homeschoolmom Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Last night, we met with the children's pastor at our old church to tell him that at the end of the school year we won't be back... he's been involved in our kids' lives for years... dedicated 'em, baptized our daughter... was responsible for the wonderful bible background that they have... knows the hundreds of children in that church by name... NEVER too tired for a thumb war or a kind word... He's great... telling him we weren't coming back was like a "break up"... I feel that way whenever we tell someone from our old church we won't be back... We have so many close ties to loosen... I hate this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Yeah, I have had the same issue. Some people have been really cool about it, others have been really hurt ... One friend moved away a few months before my confirmation, and wrote me two weeks before Easter begging me to reconsider. I'd already told her why I was making the choice I made, so I just had to state it again in stronger terms, be more explicit about it ... I wrote her a week and a half ago and haven't heard back from her yet. It's awful. I think the thing it's done for me, though, is remind me that we are a Body divided, that there has been deep wounding within because of these splits and divisions. Because I feel it on a personal level, I'm better able to pray that those divisions be healed, and that the Body be unified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted April 21, 2004 Author Share Posted April 21, 2004 (edited) [quote name='Sojourner' date='Apr 21 2004, 08:52 AM'] I think the thing it's done for me, though, is remind me that we are a Body divided, that there has been deep wounding within because of these splits and divisions. Because I feel it on a personal level, I'm better able to pray that those divisions be healed, and that the Body be unified. [/quote] amen! I think those who have never "crossed the great divide" don't realize how big it is... Edited April 21, 2004 by homeschoolmom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 That is so true, homeschoolmom. Before I started thinking about conversion, I'd never deeply considered the divides within the Body -- I really had no reason to. I can remember asking my Dad why there weren't any more councils to determine definitively matters of faith (which he incidentally didn't have a good answer for) but it wasn't a issue that I felt. Now I feel it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PedroX Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 homeschool, It is a bit like a break up, but hopefully a few of your friends will recognize what you still have in common. These frienships will be all the deeper and richer for the fact that they remain. I have managed to keep some friends, and what I have realized is that these friends were the "best of the best". Their understanding of the Christian life is deeper than most, and their charity is off the charts. Hang in their, and search for the ones who can love you. peace... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted April 21, 2004 Author Share Posted April 21, 2004 Well, I still have my really good close friends... they just don't get it. I'm sure some of our friendships will still survive and grow. If not, I'll just move to Indiana or somewhere east of the Mississippi and start over again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil bull 04 Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 i know exactly how you are feeling. i'm still not sure how to drop this on my parents but i'm pretty sure when i go into the military there probably won't be a wisconsin synod lutheran church in the area and well i really don't want to tell them that over the last 2 years of going to a lutheran high school i have found that i no longer believe the same things i did when i was confirmed. i have learned more about what lutherans believe and well i really honestly dissagree with them on the Sacrament of Holy Communion. I believe that it really is Jesus Body and Blood that we recieve in Holy Communion. I do not believe it is bread and wine. Lutheranism confuses me. Honestly it does. How can it be both? so for the part 2 years i have been considering converting to catholicism. i know its gonna be hard to talk to them when i come home especially when it comes to talking about going to church. i would no longer be able to go to communion with them which will hurt them but as i have learned in my religion class at that luthern high school is that you shouldn't go unless you believe exactly the same way that the rest of the people in a given church body believe. belief in God and what religion you will choose is up to you. God leads you to the one that is right not you. He is the one that works faith in your heart. you cannot bring yourself to faith it is God the Holy Spirit that brings you to faith in God the Father and God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Not yourself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PedroX Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 [quote]If not, I'll just move to Indiana or somewhere east of the Mississippi and start over again...[/quote] Welcome home!! Or to paraphrase the old Arby's tagline "Come East, its better out here!" Seriously, your family is in my prayers. I was talking to my best friend last night about you guys and he started talking about how brave you and homeschool dad are to bring your whole family into the church. I know that God is smiling on you all. peace... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted April 21, 2004 Author Share Posted April 21, 2004 [quote name='PedroX' date='Apr 21 2004, 12:52 PM'] Welcome home!! Or to paraphrase the old Arby's tagline "Come East, its better out here!" Seriously, your family is in my prayers. I was talking to my best friend last night about you guys and he started talking about how brave you and homeschool dad are to bring your whole family into the church. I know that God is smiling on you all. peace...[/quote] Thanks.... I love phatmass... I think without it, I would have moved to the funny farm months ago... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 [quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Apr 21 2004, 02:20 PM'] Thanks.... I love phatmass... I think without it, I would have moved to the funny farm months ago... [/quote] Yeah, Phatmass has been good for me for the same reason. It's just good finding other people who you can chat with who've gone through the same thing you're going through. It's very cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS_Dad Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 > Telling people is like a constant breakup.... Yeah, I am telling my parents this weekend... They'll think I've gone insane and\or will be deeply worried for my soul.... Luckily I know exactly how they think and should be able to put their hearts at ease... Although Homeschoolmom was raised Methodist, her roots aren't generations old.... My grandfather was a Southern Baptist minister, everyone on both sides of my family was deeply in the Baptist tradition for as far back as I can tell... (presumably English nonconformists further back)... What I had to realize was that I wasn't disowning my ancestors, but joining with them around the table of thanksgiving for the Lamb who was slain!!! Ut Unum Sint!!! Only through emptying ourselves of "religious pride" (whether Catholic, Baptist, etc.) and surrendering ourselves in obedience to complete conversion to Christ will we become the "last [who] will be first" and will we be reconciled to Christ in perfect unity!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellenita Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 HS_Dad, I'll be praying for you....especially this weekend. My immediate family came to the Easter Vigil - they have been fairly OK about it all so far, but a very close friend also came and left before the end so I couldn't talk to her. I phoned her a few days later but she said she couldn't talk and would call me back....I'm still waiting to hear from her......it's not a good sign. My mum has told other members of the family (I didn't ask her too since I would have preferred to tell them myself! ) and she tells me that mostly they are very confused about my decision. Since they are all 'nominal' Christians and only go to church at Easter or Christmas, it's difficult to understand why they should be upset, it's not like they have very strong protestant convictions! There are three other very good friends who are all strong protestants and I have yet to tell them....I'm praying about the best way to do it! It will be very painful if they decide that don't want to have anything more to do with me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 [quote name='HS_Dad' date='Apr 22 2004, 10:29 PM'] Yeah, I am telling my parents this weekend... They'll think I've gone insane and\or will be deeply worried for my soul.... Luckily I know exactly how they think and should be able to put their hearts at ease... [/quote] I am telling my parents this weekend too!!! I will keep you guys in my prayers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickey's_Girl Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 Oh, HS_Dad and Sojourner--I'll be praying for you this weekend, too. MG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted May 6, 2004 Author Share Posted May 6, 2004 Well, HS_Dad sent out an email to the leadership of our Baptist Adult Bible Fellowship. I guess it's public knowledge at our old church... Remember, the only reason that we are still there is because we wanted to wait till the end of the school year to allow our children a cleaner break-- we are currently going to both... but not really liking it... Anyway... I was typing up the newsletter for our homeschool co-op (I'm the secretary-- that's why I'm on the computer so often...) I was thinking that since this was the last co-op of the year and most of the people in it go to our church and don't know that we have "checked out and ain't comin' back" I should just put a footnote in the newsletter... "Oh by the way, the Homeschoolfamily is know reconciled to the Catholic Church..." Then I'll find out if anyone bothers to read the newsletter... It's going to be weird being in that co-op next year since it meets in our former church... and about 50% are members there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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