today. I’ve always understood the concept of being thankful and have frequently poured out my thanksgiving and praise to God. On the other hand, I am a first class worrier. I worry about everything, pray about everything, try to help God solve everything. This fall I have watched God begin to reveal His plan over some things I have been praying about (and worrying about) for a long time. I have been all over the map with this from steadfast faith, resting in His promise that His plan and His timing are always perfect…to fits of frustration and impatience over those very things. Recently, I saw God start to work on a couple of my many subjects of worry. I was overwhelmed with God’s wisdom, extremely thankful that I could tell He heard my prayers, that He cares about all the same people I care about, and the brilliance of His timing. I am not going to pretend I know what the future holds, but I have learned a huge lesson in trusting Him and being just thankful beyond description for His love, patience and forgiveness. All of that was reinforced in today’s sermon. We could have been anywhere because of this journey we are on, but we were here today, being led there by a gracious God who had something to say to me. For this, and a host of other things too long to list, I am thankful

Week 41 - The Edge

We decided to swing back to a “non-denominational” church this time and found The Edge with a Google search. We liked their website and were a little bit influenced because they have an active ministry in Uganda. Danae was home for the weekend and I have to thank her for going along with our crazy escapade and coming along each Sunday that she is here to a difference church. The people were friendly and welcoming and we had a nice conversation with some people on the way out. That’s always nice when people notice you’re visiting and take a minute to talk to you. It is a fairly small church with 2 services. The stage with the band is almost as big as the auditorium. A visiting worship leader led the worship as their worship leader has recently left. They did a fabulous job. It seems their pastor, the founder of the church, has also recently left. This is a congregation that is going through some trials we can certainly relate to. Although we don’t know the circumstances behind those events, we can tell they are still struggling from it. A young man named Disciple led worship. Complete with tattoos and earlobe plugs, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What we got was a very intelligent, articulate and thoughtful sermon. He made many excellent points, but when he started talking about how they (the Israelites and this church) had lost their momentum, that really struck me. That describes exactly how I have felt many times with respect to my faith, my church, and even this 52 churches in a year project. We left feeling inspired and like we should be praying for this group of believers.

Week 39 - First Presbyterian Church OKC

This week we attended First Presbyterian Church at 25th & Western in Oklahoma City. It has to be one of the most beautiful church buildings we have been in. I freely admit that I am in love with the history and architecture of the east coast and this church looks like it was dropped off here straight from Boston. Cobblestone exterior, amazing stained glass and beautiful arched wood ceiling all contributed to this amazing setting. It is a fairly large church but was not completely full at this particular service. Worship was led by an organist, a choir (complete with beautiful red robes) and a song leader. We sang hymns from the songbook, as this was a technology-free church, free from screens and slides. A collection was passed, but no communion. All in all, the service itself was very traditional and routine, but what I learned that morning was I am easily influenced by the setting. In a perfect world, for me, all church buildings would look like this. I have to guard against putting more importance on atmosphere than on worship, relationships, service and all of those things that are really important in a church home. But it sure wouldn’t hurt if they all come together in one package!

Week 38 - Waterloo Baptist Church

Waterloo Baptist Church is a medium sized (about 600 in worship) church in North Edmond. The people we sat around were very welcoming and friendly and so were the two very nice gentlemen who visited us a few days later. I was a little disappointed that our mission to go to a different church each week prevented us from attending the following week and getting to have a ride on the mechanical bull at their “Round-Up Day.” They are a very active church with many events and ministries going on. They have a contemporary worship band but included a variety of old and new music. The sermon referenced Ezekiel 33:1-7, reminding the church that we come in to go out, to be God’s watchmen so to speak, telling the world about God. God will hold someone accountable for their sin if they have been warned. He will hold us accountable if we did not warn them. It puts a new depth of meaning to our responsibility to share our faith.

Week 37 - Frontline Church

We stumbled across this church while leaving another downtown church a few weeks ago and decided to check it out. Downtown OKC has some amazing churches and this one is no exception. A non-denominational church, they have just added a 4th service to their schedule on Sunday. They also have a Thursday evening service at City Rescue Mission and have a satellite church in Shawnee. In addition, they have what they call “community groups” all over the city serving a variety of ages and situations. This church occupies a fairly small space, as churches go, in a building at 7th and Broadway. A wonderful band led worship with a female lead singer. As the worship time continued, people continued to stream in until it was standing room only. This is a come as you are group. It felt like anyone, from anywhere, dressed anyway could walk in and feel comfortable here. The sermon was interesting, thought provoking and sometimes funny. What struck me most was the comment that they wanted their church to be a place God would want to attend. While I believe that God is active and present no matter what the worship situation or style, I wonder what church would be like if it were truly the kind of place Jesus would choose for his personal place of worship. What if we didn’t focus on the design of the building, the worship group or band, the preacher, the pews or anything else that made us comfortable and feel good about coming to church? What if we just focused on being Jesus’ church? I wonder what that would look like?

Week 35 - Church of the Servant

Church of the Servant is a United Methodist Church located in NW Oklahoma City. It is a very large congregation with 2 worship times that are conducted the same way. They take a more conservative approach with a choir, led by organ and/or piano, with one worship song being led by a band. The ministers wear formal worship attire and they follow a pattern of worship outlined for you in the bulletin. The singing is conducted from the hymnal. There are no screens in the auditorium with words to songs, sermon points, etc. like you see in a lot of churches these days. The most striking thing about this church though is the actual auditorium. It has an abundance of clear glass, which on this particular Sunday let in a wonderful amount of sunshine. Scattered throughout were trees, foliage arrangements and even a rock formation. It was like worshipping in the outdoors only with comfortable seats and air conditioning. We learned this morning that we are all very much influenced by the atmosphere we encounter as we enter church. And, while we know that the worship setting is not what’s important, we know it affects us. The good new is, God isn’t influenced by that and He shows up anywhere there is worship going on.

