Nederland Community Presbyterian Church
For our third stop, we decided to stay local and try the Nederland Community Presbyterian Church.
Following the Presbyterian liturgy, the church added a "Ned touch," as many of the community members (and even the Pastor), grabbed instruments at one point and played some interesting renditions of familiar music.
The church itself seems rather comfortable. The presbyter, Donald Dexter, delivered a sermon marrying the burning bush story from Exodus 3:1-15 and the story of Jesus revealing his plan to the apostles recounted in Matthew 16:21-28 in order to ask the congregation "Who sent You?"
As the church struggles to walk the line that divides social conformism from social irrelevance, how can Christians struggle to be in the world but not of the world?
I understand this tension, though it is not one that has particularly plagued my own soul in some time. I have been a part of too many congregations that formed their own worlds, leading members to live apart from the culture on Sunday, but conformed to the culture (and all too often without any distinction whatsoever) during the week.
I believe my life is about serving my fellow man in both spheres, and I do not recognize the privilege assumed by many Christians. We are called to work in the world, and any movement away from that tenant of truth violates the very point of trying to live by these principles.
That said, I did not have a negative response to this church at all. Every church I've ever been a member of struggles with this question. It's just not a struggle with which I personally identify.
Bethany cooled to the idea of returning here. From here view, should we move to Boulder in a year, we would be better served forming our communal ties there, so as to not be forced to restart this process next year.
But going to church 1 mile from our house would have been awfully convenient, though ...
Following the Presbyterian liturgy, the church added a "Ned touch," as many of the community members (and even the Pastor), grabbed instruments at one point and played some interesting renditions of familiar music.
The church itself seems rather comfortable. The presbyter, Donald Dexter, delivered a sermon marrying the burning bush story from Exodus 3:1-15 and the story of Jesus revealing his plan to the apostles recounted in Matthew 16:21-28 in order to ask the congregation "Who sent You?"
As the church struggles to walk the line that divides social conformism from social irrelevance, how can Christians struggle to be in the world but not of the world?
I understand this tension, though it is not one that has particularly plagued my own soul in some time. I have been a part of too many congregations that formed their own worlds, leading members to live apart from the culture on Sunday, but conformed to the culture (and all too often without any distinction whatsoever) during the week.
I believe my life is about serving my fellow man in both spheres, and I do not recognize the privilege assumed by many Christians. We are called to work in the world, and any movement away from that tenant of truth violates the very point of trying to live by these principles.
That said, I did not have a negative response to this church at all. Every church I've ever been a member of struggles with this question. It's just not a struggle with which I personally identify.
Bethany cooled to the idea of returning here. From here view, should we move to Boulder in a year, we would be better served forming our communal ties there, so as to not be forced to restart this process next year.
But going to church 1 mile from our house would have been awfully convenient, though ...
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