Nervous about approaching the church!
Dear Resident Reverend,
While my fiance and I have booked a register office for our November wedding, we have been talking and would really love to explore the possibility not only of a church wedding, but also of finding a church to attend regularly - trouble is, we feel quite shy about approaching a church!
We both revealed to each other that we privately pray regularly, and both feel that we would love to have a church ceremony, however we have never attended church other than Christmas etc and feel we can't exactly put our finger on why we want to do this in church. Because of this we feel a bit shy about approaching them.
My fiance has been married previously (first time for me) and I can gleam from research and lots of posts on here that this means its down to individual vicars, which is fine. However, we are planning to get wed in my hometown, a good few hundred miles away from where we live in London. I am aware that I can contact the church in which I was baptised in and enquire, for example, but of course this doesn't solve our shyness of approaching a church where we live.
I think what I'm trying to say is that while us deciding to get married has brought to light our thoughts on worship, it is not only for a wedding ceremony that we want to explore more about it for, and don't really know where to start!
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Comments
Hi Helena
How lovely that your wedding has made you start thinking about your faith. I can assure you that churches absolutely LOVE to welcome in young couples. You are a sign of new life and there is absolutely no need to feel shy. They'll be delighted.
Why not tap your postcode into www.achurchnearyou.com
That will let you know your nearest church and you'll be able to look it up beforehand. Failing that you could drive past and take details off the noticeboard. Emailing or Ringing the Vicar beforehand might ease nerves. Often they have a welcome team at the door anyway or they could arrange for someone to look out for you, sit with you and show you the ropes.
Church congregations are an eclectic mix of ordinary people and you'll soon make friends and feel at home.
Be aware that there are different styles of services and one church might be very traditional with candles and an Organ and robed choir - the one next door might have a rock band and a more informal approach. Again it's up to you to find somewhere you feel comfortable with. Personally I think it's the welcome that matters. God is everywhere :-)
Come back to me if you need to chat more
warmest
Jan x
Jan Harney (Rev'd)
http://www.asineden.co.uk