Week 33 - Skyline Church

Skyline Church is located in downtown Oklahoma City and worships in an auditorium in a business building. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. There was a stage with a small band that led the worship time. The sermon was thought provoking and inspiring and very well-delivered. The highlight for me, though, were the two teachers who talked about the schools they work in and why. These people could work anywhere, yet they choose to be in schools where there is 100% free lunch participation. They enter into the difficult lives of their students and provide hope and unconditional love. This is a group of people who have put together a lovely worship time and really enjoy each other’s company. However, what was impressive was their commitment, as an entire congregation, to the Christian walk in their everyday lives. I got the impression that church to them was just the respite on Sunday morning that fueled them for a week of service. A lesson for us all.

Week 32 - St. Luke's United Methodist Church

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is another downtown OKC church we visited last Sunday. The congregation we visited last probably had 600 members. This church has 6,000. They have three services each Sunday, one contemporary and two traditional. We attended one of the traditional services. The sanctuary is stunning with beautiful stained glass, contemporary organ pipes and comfortable “movie theatre” style seats. The service was indeed traditional, with hymns being sung from the hymnal, lead by organ or piano, and pastors in formal robes. We were greeted by the couple in front of us, but with a congregation that large it’s easy to blend in and not be noticed as visitors. The service followed a predictable pattern with a very good bulletin that walked you through it step by step. The sermon was delivered well by Pastor Robert Long. He issued a challenge: “No whining, no complaining, no excuses—make today a masterpiece.” I’d like to have signs made with that saying to hang up at work and in my house. As much as I’d like to extend that challenge to my co-workers and family, I am pretty sure that message was meant for me!

Week 30 - Oakdale Baptist Church

Oakdale Baptist (formerly Witcher Baptist) is a small church on the corner of Hefner and Sooner Road. We passed by this church hundreds of times while our kids attended Oakdale School across the street, but had never been inside except for the occasional recital and to vote. There are two services, both contemporary, with a praise band led, the morning we visited, by the pastor’s wife. There were a few familiar faces there from Oakdale. There was also a sense of community and intimacy that comes with a small congregation. Honestly, it was a last minute decision to attend here and I really wasn’t expecting much from such a small church. What we found was a gem that had been right in front of us for years. The sermon was scriptural, inspiring and delivered enthusiastically. The people were very friendly and inviting and made us feel welcome in their family. I learned that morning that I wasn’t eagerly anticipating what God wanted to show me the way I was when I started this project. He reminded me that that He still has exciting things to show us and that we can still become complacent in our worship even if we are attending a different church every week. I had lost some of the enthusiasm we first experienced when we started on this journey, but I think God, in His mercy, has reignited it.

Week 29 - Faith Bible Church

Well to say I have had writer’s block is an understatement. Today I am catching up on the last three churches we have visited. It’s not that I didn’t learn anything these weeks or feel inspired; I just haven’t been able to get things onto paper. I’m not sure my writer’s block is over, but I feel compelled to update the project so here goes. Faith Bible is a church we have visited many times. It is a medium sized church, but rapidly growing. There are many things we like about this church. The instrumental music is very well done and you can still hear the congregation singing. The preacher sends you digging through your Bible throughout the sermon, which is something I really like. There’s just something great about hearing everyone turning pages and not just reading the scriptures up on a screen. The sermons are always thought provoking and there is no guessing about what they believe and why. Their “theme” if you will is “One Bible Verse at a Time” and this describes exactly how they work through even difficult subject matters. I always learn something from a different perspective every time I visit. The primary thing I learned this week was that I want to have that same kind of conviction about what I believe and the knowledge and courage to defend those beleifs. This requires a good deal of study which sometimes seems overwhelming, but it can be done “one Bible verse at a time.”

Week 27 - First Church OKC (downtown)

First Church sits at 4th and Robinson in Oklahoma City and was greatly affected by the Oklahoma City bombing. Today it is a beautifully restored historic church that serves the downtown Oklahoma City area. We attended the early, traditional service. There is a later, contemporary, service each week as well. Attendance was light, maybe due to the holiday or maybe due to the early time, but the people there were very friendly and inviting. Worship was led by an older woman who you could tell loved what she did and I’m guessing that’s been her job for many years. Instruments consisted of a single organ. The sermon was entitled “Can I Pass God’s Test” but focused on the subject of giving/tithing. Of all the sermons I’ve heard on this subject, this one was well delivered, without guilt and with insight that was new to me at least. There were the familiar verses that cover the subject of giving, but he also presented a verse from the New Testament that affirms the practice of tithing that I’ve never picked up on before. I have always balked at the idea of an exact percentage and preferred to apply the “God loves a cheerful giver” verse to giving. However, the verse in Matthew 23:23 has given us something new to think about regarding that subject. We left with a new coffee cup and a couple of candy bars and have discovered that we are really enjoying our tour of the downtown churches.

