We are Christians and I love Jesus and want my family to also but church on Sunday is killing me

[Anonymous]

Ok, lapsed Catholics. Can we get back to OP’s question, which did not state their exact faith/church preference?

I agree with other posters - find a good church close to you (our church makes a point of welcoming visitors with the note that we are glad to help them find a church closer to their home if they are traveling a long way/time). Make dressing easier - one of my friends has one “church” outfit for her boys and they practice getting dressed themselves. The girls know what is church appropriate for their family. She literally had them all practice on a weekday. Growing up, Saturday evenings everyone showered so getting ready Sunday was quicker.
You can decide what works best for meals for your family in this season. It can be super simple or more complicated. Ask the other moms at church how they manage Sunday mornings. It can be challenging, but it’s a non-negotiable for our family and our kids know that.
I do know the feeling of wanting more relaxing family time. We have teens and Saturdays get busy with sports and social stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enough said.

We work all week and have 2 precious days at home as a family.

With church, we have one morning together (Saturday). Sunday is spent yelling to get out the door, even though I try really hard not to.

We get home and everyone is hungry and grumpy. Going out to eat is too expensive and packing lunch or a snack is time consuming…I pack food all week!

What I wouldn’t give for a Wednesday night church.

Shouldn't that precious time also involve worship and communion with Jesus and fellow believers?

Shouldn't the love of God fulfill your hunger and appease your grumpiness? Yelling is definitely not Christlike behavior, nor an example to set for your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, lapsed Catholics. Can we get back to OP’s question, which did not state their exact faith/church preference?

I agree with other posters - find a good church close to you (our church makes a point of welcoming visitors with the note that we are glad to help them find a church closer to their home if they are traveling a long way/time). Make dressing easier - one of my friends has one “church” outfit for her boys and they practice getting dressed themselves. The girls know what is church appropriate for their family. She literally had them all practice on a weekday. Growing up, Saturday evenings everyone showered so getting ready Sunday was quicker.
You can decide what works best for meals for your family in this season. It can be super simple or more complicated. Ask the other moms at church how they manage Sunday mornings. It can be challenging, but it’s a non-negotiable for our family and our kids know that.
I do know the feeling of wanting more relaxing family time. We have teens and Saturdays get busy with sports and social stuff.

LOL - church outfit. Who is judging what you wear to church, other congregants or God? (hint - God doesn't care what you wear).

[Anonymous]

Hm, we go to a 9 am service. We're generally (one kid excepted) morning people, and the 9 am service is sleeping in compared to the workweek and no worse than our sports schedule. It gets us home well before lunch so no one is hungry. The kids have been used to being at church since infancy so they don't question it and we're in a sweet spot of late ES/MS where they get out the door OK (when they are all teens I am 100% sure it will be much worse).

So OP, I recommend pushing through. Yes, it's tough. But the payoff when your kids are excited to go to church and you realize how encouraging it is to be there with other believers is worth it - or at least it is for our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, lapsed Catholics. Can we get back to OP’s question, which did not state their exact faith/church preference?

I agree with other posters - find a good church close to you (our church makes a point of welcoming visitors with the note that we are glad to help them find a church closer to their home if they are traveling a long way/time). Make dressing easier - one of my friends has one “church” outfit for her boys and they practice getting dressed themselves. The girls know what is church appropriate for their family. She literally had them all practice on a weekday. Growing up, Saturday evenings everyone showered so getting ready Sunday was quicker.
You can decide what works best for meals for your family in this season. It can be super simple or more complicated. Ask the other moms at church how they manage Sunday mornings. It can be challenging, but it’s a non-negotiable for our family and our kids know that.
I do know the feeling of wanting more relaxing family time. We have teens and Saturdays get busy with sports and social stuff.

LOL - church outfit. Who is judging what you wear to church, other congregants or God? (hint - God doesn't care what you wear).

God might not care what you wear, but he cares why you wear it. Wearing a great "church outfit" to show off or being sloppy because you don't respect God - both will matter. Being casual because you think God wants you to come as you are or dressing up because you think church is important all matter.

It's not what you wear, it's why.

[Anonymous]

Omg the responses here! Going to hell? Not Christlike behavior? Jeez, people. It’s a season of life with little kids. She’s trying! Suggestions about trying for two times/month, or minimizing stress with clothing options, or finding a different time/day to worship- those are helpful, kind suggestions. C’mon!

[Anonymous]

We haven’t been to church in a while. We’re exhausted by the time the weekend rolls around and just want to sit home and do nothing. When I was little, we used to go to a Saturday evening service. I haven’t seen Saturday evening services near me though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You do not have to sit in church to be religious. It’s more a way of life.

No, it's not. Christians know that religion and worship is practiced in community. And OP is smart to want to keep her kids involved in church. It will pay off many times over when they are older.

OP, my best advice is 1) to keep at it, even when it gets hard. If there is some yelling along the way, on well. And 2) drop a Saturday activity if you need more relaxation time. You have to prioritize church as much as team sports and birthday parties. Every kid does not have to go to every event and participate in a sport/ activity year round. Take stock of what else you're doing and see what can go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, lapsed Catholics. Can we get back to OP’s question, which did not state their exact faith/church preference?

