Choosing a ‘parish’.

[Tigger]

Hypothetical question (kind of),

Of the four LCMS congregations in our local area the closest one is almost 20 minutes away but my favorite one is almost 30 minutes away.

The pastor at the parish farther away by far gives the best sermons. They are very detailed and often includes parts of the hymns to help develop a comprehensive teaching. ‘Seriously’ I would personally rank him amongst the best I’ve found on YouTube.

Now I rarely miss attending service on Sunday but a 30 minute drive is about the maximum distance I’d commit to as a member to stay involved in the ‘life’ of a church.

Now the pastor at the closer parish does a fair job at preaching and I could and do listen to the other church‘s sermons online but I still feel more ‘inspired’ if you will, attending the farther service in person for some reason.

”What say ye”?

 

[Lamb]

I travel about 30-50 minutes to my church. Well, because of the covid restrictions still in place I haven't been there in a year...but that's still my church. It's the closest LCMS church to me.

So if you prefer the church that is 30 minutes away then attend that one and even join. There is nothing stopping you from visiting the closer ones on days you don't feel up to the drive.

 

[Josiah]

Hypothetical question (kind of),

Of the four LCMS congregations in our local area the closest one is almost 20 minutes away but my favorite one is almost 30 minutes away.

The pastor at the parish farther away by far gives the best sermons. They are very detailed and often includes parts of the hymns to help develop a comprehensive teaching. ‘Seriously’ I would personally rank him amongst the best I’ve found on YouTube.

Now I rarely miss attending service on Sunday but a 30 minute drive is about the maximum distance I’d commit to as a member to stay involved in the ‘life’ of a church.

Now the pastor at the closer parish does a fair job at preaching and I could and do listen to the other church‘s sermons online but I still feel more ‘inspired’ if you will, attending the farther service in person for some reason.

”What say ye”?

I say.... up to you.

For ME, a 30 minute drive would be no problem at all.

For ME, I approach things not with "Can I find greener grass" but "Can I make the grass greener." When I looked for a church, I thought much of President Kennedy who said (sort of) "Ask not what your church can do for you but what you can do for your church." I looked for where I could be a positive contribution. And I looked for where the Great Commission and Great Commandment were the point and focus and passion. There were other choices of LCMS churches.... all bigger, some with pretty single ladies (I was still single, LOL)... all with nicer facilities... some closer.

What I would avoid - if at all possible - is a non LCMS (or maybe WELS) church. If I had to drive 2 hours every Sunday, I'd do it before associating with some other church.


Blessings!


Josiah



.

 

[Albion]

Tigger, the importance of the driving time I do appreciate. That's for several reasons, but if I understood you correctly and the choice is between the parish you prefer that's a 30 minute drive and the alternative that is 20 minutes away, I wouldn't choose the closer one just to save 10 minutes.

If the better one was, say, 40 minutes away, I would.

Or if the second-place parish were only 10 minutes from home, then I might choose it.

But given the info as you relayed it to us, no.

 

[Tigger]

I say.... up to you.

For ME, a 30 minute drive would be no problem at all.

For ME, I approach things not with "Can I find greener grass" but "Can I make the grass greener." When I looked for a church, I thought much of President Kennedy who said (sort of) "Ask not what your church can do for you but what you can do for your church." I looked for where I could be a positive contribution. And I looked for where the Great Commission and Great Commandment were the point and focus and passion. There were other choices of LCMS churches.... all bigger, some with pretty single ladies (I was still single, LOL)... all with nicer facilities... some closer.

What I would avoid - if at all possible - is a non LCMS (or maybe WELS) church. If I had to drive 2 hours every Sunday, I'd do it before associating with some other church.


Blessings!


Josiah



.

Wow, as a single guy you actually chose the church with fewer single ladies?! I bet at the Good Friday service your church had to ask you to wear a veil on your face from the 'glow' so that they could black out the sanctuary at the end of the service Lol.

As for as far as the Great Commission goes they have what they call their "sister" Church. They were involved in a church plant about 45 minutes away from them and now that congregation has their own church building and are thriving. Which says a lot during this period in a time where church congregations are dying off.

