Well I went along to church for the first time!

[AlwaysTheMummy]

and all I can say is....I wish I had gone a long time before.

I had only sat down a few minutes before a lady came over to introduce herself, turns out she runs the sunday school so I told her about my children who will be joining me next week.

The vicar introduced himself at the end and introduced me to even more people who were just so friendly.

The service was the all age communion and it was a lot of fun, I actually felt so emotional, I was happy and can't wait to take the kids along next week.

I have signed us up for the harvest lunch next week, all I need to do is bring a pudding to share. Then on 16th December I have signed us up to go to a pantomine at the soon to be open theatre here in my town.

I feel like I've found what I've been looking for, found somewhere to belong, to be accepted for who I am.

I just wish I had gone along all them years ago when the thought first entered my head.

Are you religious? Were you brought up to go to Church?

Great to hear you had such a good time

We love our church community, it's our support system and increasingly our social life as well (and it's a wonderful place to find babysitters). I'm glad you had a good experience and I hope your kids enjoy it too (mine do, it's changed a lot since I was a kid).

Dominique, I am not religious and have never been to church before today.

I just felt that pull to go along so I did and I loved it x

Exciting! I have always believed in God but definitely lost my way until recently when I found a local Pentacostal church which I love so much. My Faith has been completely restored and is much greater than ever before and Sundays are my favourite days!! Its funny to read this today as our sermon this morning was all about how God works in ways we may not always expect or be ready for (we were talking about the conversion of Paul).

It seems you were called (as I was) to go along and join in a new church community. I am so very happy I did as it has completely changed my life

Glad it was a good experience! I was a bit worried I might have put you off when I killed your other thread.

AlwaysTheMummy, did you feel God today or simply a sense of community and love? Either are fabulous, I think

AlwaysTheMummy so glad you had such a good time.

That's wonderful news, AtM :)

So glad for you ,i too felt i was in the right place when i walked into my church ,so happy for you x

Brilliant :) I'm so glad - I was wondering how you'd got on.

oxocube - are they not the same thing? They are for me! :)

brilliant :)

Purpleturtle - they actually did a little 'peace be with you' but it was part of the service and not as a general hello.

Oxocube - I felt a sense of community and love, but as the day went on and had a few stressy moments I thought to myself 'What would God want me to do?', it's been truly lifechanging for me and I hope it continues.

Thank you for thinking about me MrsCadWallader xx

ATM, at our church rather than 'peace be with you', we are all asked to go and say hello, maybe to someone we haven't met before or sometimes to old friends, to ask how they are and generally be pleased to see them. I found this much less intimidating at first as there was no 'churchy language' and no way of getting it wrong .

Am so happy for you that you have found something so special. I keep banging on about it but I can't explain the peace and happiness I feel now which I never had before. I still have loads of practical problems in my life but I feel I'm not going through them alone and that God will help me and provide.

"oxocube - are they not the same thing? They are for me!"

Mrs C, I have often felt a warmth in my community and love from my friends but having that AND knowing God is something much more for me right now. I am blessed

Oxo, you are just so right, normally bathtimes are a very stressful time in my house, my daughter hates having her hair washed and will literally scream the house down, but last night I felt this peace and calm come over me.

I love this new feeling and hope it spills over onto other aspects of my life which make me angry, sad, stressful etc.

That's brilliant atm :)