I agree with other posters - find a good church close to you (our church makes a point of welcoming visitors with the note that we are glad to help them find a church closer to their home if they are traveling a long way/time). Make dressing easier - one of my friends has one “church” outfit for her boys and they practice getting dressed themselves. The girls know what is church appropriate for their family. She literally had them all practice on a weekday. Growing up, Saturday evenings everyone showered so getting ready Sunday was quicker.
You can decide what works best for meals for your family in this season. It can be super simple or more complicated. Ask the other moms at church how they manage Sunday mornings. It can be challenging, but it’s a non-negotiable for our family and our kids know that.
I do know the feeling of wanting more relaxing family time. We have teens and Saturdays get busy with sports and social stuff.

LOL - church outfit. Who is judging what you wear to church, other congregants or God? (hint - God doesn't care what you wear).

God might not care what you wear, but he cares why you wear it. Wearing a great "church outfit" to show off or being sloppy because you don't respect God - both will matter. Being casual because you think God wants you to come as you are or dressing up because you think church is important all matter.

It's not what you wear, it's why.

Wrong. What matters is in your heart and belief in Jesus. Nothing else matters. Are you judging a family that is poor that can't afford a "church outfit"? And the meek shall inherit the Earth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omg the responses here! Going to hell? Not Christlike behavior? Jeez, people. It’s a season of life with little kids. She’s trying! Suggestions about trying for two times/month, or minimizing stress with clothing options, or finding a different time/day to worship- those are helpful, kind suggestions. C’mon!

Apparently, you haven't studied Christianity to any extent, nor do you understand what constitutes proper practice.

[Anonymous]

We always got donuts after church - can you do something like that? Or maybe a slightly later service like 10am?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do not have to sit in church to be religious. It’s more a way of life.

No, it's not. Christians know that religion and worship is practiced in community. And OP is smart to want to keep her kids involved in church. It will pay off many times over when they are older.

OP, my best advice is 1) to keep at it, even when it gets hard. If there is some yelling along the way, on well. And 2) drop a Saturday activity if you need more relaxation time. You have to prioritize church as much as team sports and birthday parties. Every kid does not have to go to every event and participate in a sport/ activity year round. Take stock of what else you're doing and see what can go.

Be sure to tithe 10% of your income as well. Making donations to MAGA is discretionary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, lapsed Catholics. Can we get back to OP’s question, which did not state their exact faith/church preference?

I agree with other posters - find a good church close to you (our church makes a point of welcoming visitors with the note that we are glad to help them find a church closer to their home if they are traveling a long way/time). Make dressing easier - one of my friends has one “church” outfit for her boys and they practice getting dressed themselves. The girls know what is church appropriate for their family. She literally had them all practice on a weekday. Growing up, Saturday evenings everyone showered so getting ready Sunday was quicker.
You can decide what works best for meals for your family in this season. It can be super simple or more complicated. Ask the other moms at church how they manage Sunday mornings. It can be challenging, but it’s a non-negotiable for our family and our kids know that.
I do know the feeling of wanting more relaxing family time. We have teens and Saturdays get busy with sports and social stuff.

LOL - church outfit. Who is judging what you wear to church, other congregants or God? (hint - God doesn't care what you wear).

God might not care what you wear, but he cares why you wear it. Wearing a great "church outfit" to show off or being sloppy because you don't respect God - both will matter. Being casual because you think God wants you to come as you are or dressing up because you think church is important all matter.

It's not what you wear, it's why.

Wrong. What matters is in your heart and belief in Jesus. Nothing else matters. Are you judging a family that is poor that can't afford a "church outfit"? And the meek shall inherit the Earth.

OK so there's a big difference between what is required of us for salvation (very, very little - the Trinity does all the heavy lifting there) and what it looks like to follow Jesus.

And I explicitly said it matters what's in your heart. A family that can't afford a "church outfit" isn't like "Oh, I won't wear a nice suit because I just don't care about Jesus." In fact their hearts might well be MUCH more honoring to God than some dude showing off his $$$ suit and $$$ loafer or something.

[Anonymous]

The more I think about this the more I think a Sunday treat is the answer. The Sabbath is supposed to be a day of rest. Yes make the effort to get up and go to services but after that they day should be mindfully planned for the relaxation you feel you are missing. Could be stopping for donuts or maybe just having some of those TJ crossaints ready to pop in the oven when you get home. or bagels and cream cheese. Or a sugary cereal your kids don’t usually get? Then just enjoy the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The more I think about this the more I think a Sunday treat is the answer. The Sabbath is supposed to be a day of rest. Yes make the effort to get up and go to services but after that they day should be mindfully planned for the relaxation you feel you are missing. Could be stopping for donuts or maybe just having some of those TJ crossaints ready to pop in the oven when you get home. or bagels and cream cheese. Or a sugary cereal your kids don’t usually get? Then just enjoy the day.

As another poster said, if you have to bribe your kids, maybe you should reconsider the effort and what you believe.