Church

Today I ventured out to a church...all by myself. I arrived a few minutes before 10:00am to a hotel's grand ballroom. There was a stage set up for the band and pastor, and chairs set up...it felt much like my home church. The service began by the music leader telling the congregation to find someone they didn't know and pray over them.....I must admit, it took me by surprise. This lovely lady, Julianna, came and prayed over me...whether she was praying in her own language or speaking in tongues, I was not sure, however she ended in English so I could understand some of it where she said to bless for me coming to a church knowing no one. She then asked me to join her and her friend, Lydia, so I did not have to sit alone. That was so nice. The music was nice. I knew one song. It was different to try and sing when you don't know the song and the people singing are singing in English, but their accent is a bit different. Then the pastor came to the front and announced we would be going via satellite to join other regions (this church has 12 churches in Singapore and they are split by regions. I was at region 9 and 10 today). The sermon went over the church budget and the upcoming "willing offering" that they will be taking in November. He ended his sermon saying the next four weeks would be a continuation of this sermon. While the sermon mentioned a few Bible verses, it was just less focused on what the Bible says and more focused on a net dollar amount. I knew by the end of the sermon this was not my Singapore church home. At the end of the service Julianna asked how I got to the church and I told her by train. She comes by church bus from the far end of the island...a real time commitment! Julianna had introduced me to Lydia also. Lydia was so sweet. She provided me her phone number and email address in case I wanted to come back next week and sit with her. They were all very friendly, but I feel I need to hear the word....I miss Pastor Todd!!! Fellow FFC go-ers....never complain that church goes 1 hour and 15 minutes....church today was 2.5 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!