A Failure to Communicate
I enjoyed the worship at Church #27 and appreciated their charismatic demeanor. Yet I was also critical of most other aspects of their service.
My wife said I had a bad attitude, with my perceptions tainted by a former member who had a painful experience there. He left scarred and disillusioned, often sharing his angst with me as he processed his time there and later his distressing departure.
She may be right. She probably is.
Given this, I want to return, praying I’ll have an open mind this time. Her addendum to my pre-church prayer is more specific: that I’ll forget the things my friend told me about this church and their leader.
Full of anticipation, we arrive early to find an empty parking lot, despite their Facebook page confirming a 10:30 a.m. service.
My heart thumps within my chest. Panic hits me. Doubt assaults my mind. Did I get the time wrong? Did they move? Am I working under a wrong assumption? Perhaps they closed.
Apparently, they cancelled their Sunday morning meetings for the summer in lieu of evening worship. This is what we infer from a small handwritten note taped to the door. But they had a failure to communicate it. How disconcerting.
My initial panic gives way to irritation. And all my friend’s disappointments with this church flood back into my mind.
We have plans for every Sunday evening, so it won’t be until the fall when we’ll have a chance to come back. That is, assuming we will even try. Do they deserve a third chance? I suppose so, but the real question is, will I give them another try?
This also presents an immediate dilemma: where do we go to church this morning?
Takeaway
When you change service times, do you have a failure to communicate it?
How does this impact people who show up at what they think is the right time and you’re not there?
My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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