The first retroactive, first review:

September 17, 2006
First United Methodist Church
1008 11th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
http://www.santamonicaumc.org/

I attended this Methodist church's second service at 11:30. The first began at 9:00, which is already a problem, but was also said to be a contemporary service, which tends to mean rock n' roll and doesnt usually flown with me since my middle school days as a church camper.

There is free lot parking across the street and very friendly ushers at the entrance. The building is bright, light wood, and a traditional, but recently built (it seems) sanctuary with stained glass windows and true pews. There were about 80 people of all ages attending the service. About half of the parishoners seemed to be quite elderly, though there were a couple of kids as well. The service began traditionally enough with the entering of acolides, a choir and a cpngregation at its feet singing hymns. The choir was good, professional, but probably not much better than most congregants with well-tuned voices and the Methodist attitude to sing your heart out.

The minister did the scripture reading. While she did indeed read with great drama, giving flow to the story, I found it interesting and a little off-putting that a member of the church would not be called to take on that simple task. There was also not a children's sermon. This is a part of the service that I usually appreciate, even though I do not have children of my own, as it provides the simple lesson with which one should go away. This might have been a special sunday, though, since it was the sunday when they give bibles to the 4th grade children. The sermon was about the stained glass and what it is meant to be a Christian.

At the end of the service they give a flower to all the visitors. Very cute. But I am not sure how I feel about that kind of attention, or really that use of church funds.

They partner with a parish in Nigeria, but I could not tell how much else they did for the community. Overall, though, this was a nice, sweet church.

The first retroactive, first review:

September 17, 2006
First United Methodist Church
1008 11th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
http://www.santamonicaumc.org/

I attended this Methodist church's second service at 11:30. The first began at 9:00, which is already a problem, but was also said to be a contemporary service, which tends to mean rock n' roll and doesnt usually flown with me since my middle school days as a church camper.

There is free lot parking across the street and very friendly ushers at the entrance. The building is bright, light wood, and a traditional, but recently built (it seems) sanctuary with stained glass windows and true pews. There were about 80 people of all ages attending the service. About half of the parishoners seemed to be quite elderly, though there were a couple of kids as well. The service began traditionally enough with the entering of acolides, a choir and a cpngregation at its feet singing hymns. The choir was good, professional, but probably not much better than most congregants with well-tuned voices and the Methodist attitude to sing your heart out.

The minister did the scripture reading. While she did indeed read with great drama, giving flow to the story, I found it interesting and a little off-putting that a member of the church would not be called to take on that simple task. There was also not a children's sermon. This is a part of the service that I usually appreciate, even though I do not have children of my own, as it provides the simple lesson with which one should go away. This might have been a special sunday, though, since it was the sunday when they give bibles to the 4th grade children. The sermon was about the stained glass and what it is meant to be a Christian.

At the end of the service they give a flower to all the visitors. Very cute. But I am not sure how I feel about that kind of attention, or really that use of church funds.

They partner with a parish in Nigeria, but I could not tell how much else they did for the community. Overall, though, this was a nice, sweet church.

Despite my Taurean desire for stability, it seems I move a lot. With every new town comes a new search for a church. From past experiences, I know that if this itch is abandoned for too long, my Sundays will impel a pattern of television gluttony. And pop culture would lead me to believe that the City of Angels, more than any place I've yet lived, would require that spiritual and intillectual stimulation must be rigorously sought to avoid the utter desolation that so many people claim defines it.

My husband and I seek a very particular style of church. However, this time with him in law school, I alone seem to be the hopeful inquiror. While it might offer an opportunity for true spiritual enrichment without the distractions of my ever-entertaining other half, it also might mean that I would timidly leave the sanctuary without giving the church an opportunity to be sold to me. In any case, this time, with Santa Monica, CA as our home, I am slowly beginning the search for a new place of worship California style!

Baptized Presbyterian, confirmed and married in the Congregational church, and, with the exception of services required while attending Catholic school, I have always attended Protestant churches, usually Methodist, UCC, or Presbyterian. I appreciate traditional services with great music, and intelligent, thought-provoking sermons. A church with good community outreach, and a congregation that is diverse in age, politics, and ethnicity, open-minded, and one where the average parishoner believes it is more important to attempt to emulate Jesus than to reflect Christian dogmatism. Maybe with age this will change, but right now, this is what moves me.

Jesus teaches us to endeavor towards a life that is more virtuous than so much of the world demonstrates it to be. To be generous, charitable, faithful, hopeful, loving, accepting, action-oriented, and to take no day for granted. These are some of the characteristics I venture to reflect as a result of Jesus in my life. I aim to act through these virtues, speak humbly, hope broadly, and have faith that good will always follow these actions.

And so the search for a church to help me practice these beliefs begins!