Anonymous wrote:Good luck, OP! I’m spoiled as a Catholic in MD at how many weekend mass options there are - Saturday evening, several on Sunday morning, noon, and the evening too. Missed my parish times? Drive a little further and catch another! It can become a bit of a game with all the kids’ activities to work around.

I love going to the absolute last option in Montgomery County 8pm on Sunday mass at St. Bart’s because people are racing in like - we made it! And they have the rock band at that one, so it feels like God is giving you a high five for getting there.

This post is not meant to proselytizing for Catholicism! It’s meant to be a light-hearted way to say I feel you, OP! Making time for God is a bit of a challenge!

LOL at your "high five" comment. I love a guitar Mass!

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Christian and I’ve been a church goer my whole life.

I recently went back to work and I am struggling BIG time with church on Sunday mornings.

We have two days a week to rest, spend time together, and not rush out the door.
We all enjoy church but it kills me to get us out the door…I just want to sit around.

I know Sunday morning is a small amount of time to give to God out of the week, but it’s 1/2 of my weekend mornings.

Cut back on work hours

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I just want you to know you aren’t alone. I have to get two toddlers out the door solo every Sunday. I treat it just like a school day—pick out clothes the day before, have breakfast ready, special snack for the car, etc. It’s never easy no matter how much I prep and some weeks I think I won’t make it. And I take a Sunday off every so often!

Why bother? What does this performance do for you?

It gets me to church on time!

DING DONG the bells are gonna chime!

You can worship God in your heart and through your speech and deeds. Say a prayer at the sports game or when you are doing volunteer service or having lunch with friends.
Community doesn't mean only chanting prayers or listening to sermons together.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, it’s tough. But, it’s SO important to get your kids there. If they aren’t exposed and learn when they are young, then you miss showing and teaching them about your spiritual beliefs. Take them to Sunday School. They will have fun with other kids and learn, too. Treat it like school. Then take the summer off.

Why take summer off if it's important to get kids there to teach them the beliefs? Genuine question because I can tell based on attendance at our large Anglican church that some families believe this.

I'm the poster upthread who believes church is a literal biblical command and am really seeking to understand.

For my elementary kids summer is the time when they sit in the sermon with the rest of the congregation and hear great preaching from our pulpit, plus learn how to (sort of) take notes. It's a great experience for them. Then over the school year they have it broken down at more exactly their level in children's ministry.

At what age do they get to make a choose about their beliefs?

They can believe what they want always - they're human beings with free agency. But they respectfully attend church while I fund their lives. Just like they eat the food I choose to buy because I am the one buying it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, it’s tough. But, it’s SO important to get your kids there. If they aren’t exposed and learn when they are young, then you miss showing and teaching them about your spiritual beliefs. Take them to Sunday School. They will have fun with other kids and learn, too. Treat it like school. Then take the summer off.

Why take summer off if it's important to get kids there to teach them the beliefs? Genuine question because I can tell based on attendance at our large Anglican church that some families believe this.

I'm the poster upthread who believes church is a literal biblical command and am really seeking to understand.

For my elementary kids summer is the time when they sit in the sermon with the rest of the congregation and hear great preaching from our pulpit, plus learn how to (sort of) take notes. It's a great experience for them. Then over the school year they have it broken down at more exactly their level in children's ministry.

At what age do they get to make a choose about their beliefs?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do church at home. If your god is omnipotent and omniscient, why do you need to be in a specific building to worship?

Because he said so. If he's all-powerful he gets to make the rules.

Although he didn't talk about buildings because church isn't a building. It's a community. But I imagine hosting a house church wouldn't be less stressful for OP.

So why bother praying at home? Of course it would be easier to do at home. Watch online, follow along. No need to go to a special brick and mortar, that isn't what religion is about.

Fellowship and community are important to Christians. You’re not at church just to be in a bubble of yourself. You’re acknowledging and supporting your co-religionists.

+1. The fellowship and community and accountability are a key part of church. You don't get that on a screen.

You go because it is important to you and becomes a habit for your kids. They will make their own choices as adults, but hopefully, they will realize religion is important in dealing with life’s challenges.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do church at home. If your god is omnipotent and omniscient, why do you need to be in a specific building to worship?

Because he said so. If he's all-powerful he gets to make the rules.

Although he didn't talk about buildings because church isn't a building. It's a community. But I imagine hosting a house church wouldn't be less stressful for OP.

So why bother praying at home? Of course it would be easier to do at home. Watch online, follow along. No need to go to a special brick and mortar, that isn't what religion is about.

Fellowship and community are important to Christians. You’re not at church just to be in a bubble of yourself. You’re acknowledging and supporting your co-religionists.

Good luck, OP! I’m spoiled as a Catholic in MD at how many weekend mass options there are - Saturday evening, several on Sunday morning, noon, and the evening too. Missed my parish times? Drive a little further and catch another! It can become a bit of a game with all the kids’ activities to work around.

I love going to the absolute last option in Montgomery County 8pm on Sunday mass at St. Bart’s because people are racing in like - we made it! And they have the rock band at that one, so it feels like God is giving you a high five for getting there.

This post is not meant to proselytizing for Catholicism! It’s meant to be a light-hearted way to say I feel you, OP! Making time for God is a bit of a challenge!

Anonymous wrote:Stay home.

God loves you and wants you to be happy.

Love this!! I am PP seeking to rejoice in a loving God!! God loves you OP and seems for peace in your heart. When you can go, I know you will go!! And if it’s better not to go so you can veg out and recharge at home you have to have peace knowing it’s not a bad choice!

To the OP, I really hope that you find some peace in the well-meaning statements that are posted here. I will tell you that, although it’s very difficult for us to get to church, every time we do, we are thankful that we went. The children have special clothes and I love seeing them dressed in them and fancy sneakers for church time. My husband and I do as well. We try to fit it in twice a month and we try to prioritize it above sports but more accurately we alternate missing church over sports. Our family time is also extremely limited to weekends and with two children in travel sports and assorted other things the demands are vast. However, we love exposing the children to the community and they truly have a spiritual home there. you’ll make the right choice! Don’t forget that God is on your side and has faith in you and always has your back!!!

And to the people posting nasty things about religion and God, spoiler alert, he’s your God too! whether you call Him by His name or not he calls you by yours and …. Loves you. Sending love!

Stay home.

God loves you and wants you to be happy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do church at home. If your god is omnipotent and omniscient, why do you need to be in a specific building to worship?

Because he said so. If he's all-powerful he gets to make the rules.

Although he didn't talk about buildings because church isn't a building. It's a community. But I imagine hosting a house church wouldn't be less stressful for OP.

So why bother praying at home? Of course it would be easier to do at home. Watch online, follow along. No need to go to a special brick and mortar, that isn't what religion is about.