Advice on becoming part of the church..

[tittletuttle]

Not too sure what I'm after posting this but feel like I wanted to get it all out as I don't feel like there's many people IRL I can talk to about this.

Both me and my partner have been christened but neither were regular church go-ers. However when we got pregnant we both agreed it would be nice to possible bring our son up with the church and our main reasons for that were for the part of the community factor and maybe a moral compass? We wasn't too sure but both agreed we would like to pursue it for him.

Now we are booked in to get him christened in August so since he has been born we have all been twice as a family and I have been a couple times on my own with my son as my partner usually works 6-7 days a week so I'm usually on my own a lot anyway. We have no family or really even friends local and we are out in the countryside in a small village without really knowing anyone in our community.

I've really enjoyed the few times I've been to church, and I feel like I get quite emotional while I am there and feel myself thinking about how blessed I am when I look at my son. I guess this just feels quite odd to me, but nice odd? Like I'm not sure how people around me would take it but I'm really starting to like the idea of going into church every week with my son and making it part of our lives. Being made to feel so welcome within a community I've felt so isolated in just feels really heart warming and I think we could both benefit from that support network?

Thank you if you got this far... again I don't really know what I am after but just wanted to get it out!

I am 25 and my son is 15 weeks

I'm a churchgoer and our church community is really important to us. Because it's underpinned by knowing that we share some really important core beliefs, we find that we developed strong friendships with people who are very different from us in every other way. I would throw yourself into it - if there are groups you want to get involved with, then absolutely do. In my experience churches are always delighted when people want to do anything from attend Sunday school/read lessons/do prayers/make cakes/attend mum and baby groups etc etc. I'm currently pregnant and I've already scoped out my local church mum and baby groups!

“I guess this just feels quite odd to me, but nice odd?”
I’m beaming reading this as you’ve described exactly how I feel- it’s Faith! Go for it.
I’ll say a prayer now for you.
I’m guessing it’s quite a small quiet parish as most of the larger more evangelical churches I know would have snapped you up and ‘forcefully welcomed’ you already.
Who’s reaction are you worried about.

Good for you tittle . I wasn't a regular church-goer and then I started going, initially with DH, then DH and DD. DH and I got confirmed. DD has now been confirmed. At first it seemed a little awkward following the service, and I didn't tell anyone at work. When I did they were fine-most of them believed in God, just didn't want anything to do with organised religion. Being at church has given me purpose, a school for DD and lots of new friends.

I call the parishioners of my church my church family, as that is to me how I feel about them.

You've all brought me to tears with your replies thank you all so much!

I think I'm worried that I'm not cut out for it all or that I may do things wrong to start with? I suppose there is no real need to speak about it with friends/family if I don't want to, my partner is very supportive but I don't believe him to be quite as keen as I feel I'm becoming - but that's fine. I'm happy to take my son on that journey just me and him.

It does feel right and really is making me quite emotional. The vicar spoke to me about how to begin to incorporate the faith into my every day and said about starting with a prayer with me son before bed and as we wake up, that it could be quite a simple one but to get into the habit. I'm also starting to go to the mum and baby group once a week which feels so wonderful.

Is there anything else any of you can suggest that I can do to incorporate the church into my life? Is it worth me getting a bible at home to read my son even if he's far too young to understand that yet?

Thank you all again it feels wonderful.

Some simple ways to make prayer part of your life, that we do:

• say grace together before meals that you eat together; it could be something as simple as "for what we are about to receive, thank you Lord". We use our grace to say thank you for everything God has given us and pray for people we care about who need it
• talk about things we are thankful for
• we use the church lectionary (it's an app you can download) to guide our reading every day - you can do it on your phone at the bus stop!
• there are some lovely children's bible story books for all ages - my godsons love the Bricks Bible, which is a comic strip with Lego characters! Or there's a Minecraft one too I believe
• every night before we go to sleep, we pray - for everything from a healthy baby, to safe passage for people on journeys, to peace in conflict zone
• I follow a lot of churches and priests on Twitter and Instagram, and in between all the news and pictures of food I find it helpful to see pictures of worship, or of Christian art, or prayers - there's lots of joyful stuff out there

Your vicar will be so delighted to answer any questions you have and I hope you find a role in the church where they can use the gifts you have. Go well with God xoxo