Exploring Christianity

[Lightnessofbeing2015]

Hi I am really interested to chat with anyone who is further exploring their Christianity at the moment or anyone who is changing churches or who is a new Christian . I am a lifelong Christian however I am not Confirmed and have just been a fairly casual attender although have always had deep Spiritual leanings..I have never truly found my Spiritual home. Also my local service is exceptionally dull and uninspiring and I was only attending a few times per year. Now I feel increasingly drawn to attend a more inspiring service and did attend a great family service last week in a new church. I am considering going to a more modern evangelical church in the next few weeks to see how I feel there and if I feel a greater connection with Jesus and God and hopefully the Congregation there.

Is anyone attending the Alpha Course or has experienced a Retreat .. something I would love to do if family and work commitments ever allow.
Half of my family are non believers and my husband is Confirmed and not interested in moving church or attending any more frequently than Christmas or Easter etc. So I am a bit on my own with this. My youngest child is Christian and confirmed.

On a personal level, I am in early middle age, have three children and unfortunately work very long hours which is currently stressing me and also severely limits my free time. I also deal with life and death every day and feel strongly the need for inner harmony and peace as well as guidance. I always feel I want to improve myself through Jesus' teaching and this is a theme I want to explore.

I am on leave this week so have plenty of time but usually have very little time on my hands so I will have days and entire weekends when I can't check the thread but I will definitely check it .. and will really value any comments , links and prayers.

I would definitely recommend an Alpha Course, not just for exploring your faith, but also being able to meet and chat to like minded people.
I too have a demanding job and my faith certainly gives me the inner harmony and guidance you mention.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I would definitely recommend going again (and again!) to the new church which inspired you. Your DH may change his mind and start accompanying you & DCs there.

By all means try an Alpha course, but it is not for everybody and it may clash with your shifts.
The main thing for you, I think is to settle down and embrace the new life in Christ that you have accepted. Christianity is not something you 'do', like praying or going to church, it is a new way of life, moving from death to life and it needs to get into every part of your life, your work, your relationships, the way you think about yourself.
You need to find what help you can to make this real for you and the way you have started to go to the new church and found peace and light and happiness there is, I think the way to go. Allow it to take you over, abandon yourself to the love of Christ, let Him be your all in all. Everything else will fall into place after that.

Once you have settled into the fellowship, maybe speak to the vicar about exploring your new found faith a bit more, but give it some time to percolate into your life first.

Thank you for your comments.
Things have moved on a little in that I went back to the same church and everything felt right..especially the prayer and the sermon/ teaching.
I feel Jesus has come into / back into my life and as Oma says it's now about living and experiencing life as a Christian.

If you want something to read I can recommend " A Jesuit Guide to (almost) Everything. A Guide to Real Life Spirituality" by James Martin.

It doesn't matter that you're not a catholic, he doesn't attempt convert. I have it on my Kindle and have found it a great help to dip into (and very funny in places)