Week 26 - First Baptist Church OKC

First Baptist Church of OKC is a downtown church at 12th & Robinson. It is an old building with lots of character. Older wooden pews, huge organ pipes and beautiful stained glass adorn this church and give it a certain traditional charm. There was a single service and we followed a printed program, which included the words to the hymns. The church was filled with people from all walks of life and all ages. This church is very active in the community life of downtown and seems to view its own neighborhood as a mission field. The topic of the sermon was the freedom we have in Christ with the verses referenced being Galatians 3:23-29. They see all as equal under Christ, including male and female. They have a female worship leader and have a pastor that fills in for the lead pastor who is female. Coming from a church that only allows men in these roles, again we have something else to consider and study for ourselves. At the end of the service a new member, who lives close to the church, was introduced and told of her struggles and the warm reception she received in this place. It was the love of these people that compelled her to place her membership here after just one week. That says a lot.

Week 25 - Church on the Rock

We visited Church on the Rock this week. This is another church we’ve passed by for years and we’ve also watched them grow during that time. We were greeted warmly and immediately recognized as visitors. We were then directed to the new visitor greeter who was very nice and introduced us to their church and just made us feel welcome. After we sat down, we were approached by several people who introduced themselves and took the time to visit with us and find out some things about us. I have to say it was the most interest a church has shown in visitors of anywhere we have attended so far. They have two services and we attended the early one. It was very full and a big mix of people and ages. They are set up in much the same way as the other non-denominational churches, with a large worship group including the standard instruments as well as some winds and strings. The worship was lively and most members danced, sang, raised hands and were very expressive in their worship. This church is very focused on evangelizing the state of Oklahoma. It seems they see Oklahoma as a missions field in much the same way we tend to see foreign countries. They call their pastor “apostle” which was interesting. I would be curious to know more about that. The sermon was very interesting and entertaining and we really enjoyed listening to “apostle John.” The handout was filled with scripture and he incorporated a lot of scripture into the sermon on “How to Live a Happy Life.” One of the ways he emphasized for living a happy life was “praying in tongues.” Not “speaking in tongues”, but “praying in tongues.” They very much see this as an important element of their identity as Christians. His explanation about tongues was not what I expected. He said it was the way we pray through the Holy Spirit when we don’t know what to pray. I’ve never heard that viewpoint before so that was definitely something new to think about. There was a lot of congregational reading/repeating during the sermon, including a rather loud session of congregational speaking in tongues. If anyone was looking around, I’m guessing we really stood out as visitors! I’m still not why that makes me a little uncomfortable, but God definitely had something for us to experience this morning! After all, that’s what this journey is all about.

Week 24 - Bridgeway Church

Bridgeway Church was our choice for worship this week. Immediately upon entering we noticed a congregation very engaged with each other. There were a lot of lively conversations going on between people. There was also a lot going on in the foyer. First off, a café serving coffee and such, a bookstore, a table with information promoting an outreach project they were promoting today, greeters and quite a few people just talking and catching up. Inside the lively conversations continued. They seem to be really excited about being there and seeing each other. The worship area had a relaxing, comfortable feeling with rows of chairs, rather than pews, scattered with Bibles for use during worship or to take home if anyone needed a Bible. A wide variety of people were in attendance and the atmosphere was casual. From dress clothes to jeans and shorts, it was all ok. There was a stage with an instrumental worship band, that performed a variety of songs, some traditional, some contemporary. One thing we noticed was that the congregation was really singing. We could actually hear singing over the band. In addition, the band toned down the music from time to time so the singing could stand out. Also, there seemed to be great freedom to worship however you felt led, with some sitting, some standing, some with hands raised, some not. The pastor had a great, well presented message about God using ordinary people to do extraordinary things. He used the example from Mark 3:13-19 where Jesus chose the apostles. It was a diverse, ordinary group indeed. As diverse as the churches we’re visiting, but united by one thing—the authority of Jesus Christ—as are we all, regardless of the denomination we affiliate with.

Week 23 - Quail Springs Baptist

We attended Quail Springs Baptist contemporary service this morning, which is sandwiched in between two traditional services. I’m not sure what their total attendance is, but this service was pretty full. It is a beautiful building inside and out. The décor is light and inviting with light streaming through beautiful stained glass windows. We sat off to the side a little towards the back and ended up right next to the pastor’s wife. It was interesting that she was sitting there in the middle of the church and not down front and center. I don’t know the reason for this, but she was very nice and welcoming. The message this morning was from Proverbs, one of my favorite books of the Bible. This was one of those sermons, it seemed, where the pastor had been dealing with a number of people involved in infidelity and decided it was time for a firm reminder to everyone of how God feels about that. He presented it in the context of “correction and protection—not condemnation.” But make no mistake, as he said “infidelity is stupid.” We’ve had those kinds of sermons before and while they may seem harsh initially, there was truth in what he was saying. It seems fidelity these days is a dying characteristic, not just fidelity in marriage, but in work, our friendships, with God. While I’ve never personally dealt with marital infidelity, I am sure I have been guilty of it in other areas of my life. God has something for everyone to hear even in sermons that we don’t particularly relate to. That in itself is an important lesson.

Week 22 - First Presbyterian

This week we attended the contemporary service at First Presbyterian in Edmond. It’s a very beautiful older building that really looks like a church, stained glass windows and all. Added to that were the very contemporary elements of a praise band, audio/visual enhancements. There was no communion at this service, but a collection was passed by both men and women. They included a segment for the children up on the stage that was a nice way to make them feel included and an important part of the worship time. The title of the sermon was “Trading Places: The Prince and the Pauper (He endured our shame that we might share His glory).” In his sermon he discussed the elements of guilt and shame which I had honestly never thought about before as being different, but they are. Jesus didn’t just take on our guilt at the cross, he also bore our shame. Like salt in the wound so to speak. The preacher mentioned that he was from a Muslim family and was kicked out of the family when he announced he had become a Christian. That was impressive to me. I can’t imagine having the strength to endure something so traumatic as being disowned by your family. Shame was felt on both sides in that family for different reasons and I imagine it was intense. Even so, it pales in comparison to the undeserved shame Christ bore for us. That thought gives me a much needed attitude adjustment this week.

