I enjoy life in the Church, most of the time. I know that I am always talking about some issue or another, and critically looking at the issues, but for the most part, I really like being part of the Church, especially the sacramental and worship experience each week.
And I like Ecumenical work. I love building bridges between Churches and their Ministers.
When I do challenge the people of God on a variety of issues, it is not because I am trying to be mean, judgmental, or controlling, although I am sure I do all the above at sometime or another. Just ask my children.
No, what I am trying to do is encourage all of us to be the best we can be for God. And the worship experience allows us to come together, as a community of faith to experience God together.
We have an opportunity to lay down our differences, our disagreements,and worship as one body. We come as a community boldly to throne of grace seeking the presence, favor, mercy, love, and face of our Heavenly Father and Mother.
In the Church that I associate with, I am privileged to participate in the worship experience in a variety of roles. Sometimes I am the Homilist. Other times the Liturgist. Various times the 
Celebrant. Always a participant.
[Graduation Celebration, 2010, of our Youth and Young Adults as they prepare to go on to college, grad school, or into the world with employment.
.Rev. Bert Coffman on the back row, far left. Dr. Abby, back row, far right.]
Worship also takes many forms. Sometimes it is more formal with graduates, academic presence, and robes with hoods.
Other times it is more liturgical, with vestments, processionals, readings and responses, and the celebration of the sacraments.
[Dr. Abby, Rev. Bert, and Rev. Carol preparing for the liturgy]
And then there is the relaxed and informal moments. These are the times when we come together and share our love in Christ.
[Left, Dr. Abby, and right, Rev. Carol, share stories of their faith with the congregation]
I appreciate all these forms of getting together with one another, and with God. They remind us we are a family, a community. As with any family, times can be stressful and messy. But we are still family.
Denominations are slow to change, if ever. Just like most families I know. We get frustrated and decide to find another family, only to discover at some point that they are just as bad as where we left.
I get frustrated with my Church, my denomination over many issues. They are not going to change, however. And I have come to understand this.
I still have a responsibility though to call the Church I am a part of to accountability, even though I know it will not change. I am only accountable to my behavior and actions in the family.
So I really have only four choices. The first is stay and try to improve the place I am in, without expecting too much in the way of change. The second is to leave and find a place that is more in tune with my understanding of the Gospel, even though I know that this will not be perfect either, and I will eventually feel the need to call something, someone, into accountability, as I understand the Gospel.
Or I could create my own church and community. In the end I will find that I do not agree totally with where this has gone and will again want to call into question and accountability where I believe we have gotten off track.
And last, I could quit. I could be like Ann Rice did and quit Christianity without quitting Christ.
The last option sometimes is attractive. But I always come back to the place where I miss being home with the family. Even with all our failings, short-comings, misunderstandings, and disagreements, we still need each other. See you at Church or at Mass.
