Our Church

One thing that Ryan and I were really looking forward to about moving, was being able to find a church together. We had discussed visiting different churches around our area in Cincinnati for years before moving, but never did.

Now we had no option, and we were so excited. It's not that we don't like our church back home. It just wasn't our church.

I am Catholic and went to Catholic mass and Sunday school and then youth group my entire life. I rarely remember missing a Sunday. And Ryan grew up in the Church of God churches.

When Ryan and I were dating, it was never an issue that we were of two different denominations.

Ryan once said to me, "Beth. Do you believe in God?"

Yes.

"Do you love Jesus?"

Yes.

"Then what's the problem?"

How right he was. Ryan instantly calmed my fears about this "issue" that wasn't even really an issue. We were both Christians who love Jesus. Why should anything else matter?

When we got married, we began alternating Sundays. One week we would go to St. Susanna, my church of 20+ years. The next week we would go to his church in Hamilton. We did this for many months.

It was eventually  me who said that I would give up "my Sunday" and that we could go to Hamilton instead.

It's very difficult going to a church that you grew up in with your family - mom, dad, and brother - and then all of a sudden being the only one there anymore. Don't get me wrong. I love St. Susanna and have so many amazing memories there. But having have been through both of my parents' funerals at that church, and having so many changes within the church, it began to be difficult to go back week after week.

We eventually slowed our trips to St. Susanna and made Hamilton our primary church. It took quite some time for me to feel comfortable there. The first time we went, Ryan said, "why aren't you singing? You always sing at St. Susanna."

"Umm...there are no books. I also don't know any of these songs."

I was in a bit of religion shock to say the least. I am fairly conservative and traditional when it comes to church - imagine that. The Catholic girl being conservative and traditional.

It took me a while to feel comfortable. After a few weeks, I began to hum along with the songs, tap my fingers on the chair in front of me, and sway a little to the music.

I was very welcomed by everyone in the church - especially when I name dropped who I was...

"Oh hi, I'm Beth. Ryan Morrow's wife... *silence*...Karen Gibson's daughter in law."

"OH HI!!"

My mother and father in law are somewhat "royalty" I feel in their church. Karen is an absolutely phenomenal singer in the choir, and honestly, who doesn't love Tim? So whenever someone looked at me funny, I just had to name drop them and I was instantly in!

So Hamilton became the primary church for Ryan and I. And even though I was completely welcomed, I still felt, and still refer to it as "Ryan's church." He has been going there for nearly 15 years along with this family. So I felt like I was always going to his church. Not that that is bad by any means. It just wasn't ours.

When we knew for sure that we were moving down here to NC, we were really excited to finally find a church together. Not going to one of ours or the others, but choosing a church together that we both enjoy and feel comfortable in.

For the past two Sunday's we have been going to a church only 10 minutes from our house. This is HUGE in comparison to what we were driving to get to Hamilton - 50 minutes one way. I was really nervous about finding a church that had their priorities set with childcare and classes being one of the highest.

Before we even walked in the first Sunday, a lady was standing outside greeting everyone and we explained that it was our first time there. She instantly introduced herself to us and took us everywhere that we needed to be. Showed us where the bathrooms were (important for this pregnant lady), introduced us to the Pastor, showed us the childcare and overall just made such a great impression on us from the get go.

I was incredibly nervous about leaving Dean with people that we had never met before. Ryan to the rescue again...

"We're going to a church. There's nothing to worry about. If we don't like what we see when we get there, we won't leave him,"

Well, we loved it the second that we saw it. The ladies were SO helpful helping us check Dean in and there were different areas for all age groups. Perfect. Dean literally didn't even care that we were leaving him. He didn't even look back - okay, we may have run once he turned his back, but still!

I cannot say enough good things about the childcare at this church. That was my #1 priority. And Dean had a great time, because when we went to pick him up, he had goldfish crumbs all over his mouth and cried when we left. Love you too buddy.

But besides the childcare, Ryan and I were really happy with how the service went. It was conservative enough for me, but the music was up beat enough for Ryan, and we both really enjoyed the Pastor.

So we went back last week. And when we walked in and dropped Dean off, we were greeted with a smile from the Pastor who remembered our names and where we were from. And then another member of the church introduced himself and addressed Ryan and I by our names - we had never met him before.

Now, this may not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but to me, it's huge. A few weeks before we moved, we were at church in Hamilton, and someone came up to me and said, "Hi, is this your first time here? I'm *insert name*."

I smiled and laughed awkwardly while saying, "Are you serious?"

I had been going to church there for 4 years now....

So the fact that the Pastor of this church remembered our names and greeted us so warmly really made a big impact on Ryan and me.

We are excited to go back this Sunday, and I can guarantee you that Dean is as well. He also cried this past Sunday when we left.

I suppose the point that I wanted to make through my long story, is that it doesn't matter what denomination you are. Ryan and I grew up in two very different churches, but have never had stronger relationships with Christ than we have today. And we aren't going to either of our denominational churches. We love each other, we love Christ, and we show that love to Dean.

I have had remarks made toward me that I "don't go to church" because I don't go to Catholic mass on a weekly basis. It makes me sad, because I do go to church. I've gone to church my entire life. Just because it isn't the church that I grew up in, doesn't mean that I'm a bad Christian.

Over the past few years, my life has changed dramatically, and I have learned so much tolerance and love. Who cares if I'm not going to the church that I grew up in. I know that my parents would be so proud of me and how much closer to Christ I have become because of them.

And it is because of my parents that I have such a strong faith. If you ever had the chance to know my parents, they radiated the love of Christ and taught me how to love that same way.

I am so excited for this new journey that Ryan and I are on, and that we have (hopefully) finally found our church. All I want is for Dean to know the love of Christ and to be able to teach him that throughout his life, so that he can love the same way that my parents taught me how to love.