Week 20 - Spring Creek Assembly of God

We attended Spring Creek Assembly of God in Edmond this morning. Spring Creek is a medium sized more traditional church. They had a worship band that included two older gentlemen. It was sweet seeing them with their gray hair and suits playing the guitar and worshipping, alongside the younger group members. I liked the multi-generational idea. We were warmly greeted by several members who were interested in why we were visiting and encouraged us to return. The youth minister delivered a message this morning to their graduating seniors. The sermon focused on the story of the rich young ruler in the book of Mark. He encouraged the youth to live a life that was a legacy rather than a legend. A life that is not just a collection of stories, but lessons passed down. A life that is not just worth telling about but worth imitating. Something we could all strive for no matter what our age.

Week 19 - Church of the Harvest in Edmond

We attended the Edmond location of Church of the Harvest this week. Danae has a friend who recommended this church so she joined us also. It is similar to Life Church in that there are several locations with one “on site” preacher and the other locations receive televised sermons. Church of the Harvest is non-denominational and very similar in style to the others we have visited: a stage with a great worship band, dimly lit, good multi-media presentations, and seating with chairs rather than pews. Rows were roped off so we were “encouraged” to move to the front. It was probably the smallest congregation we have visited so far which was a little intimidating since we really stood out as visitors. However, we were greeted warmly and made to feel at home right away. To top it all off, it was mother’s day and I got a flower and candy. The sermon was a timely lesson on servant leadership, leading like Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve. Being in a new role at work, the message was particularly helpful to me. There were a wide variety of people there who were enthusiastically participating in worship. After the service we had a great conversation with the local ministers of that location who were genuine and caring people. They got a plus in our book for being OSU fans and incidentally Stillwater is one of their satellite locations. It’s interesting to think that many congregations all over the state are worshipping together with the same sermon. It’s an arrangement that seems to be working well for some churches. There’s no end to the use of technology today, even in church.

Week 18 - The Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist

This Sunday we landed in The Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist in Edmond. St. John’s is a beautiful church with beautiful grounds. Everything about it is inviting and feels like community. The service was inspiring and the singing (especially the gentleman that sang a solo in Spanish) was fabulous. The service followed a pattern of worship and responses that everyone there seemed to know and was very comfortable with. This created a sense of unity among them. As a non-Catholic, I did occasionally feel like everyone was looking at me and thinking “well she certainly isn’t Catholic.” I doubt that was the case, but the rituals, the closed communion and routine responses can make an outsider really feel like an outsider. At the same time, I found all of those things somewhat charming and comforting. I have an affection for order, routine, tradition and feeling a sense of belonging. I understand how those practices give you all of those things including a sense of security and comfort, of knowing what to expect. I get why this is appealing to people. It is a sharp contrast from the emotional spontaneity of some of the other churches we have visited. The message was about loving one another as God loved us, focusing on the idea that people will know we are Christians by the way we love one another. I have really been questioning my ability to love people I disagree with this week. Questioning how I love without judgment, how to love without agreeing with the behavior, how to love while being persecuted. Once again, God provided a timely message. I think I’m finally starting to get that God has so much to say to me, that it doesn’t matter where I worship, He’s going to show me something. It brings a whole new sense of purpose to getting up on Sunday morning.

Week 17 - Survivor Tree Sunrise Service

We wondered how church would fit in this week since John was volunteering at the OKC Memorial Marathon and I was participating (only in the 5K walk just FYI—I will never be able to run a marathon!). When I saw the “Sunrise Service at the Survivor Tree” on the schedule, I knew that was where we should go. Sunrise was a bit of a false advertisement. It was very dark, and very cold, and very windy. We missed the first few minutes due to being trapped at the wonderful train on 10th Street for at least 10 minutes. It was frustrating and I began to wonder if this was a good idea. We walked up to the Survivor Tree at about the middle of the message and just stood with the others who had gathered thinking “I should not have worn shorts! I have seen something from God every week wherever we’ve attended and expected to see something here too. But I think I saw God more in the run/walk than the service. The prayer, singing and message were moving and solemn. It was a solemn occasion. However, the run was “inspiring.” People from all ages, races, social status and dare I say athletic abilities were there. They were standing and waiting huddled together in the cold and the wind both for a common purpose and some very likely a personal purpose. And we paid money to do this! Enthusiasm was high, lively conversation was everywhere and everyone felt somehow connected. No one cared what religion you were, what church you attended or anything about your personal life. Everyone was there for one reason: to remember those who were killed, those who survived, and those changed forever. Life is a marathon of sorts. Some people walk the short distance. Some people do it “relay style” with the help of friends. Some are strong and have great endurance to run the entire distance. We can be united under one common purpose regardless of our differences. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could carry that same spirit of unity into our life of faith, united only under the common purpose of Jesus Christ.

Week 16 - First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Edmond

First let me say that John asked me to Google my blog name and see if it popped up. I was very humbled to discover that it did pop up, at the end of a long list of other blog sites and web sites of people who have done the exact same thing we are doing. So much for my inspired, unique idea. If you’re reading this and enjoying it, you might want to also Google “52 churches.” Some of them are very well written and very interesting. Their lists of churches they visited are overwhelming. You could really do this for years and never run out of places to visit. At first I was discouraged because they were so well written and went into such detail (sometimes positive and negative) about the places they visited. I think maybe God used Google to encourage me to look a little deeper each week and put a little more effort into my blog. I am, however, still committed to staying positive and just trying to paint a picture of the experience and what I learned, rather than offering a critique of the church. Now, on to this week’s visit.

