I guess that should say..."or any spiritual service"? We've started attending again after a long break (several years) and very few of my friends that don't live in the computer go to any type of regular church service. Deanna's post has me wondering how many women here attend some type of service and how often.

For the last six or seven years, we only attended "special" services, like Christmas, Easter, or baptisms. We've gone every Sunday since May and I've really noticed a difference around our house.

By My2girlygirls on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 10:27 am:

We attend every week.

By Tonya on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 10:33 am:

I haven't been in many many years. Timmy has only been a few times in his whole life. And Jade never. Rich I doubt in forever either. At least not in the 11 yrs since I have been with him.

By Debbie on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 10:49 am:

We go every sunday. Now, I will admit, that this summer, with all the moving, we have not gone much. But, we did start back last weekend.

Dh and I were not good about going to church when we first got married. We were kind of hit and miss. However, we decided when we had dks, that church was important to us, and we wanted to set a good example for them. I guess having a family also reinforced the importance of having religion in our lives. Now, we do miss occasionally. But, for the most part, we go every sunday.

By Kaye on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 11:02 am:

Mostly weekly. We don't go crazy if we miss a week. We try not to schedule things on top of church (we attend sat night), but sometimes things do come up. We also tend to skip the major holidays, mostly because we are traveling, but we joke about leaving room for those who only attend on those days

We do not go to churches when we travel. If we are with my family we will go to church with them, but my inlaws are Jewish, so we would have to find a church for us or attend with them, neither have seemed like the right option for our family.

We also attend a bimonthy family Bible study. I attend a weekly study and 2 of my kids do weekly church activities. I find it does make a huge difference in how our world works.

By Imamommyx4 on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 11:33 am:

Every Sunday--Sunday school and service, most Wednesdays--supper and Wednesday night classes. Dh has a Monday night men's group and I have a Monday morning ladies group.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 11:40 am:

We try to go most weeks. They just changed my hours at the clinic, from 11-3 on Sundays, to 8-12, so now, when I work I CAN'T go to church. I think it stinks, but what can you do. I only work one Sunday a month. The thing is, if I'm not there to go to church, no one really bothers to get up and go.

In August, though, I ended up working an extra Sunday, so that was an extra Sunday, that everyone else didn't go.

I've missed singing with my choir on 2 Sundays now, becuase of the new hours, though. Grrr.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 11:41 am:

We don't go to church. We homeschool basic Christian doctrine.

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 12:20 pm:

Every 3 weeks because we drive 45 minutes to get there and/or we are traveling somewhere or we have people here and don't want to impose our Sunday mornings on others. It's a GREAT church though and Connor LOVES his nursery room. I can't *imagine* bringing him into the regular service. It's a PCA church. (Presbyterian)

By Kay on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 01:10 pm:

We try to go every Sunday. What I like about Amy's theology teacher (she's at a Catholic high school) is that he requires his students to report in their journals what went on in the homily/sermon, etc. If the student is not Catholic, they refer to their own, etc. I don't think we have any students who don't worship *somewhere*, but Deacon Jeff uses this as an opportunity not to make them go to church, but if you go, to actually listen to what is being said instead of daydreaming.

I found myself doing this the last couple of Sundays - it sure helps me, I don't know about Amy! LOL

By Bellajoe on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 02:00 pm:

We try to go every Sunday. We don't worry about it if we miss a Sunday here or there. And don't go to church when we are out of town.
It's hard to go to church with ds. He is 5 and HATES to sit still and be quiet! So i really get nothing out of church when he is with me, since i am constantly whispering to him to sit still and shhush!
Luckily Sunday school will start up again soon and i can put him in that while dh, dd and I go to mass.

By Fraggle on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 02:01 pm:

I take the girls to church almost every Sunday during the school year. Sometimes DH comes with us. We haven't been at all this summer though. I've got to get us back into our regular routine.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 02:22 pm:

We attended for years, twice a week, without missing a beat. Then there were some things that happened with the leaders of our church and we felt that we did not want to be associated with where they were heading. It was a bad ending unfortunately. We have not been to a church now for about 5 years. We never went on special holidays, even when we attended regularly. Dh and I always went together, and will when we start looking for a new church beginning next week.

By Brandy on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 02:30 pm:

We don't usually go to church i don't believe i have to go to church to know and love and trust in god...and i behave better than some people that go every single week = )

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 03:09 pm:

Brandy, My sentiments, exactly!

By Brandy on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 03:48 pm:

J

By Latonya on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 03:57 pm:

I don't go to church. I am not christian. I am Buddhist. I grew up Southern Baptist but only attended church as a child because my parents made me go. I never really believed in the whole Christian thing.

By Andi on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 04:31 pm:

We go about 3 times a month. The kids love it and we really enjoy our church. In the summer we tend to go a little less because we are doing stuff around the house and other outdoor activities.

By Marcia on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 01:04 am:

Every week, unless we're away. I run a Tweens group in the church, for kids 8-12, every Monday afternoon. I'm also on the Outreach Commity, and we meet monthly.
My kids attend Sunday School, but they also take turns serving in the service. (carrying the cross or candle in front of the choir, assisting the minister with communion, etc, and they also do some of the readings)

By Ilovetom on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 08:14 am:

Usually every week.

I go because I just enjoy our preacher so so much. He goes right through the Bible. I never feel convicted. He never talks about the things we should be doing. My children also enjoy church so hopefully it will stay with them.

I am probably one of the ones who behaves badly sometimes outside church, but I am not there saying "look at me going to church". I am there cuz I want to.

I also teach mission friends on Wednesday night. It's just my small way of giving back in another way.

Plus, I believe our journey in life is but a glimpse of time.

By Karefl on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 05:35 pm:

We, as a family, attend Saturday night & I "work church" on Sunday morning. I'm the children's minstry director & when I'm there on Sunday I'm normally not it "worship" mode. LOL At least not for myself. I want to make sure that the kids come away with something!

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 07:05 pm:

Just a few thoughts that came to mind...
Brandy - I know exactly what you mean!! It's one reason we've been out of church for quite some time.

Ilovetom- I loved your comments about you not be there saying "look at me going to church" and you're there because you want to be. WOW! That's the ideal and wouldn't it be great if we all felt like that about our chosen religions. One reason we haven't gone back before now is because we didn't WANT to go back and because we felt there are just soooo many people there for show. We didn't want to be a part of that. And it may sound terrible, but as we begin to look for a church to attend, we have no desire to get "involved". I don't mean that to be disrespectful toward anyone who is involved in their church (above and beyond services I mean), but it's just been MY PERSONAL experience that many people are just doing a lot of their involvement for show. It can turn into "I do that, but he doesn't do that, our family did this but theirs didn't" kind of thing. That's just MY experience though.
And Ilovetome - we ALL behave badly!!!!

By Nicki on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 09:35 pm:

No church attendance here, we think along the same lines as Trina and Brandy.
Deanna, I understand so well what you are saying. Yes, "involvment for show" is a bit too common, (JMHO, too) and annoys me. I hope you are able to find a church for your little family.