Now they are involved in another mission church about a hour away. I think part of it is the pastor is highly involved being the circuit visitor and has a gift of developing young men into the ministry.

 

[Faith]

Hypothetical question (kind of),

Of the four LCMS congregations in our local area the closest one is almost 20 minutes away but my favorite one is almost 30 minutes away.

The pastor at the parish farther away by far gives the best sermons. They are very detailed and often includes parts of the hymns to help develop a comprehensive teaching. ‘Seriously’ I would personally rank him amongst the best I’ve found on YouTube.

Now I rarely miss attending service on Sunday but a 30 minute drive is about the maximum distance I’d commit to as a member to stay involved in the ‘life’ of a church.

Now the pastor at the closer parish does a fair job at preaching and I could and do listen to the other church‘s sermons online but I still feel more ‘inspired’ if you will, attending the farther service in person for some reason.

”What say ye”?

I’d go to the closer one, but I hate driving. Before I joined my Lutheran church I checked out a number of other denominations and non denominational churches and just driving 15-20 minutes irked me. I’ve always lived close to my church. it just always happened that way and now I’m spoiled.

 

[Faith]

Hypothetical question (kind of),

Of the four LCMS congregations in our local area the closest one is almost 20 minutes away but my favorite one is almost 30 minutes away.

The pastor at the parish farther away by far gives the best sermons. They are very detailed and often includes parts of the hymns to help develop a comprehensive teaching. ‘Seriously’ I would personally rank him amongst the best I’ve found on YouTube.

Now I rarely miss attending service on Sunday but a 30 minute drive is about the maximum distance I’d commit to as a member to stay involved in the ‘life’ of a church.

Now the pastor at the closer parish does a fair job at preaching and I could and do listen to the other church‘s sermons online but I still feel more ‘inspired’ if you will, attending the farther service in person for some reason.

”What say ye”?

We have a lot of people at my church who drive far distances to attend. I wouldn’t but if you really like the church with the longer drive, go for it.

 

[Faith]

I say.... up to you.

For ME, a 30 minute drive would be no problem at all.

For ME, I approach things not with "Can I find greener grass" but "Can I make the grass greener." When I looked for a church, I thought much of President Kennedy who said (sort of) "Ask not what your church can do for you but what you can do for your church." I looked for where I could be a positive contribution. And I looked for where the Great Commission and Great Commandment were the point and focus and passion. There were other choices of LCMS churches.... all bigger, some with pretty single ladies (I was still single, LOL)... all with nicer facilities... some closer.

What I would avoid - if at all possible - is a non LCMS (or maybe WELS) church. If I had to drive 2 hours every Sunday, I'd do it before associating with some other church.


Blessings!


Josiah



.

Why?

 

[Tigger]

We have a lot of people at my church who drive far distances to attend. I wouldn’t but if you really like the church with the longer drive, go for it.

Yeah I think part of what is bugging me is the cost of gas right now.

 

[Albion]

By the way, I once did belong to a parish that was about a 45 minute drive for me. Although I preferred it to the closer parishes, the initial lift I felt from finding "the one for me" wore down in time even though the parish was the same as always. Gradually, the drive became more and more oppressive. Things like bad weather, unpredictable traffic, and me worrying about being on time, or in your case, gas prices, began to weigh on me.

It might be that other people wouldn't much care, but there may be something in this that you'd find true also--if you push the drive time to its limits.

 

[Tigger]

By the way, I once did belong to a parish that was about a 45 minute drive for me. Although I preferred it to the closer parishes, the initial lift I felt from finding "the one for me" wore down in time even though the parish was the same as always. Gradually, the drive became more and more oppressive. Things like bad weather, unpredictable traffic, and me worrying about being on time, or in your case, gas prices, began to weigh on me.

It might be that other people wouldn't much care, but there may be something in this that you'd find true also--if you push the drive time to its limits.

Yes that's a good point. After the newness wears off it does become the 'norm'. And sometimes during the winter we can wake up to snow covered roads especially being that church is located closer to the mountains and very hilly.