Tour of Macon Churches: Some Important Notes

There are some things I’m realizing while doing this tour of churches, the main one is so simple I honestly feel kind of silly for having started this project to begin with without realizing it.

 

Much of the heart of each church doesn’t take place each Sunday during the service.

 

If you really want to get to know a church, you have to dive in deep.

 

This first began to dawn on me when I visited First Presbyterian Church. I had never been to a Presbyterian church before and really didn’t know what to expect. I was very startled by a mention of “hell” in the baptismal vows. My friend Sybil, who has been going with me on these visits, was just as startled. So I thought, well maybe this is unusual? Or am I just used to, as I am realizing, basically never ever hearing it in my own church?

 

Their service was very similar to what I’m used to in a lot of ways- with the exception of no communion. But that’s been happening in most church visits.

 

I have a lot of friends to go to First Pres, and after my visit some people I know were so kind to reach out and offer me more information on the church.

 

This was when I realized, I have seen a LOT of posts about friends going to youth groups and small adult groups- but I didn’t pick up on this in the church service.

 

And, I’m realizing as I type this, I only know about what Centenary does because I have so many friends there who post about them as well.

 

Could this be where my own church falls short? We don’t talk about our outreach much during the service, and we really don’t have many young adults to even form outside groups.

 

Last week, we visited New City Church downtown. After the service, we were approached by someone who told us a lot of great info about the church and how they meet afterwards.

 

Even when we visited First Baptist it was after the service that I got more information about what they do.

 

I’m hoping this tour of churches gives y’all a good idea about what the basics Sunday services are like, because that’s really how this started for me. It was born out of curiosity of how others worshipped. But in order to really find a “church home” one has to dig much deeper.

 

I hope these posts can be just the jumping off point for others to find the house of worship where they belong. I know, for me, it’s been a part of a great spirittual journey.

 

To update: I still need to write about my First Pres visit, I’ve held off because I had so many questions about the service and haven’t had a moment to meet with someone about them, and last week we visited New City. So I’m a little bit behind. But I thought making a post with this note was also important.

 

Love to all y’all,

 

Molly