We visited First Christian Church on 2nd and Boulevard in Edmond. We have sat in front of this church for the last couple of 4th of July parades. They pass out free hot dogs, popsicles and other goodies to the crowd. We decided to check out this place that is so hospitable on that day. They also serve breakfast and a sack lunch to those in need 5 days a week and are host to a huge community Thanksgiving dinner every year. It is a beautiful community church, involved in the community and filled with members of all ages. Today was Children’s Sunday. We didn’t know that until we got inside and were seated. At first, I thought this was not the best time to attend here, but by the time service was over, I knew it was exactly where we were supposed to be. After a few weeks of contemporary services, I was in the mood for something more traditional so we opted for the traditional service over the contemporary service and we got it with a capitol “T”! We sang hymns accompanied by an organ and although I am sure the service was not representative of their normal service, it was very touching. Through these sweet children, who conducted all parts of the service, including communion, I was reminded of some basic principles. While the speaking part of prayer is an important element of our faith, equally important is the listening part. And, when God speaks our response is and should always be “Here I am Lord.” I was moved to tears by “Who did, who did, who did, who did, who did swallow Jo Jo Jonah?” and inspired by the 3rd-5th grade choir singing “We Give You Glory.” Who would have thought I would ever be nostalgic about mini-worship. When our kids were that age, we worked so hard in the church that I regret to say we probably did not enjoy or appreciate the innocence and unconditional faith of our own children. I almost (and I emphasize “almost”) felt myself longing for grandchildren. We sat behind two very sweet elderly ladies who were very welcoming and went to the trouble to let us know we were welcome to participate in communion—no questions asked—and we did. The morning was topped off with an audience participation version, hand signs and all, of Pharoh, Pharoh, oh baby, let my people go. It was a good morning.

Week 15 - North Church

This week we visited North Church in Oklahoma City. We have passed by it for years on our way to church. We decided to visit the churches that mail us invitations and this was one of those. We don’t know anyone there and didn’t know much about it except for what we read on their website. One thing I learned this week is that I am thankful for technology and that churches have jumped on board. Looking over the website before we visit a church helps remove some of the anxiety about not knowing what to expect. North Church has a smaller auditorium than some of the other similar style churches we’ve visited, but they do have 3 services. They also have what appears to be a very large classroom area and children’s ministry areas. The idea that came to both me and John this morning was we seem to be ending up at several of what we will call the “non-denominational denomination” churches. While they all have their differences, their similarities are that they don’t look anything like a traditional church, they are very technology oriented, and they have fabulous worship bands. They worship very enthusiastically from the heart. These people are sincere, not afraid to display emotion and are passionate about their worship and love of the Lord. There are so many of these places and they are growing. There seems to be a real hunger and appreciation for this style of church. Being middle-aged, at first we feel a little out of place expecting these types of churches to be filled with young people. They are not. All ages seem well represented. Whatever the non-denominational churches are doing, they are getting something right. This church was going to have 11 baptisms today. No matter where we end up when this is over, it is exciting to see and know this kind of enthusiasm for God is going on all over our city.

Week14 - Quail Springs Church of Christ

This Easter Sunday we chose to attend the church we attended for 20 years. In spite of everything that led to our decision to leave there, it is a place filled with good memories, precious friends whom we love, our baptism and the baptism of our kids, familiar hymns sung accapella and a number of things that just made it the place we wanted to spend Easter. Gary Bruce and his worship team, as always, led a meaningful worship time with great selections for the occasion. Quail has a new minister (Steve Dye) and we also were very interested in hearing him preach. We are very happy for them that God sent someone to step into this role and that he was willing to be that someone. He was comfortable, relaxed, interesting and drew us into a new way of looking at a familiar event. The title of the sermon was The God of New Beginnings. Quail is certainly there right now. We pray for only the best for them. For us every Sunday is a new beginning of sorts. We are reminded of the strength God provides as he walks with us along our journey. We have been landing safely about every other Sunday in a church we’ve either been to or had friends meeting us at. We will be setting out the rest of this year to attend mostly unfamiliar churches. Today I was reminded of the peace and security of familiar people, places and routines. I understand the appeal of those things. This is not our year for that, but that’s ok. Maybe we’re being prepared for something else that’s out of our routine. God only knows.

Week 13 - Henderson Hills Baptist Church

Today we visited Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond. You could feel the energy of this place when you walk through the door. The foyer is inviting and actually is the kind of place I could hang out in all day. With a bookstore and a coffee lounge, who would want to leave? We attended the 2nd service and it was packed. Worship was led by a full band and choir. Preparing for Easter, the message was about atonement. A familiar topic, but with new insights. As is often the case, God frequently gives new perspectives on the same scripture each time we read it. What God showed me today is that whether it’s from the Old Testament or the New Testament, whether it’s an unfamiliar passage or an old favorite, or for that matter whether it’s in a church I’ve attended for 20 years or a new one each week, He’s always there with something new to show me. I just have to pay attention.

Week12 - New Covenant United Methodist Edmond

This week we visited New Covenant United Methodist Church in Edmond. This is a church we’ve been to many times. It was Danae’s church throughout high school and is attended by many people who are special to us. It is a “mid-sized” church compared to others we’ve visited. Normally conducting two services every Sunday, today was filled for a combined service due to our first day of spring snowstorm. Today’s worship was led by a fabulous praise band, complete with horn section accompanied by a choir composed of church members. They did a nice job of leading the worship without overpowering it. The pastor, Adrian Cole, always makes you feel like you’re in the living room of an old friend and today was no exception. The title of the sermon was “The Blindside.” Tying it to the movie, the sermon focused on Peter’s experience of denying Christ three times before the rooster crowed just as He predicted. Peter was blindsided by the realization of his betrayal. What occurred to me is that sometimes the surprise, or blindside, is something that happens to us and sometimes it’s our own behavior. We are blindsided by life regularly. However, God is never blindsided. He knows what’s coming and never leaves us. He’s not surprised by anything we do or anything that happens to us, but if we could look into his eyes afterwards, what we would see is His unconditional love. That thought, to me, is simultaneously convicting and comforting. I think Peter would agree.

Week 11 - Victory Church

Victory Church in Oklahoma City was our choice for this Sunday morning. God provides on some Sunday mornings, dear, longtime friends (Angie Klutts) to sit alongside us in this journey. This was one of those weeks and it was really a blessing. Familiar faces and routine have definitely not been in our vocabulary this year. Sometimes we miss that. But, as always, God stands in the gap for those things missing in our lives. And did I mention we went to church with Angie. I’m sure getting mentioned in the blog wasn’t the only reason she came ;-). I suspect this was really out of her comfort zone and cannot express how much we appreciate her being there. Danae was home for spring break and was with us also. It is always a blessing to hear her perspective and just have her there.
Victory is a large congregation with three Sunday morning services. The worship incorporates a powerful, full volume worship band/praise team, high tech sound and lighting and meaningful videos. In addition to being televised on local TV, the sermon is broadcast to multiple worship locations and as far away as Afghanistan. They are also very involved in the arts and in the community. Everyone was invited to participate in communion, which was somewhat self-directed. For us, the most outstanding part of the morning was the sermon. I’ve listened to Mark Crowe on TV and actually know the family through the school our kids used to go to. I expected to hear a meaningful, well-delivered sermon and I wasn’t disappointed. Mark was inspirational, humble and convicting. The topic was miracles and while everyone’s definition of a miracle is different, the lesson was applicable on many fronts. His main points were 1) expect God to do something great every day; 2) participate in God’s plan; and 3) show appreciation to God for His work in your life. He made more good points than I could keep up with in my notes. I will be revisiting this sermon on their website. I specifically walked away with a new appreciation for my family. Sometimes God’s miracles are right in front of us. Thanks God!

Week 10 - Edmond Church of Christ

Sometimes we spend a good amount of time deciding which church to attend each Sunday and sometimes it’s decided for us when our kids are involved. This week Danae and the college students she’s going to Africa with were down for the weekend. Edmond Church of Christ is the home church for one of those kids, so we went with them this morning. It’s just a blessing to be around these young people and watch their faith in action. Edmond is a fairly large, very traditional Church of Christ. We were blessed with traditional hymns and communion that we don’t always have the opportunity to participate in. What stood out to me more than the sermon topic, was the “pre-sermon” discussion leading up to communion. The leader of that segment asked the question “can there be love without sacrifice.” The obvious scripture that was pointed out was “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son…” Great love equals great sacrifice. He discussed the sacrifices we make for our kids, our family, etc. What I believe God was saying to me specifically is “do you lead a sacrificial life.” Are my interactions with my kids selfish or self-serving? Do my dealings with co-workers emphasize serving or being served? If Christ himself said that he came not to serve but to be served, then I can certainly do no less. I must confess, I’m not always in a servant frame of mind. But, if the way people know I am a follower of God is by the way I love others, then it has to start at putting myself out of the center and putting others first. I don’t always have to have my way. I don’t always have to be right (even if I am!). I need frequent reminders that I am not the center of the universe. In a society that emphasizes the philosophy of “taking care of #1” God calls us to put other’s feelings and needs ahead of our own. These college students that came down this weekend are a perfect example of serving others ahead of themselves. They are giving up their summer to serve others in Africa in a town where there is poverty, disease, sketchy electricity, and most importantly very little cell phone and internet access. If that’s not sacrificial for a teenager I don’t know what is! Sometimes teenagers teach you more than you teach them.

Week 9 - Life Church

Today we set out for Life Church, Edmond campus. We were really intrigued by this church because we had heard that the sermon is televised to multiple campuses and there is no “in-house” preacher. Everyone in their community of churches hears the same message from the same preacher each week. Each campus also has a “site” minister that leads everything, encourages, prays, etc., but the actual sermon is televised. There are 4 services, one on Saturday and 3 on Sunday. There is also a multitude of other activities going on here. The auditorium has “movie theatre” style seats, complete with cup holders. Coming from a church that discourages food and drink in the auditorium, we thought this was fun and fit the casual atmosphere. But these people were certainly not worshipping casually. The worship was enthusiastic and energetic, complete with a band led by a fabulous singer. A young couple with a baby turned around and enthusiastically greeted us and welcomed us there. They asked if we had been coming to Life Church long and we told them it was our first visit. Turns out it was only their 3rd visit. They already felt at home there. The sermon was entitled “Once Upon a Marriage.” While marriage was certainly discussed, the bottom line of the lesson was we will have trouble (in our marriages, with our kids, our jobs, just in life) and we will walk through the “valley of Achor (trouble).” There is no way to avoid it. But, at the end of that walk is always a door of hope. In a time when running away from trouble and looking for something better than what we have, is the message of society, his message was to stick it out. Let God provide the solution. Interestingly enough, he invited audience participation and talked as though he was standing right in front of us. What I learned today is God is not bound by conventional methods to speak to his people.

Week 8 - Edmond's First Baptist Church

Our good friends Mike and Janet were kind enough to save us a seat and show us around their church home this week. First Baptist members were already grabbing hold of us and showering us with love and attention before we ever found Mike and Janet. The worship, complete with a fabulous choir and band, was filled with familiar songs. It’s amazing to see how worship and the music God inspires has crossed all denominations that we’ve visited so far. Once again, a meaningful sermon delivered a distinctly personal message that made it clear that God is directing us each week. There is no where we can go that He doesn’t have something to show us. Pastor Day said every sermon is designed for me. I believe him. First of all, the title of the sermon was “My Heart, God’s Home.” This just happens to be the title of a very special drawing we own given to us by a close friend who is an architect (thanks Larry Schwab!) In his drawing, made to look like a real floor plan, Larry carefully planned out all of the rooms of our heart as if God lived there. A blueprint for the heart if you will. After all these years, that generous gift is still speaking to us in ways we never would have guessed. Second, we were reminded and convicted to make our hearts a suitable place for God to reside. He wants to move in and bless us, we just have to invite Him in and prepare as if He’s an honored guest and not an afterthought. Imagine what God could do with and through us if we could do that. I think I’ll be doing some “house cleaning” this week.

Week 6 – Stillwater Church of Christ

Today we visited Danae at her college church in Stillwater. The people were extremely friendly and it was very reassuring to hear other adults there tell us how much they love our daughter. We could be a little jealous, but we are grateful. We want her to be loved and taken care of while she is away from home. It was also nice to see some of the kids she grew up going to school with there. At a time when a lot of kids lose interest in church their freshman year of college, these kids have all chosen to be involved in a church of their own. We were also very excited to meet the group of “young adults” (we can’t really call them kids!) who are going with Danae on the mission trip to Africa this summer. These young people have become fast friends and will be travelling halfway around the world to share their faith. They are doing this without the benefit of chaperones or other adults as in the days of high school trips, but completely on their own. Yes, that makes us a little nervous but we couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them. We will take any and all prayers for their safety we can get! A couple of the guys in the group led the communion portion of the worship. It was really nice to see the way these college students were given prominent rolls to play and also to see the maturity of their faith as they led. There were no bells and whistles at this church. It was traditional church of Christ and all that goes with that. What God showed us today is that a very important aspect of church life is relationships. Danae didn’t choose this place because it was a church of Christ. She didn’t choose it because of the preacher, the worship style or the ministries. She is there because of the unconditional love and acceptance that was extended to her when she arrived at college. We learned that finding a place where we can be involved and develop great relationships is very important, but also that we must extend that same unconditional love to everyone we encounter and love them into the family of God the way these kids loved our daughter into this congregation.

Week 5 – People’s Church

We really struggled to decide where to go this week. A combination of fear of the unknown, sliding back into uncertainty about continuing this journey and plain old not feeling any strong leading to any particular place. Once again, God led us exactly where we needed to be. As soon as I heard the topic of the sermon, I had to smile. It was about our lives at work. This just happens to be our biggest source of stress right now. Before we even heard the sermon, God provided confirmation that He knows what we need, when we need it, but most of all, that He really cares about us. Work is God’s plan for us and as the pastor talked about the kind of employees God calls us to be, I was thinking “boy, there sure are some people at work that need to hear this message.” By the time he was through, I had to admit, I was one of those people.

This church started out conducting services in a movie theatre and when you walk in, it still feels that way a little. But this is definitely not a movie theatre. They have 3 services every Sunday morning. We found the people there genuine and passionate about worship. They had a fantastic praise group that played contemporary, energetic music. I started off feeling a little awkward and out of place, but ended up feeling this was one of the best churches we’ve visited so far. The funny thing is we’ve felt that way nearly every week. Going somewhere new each week is so far out of our comfort zone that we face each Sunday with a certain amount of anxiety. Right now I confess that I gravitate towards the bigger churches because it’s easier to walk into a big church as a stranger and just blend in. In the end, we leave each church we visit inspired and happy we were there. While we were standing in the lobby visiting with friends after the service, the pastor introduced himself to all of us. He was friendly, approachable and really made you feel like he was glad you came. That made an impression.

As a side note, we have some friends who sometimes join us at the different churches we visit. One of their family members had previously expressed an interest in visiting this church so they joined us also. God clearly had a plan this morning I never intended. Why am I surprised?

(Comments from John):
It’s hard to add to Vicki’s comments. I agree with much of what she wrote. We typically discuss our overall impressions, feeling’s, etc. The message was on target as Vicki mentioned and I feel the need to spread this message to others at work from leadership to 1st line workers. I truly enjoyed the overall experience of the congregation (passion, excitement, friendliness) and felt very free to worship. I have to admit that I’m very conservative, yet I did something I typically don’t during worship--I raised my hands in praise and felt comfortable!! I can’t wait for the next place that God leads us. He definitely has his hand in our journey.

Week 4 – Memorial Road Church of Christ

Greetings. I guess I have to change the title of my blog to 52 Churches in “however long that takes!” For the one or two of you actually reading this, I woke up last Sunday extremely sick. I didn’t figure this into my plan. My lesson last week was to quit worrying about things I cannot control. Humm, I wonder how many times I have tried and failed to learn that lesson. So, enough of that. Let’s move on to week 4.
We attended Memorial Road Church of Christ. We have never attended this congregation, although we know many people who do. It was certainly familiar territory in terms of worship style and order. They have two services and about 2400 members. A large congregation by most people’s way of thinking. This week, the lessons to be learned here were all in the sermon. Even though this is only the middle of January, the year 2010 so far has been filled to the brim with stress. We have found ourselves dealing with one problem after another and focusing completely on our own drama. It has crossed my mind, frequently, that I don’t think I have the energy, emotional or otherwise, to keep this project going. I think this morning God said hold on; let me remind you of some things. When we turn our attention away from “life” and towards God, we find comfort and hope. The question in the face of trials is not “what is the purpose of this” but “what is MY purpose in this.” God wants us to receive His comfort so we can come alongside others and provide hope and comfort. This means I have to look beyond myself. Coming alongside others in their time of need is the best distraction I know of to my own problems. I would really like to be the kind of person that faces trials with joy and perseverance. That’s a fantastic goal, not always easy to live though. If we didn’t know better, we would have thought this preacher had been watching us and said, “I know exactly what they need to hear.” The mission now, is to actually live out the lesson.

Week 2 – Crossings Community Church

This is supposed to be about what I learned each week, but I think I’ll start first with just observations. This was our first visit to this church. For starters, this is a really big church. They have 5 services. We attended one of the two “blended” services on Sunday morning. They also offer “contemporary” and “traditional” services. The service we attended was packed and we were told they have 5,000 members. This falls into the category I refer to as “mega” churches, but they managed to not really make it feel that way. We were warmly greeted upon entering and had a lovely, encouraging conversation with a woman staffing the information desk. The full orchestra, very large choir and worship team did a fabulous job of mixing traditional hymns, contemporary Christian and even a little accapella. The sermon was led by pastor Marty Grubbs. It was reinforced for me that I have a “style” of learning even in church. First off, he used visual aids. I am a strong visual learner and I loved that. He was relaxed, humble, structured without appearing so and delivered a fabulous message. He made me want to come back and hear the rest of the series. Another observation was that the members really worshipped and seemed to respond as God inspired each of them individually. When a few people stood, hands raised, the whole congregation didn’t follow. Those who felt led to stand stood and those who didn’t stayed seated. It seemed perfectly acceptable and comfortable to do either. One older gentleman really caught my eye. He was worshipping with his whole body and seemed like he was practically jumping out of his skin with excitement, occasionally to the point of tears. I would love to know his story. I would like to learn to be less inhibited in my worship, just responding as I feel led and not worrying about what people will think. Today was fun. I can’t wait to see what God has prepared for us next week.

Week 1 - New Hope Church of Christ

From Vicki: Ok, I have to confess that we kind of took the easy route this morning. We attended New Hope Church of Christ. We’ve visited there once before and we know a lot of people there. I learned a couple of things right off the bat. I really miss a lot of these people. We attended church together for many years before our church split into two congregations. I don’t personally know each of their motives for making the change to New Hope, but what I do know is they were friendly, welcoming and clearly a group who loves each other—a lot. That’s a good thing to find in any congregation. The next thing I learned was that I really have not been paying enough attention in church each Sunday. Something about knowing you are going to write about what you learned makes you a more tuned in worshipper. I have learned that I should attend church actively seeking to know what God wants me to learn that day, not just warming up the seat. I was reminded also that we aren’t the only ones who have felt lost and out of place since our church split. I have encountered several people, one this morning, who still haven’t settled in a church home after the split. I will pray for them this year. The last thing I learned is that Satan is already trying to get me to abandon this project. As I sat in church this morning, more than once I thought “you know this is a great congregation, with great friends. I could be very happy here and just forget this whole 52 churches in a year thing.” That would indeed be easier. For now, we’re sticking with the plan.

From John: Mark’s discussion about stewardship of our gifts and resources was a much needed reminder about letting God be in control. This is a lesson we all need on a regular basis. To see 1st hand the closeness of this congregation, I can only guess as to what drove this unique love, caring and involved congregation. They truly have elements of what I believe existed in the early church. Today’s visit made me ponder if I truly wanted to embark on this journey. I was able to see several good friends and re-kindle relationships. But, I still feel as Vicki does the need to finish what we began and see where God is leading us.

Ok, I guess we're really going to do this.

Hello friends. Not wanting to be left out of the blog frenzy out there, I have decided to jump in and add just one more to the mix. Inspired by a combination of church life and movies, we have decided to embark on a yearlong adventure of visiting churches “Julie and Julia” style. Instead of cooking our way through a cookbook in one year, we are going to work our way through 52 churches in one year. Yes, it sounds crazy. I felt inspired by the idea at first and then as I shared it with people, fear and self-doubt took over. I am not a talented writer and I do not consider myself by any means spiritually mature or insightful, so why in the world would I want to do this? We have been taking a very long break from the church we have known and loved for many years for reasons that don’t really belong here. We’ve visited several churches and loved them all for different reasons. Yet, we still didn’t feel like they were where God wanted us to call home. Getting up every Sunday morning and flipping a coin about where to go to church just didn’t seem right. This journey is not about finding a new church home and it is not about analyzing and critiquing the churches we visit. It is simply about exploring the different perspectives out there and discovering what really matters to us in a permanent church home. Hopefully, at the end of this year, we will be ready to settle down somewhere. Being rooted and actively working in a church is important to us. During the year, we will be looking for different kinds of opportunities to work and serve. We also have a fabulous group of friends, who we’ll lean on for those times when close, personal Christian relationships are needed. I am going to try to write something each week as we visit the various churches. I believe God has something to show us at each place and that we can come along side any group of believers and worship, which is, for me, what I think Sunday morning is all about. I welcome your comments, your suggestions about churches to visit or anything else you want to share.