A Hunting We Will Go, A Hunting We Will Go...

I wish we could find a doppelganger church. Or, if not *exactly* the same in an eerie yet comforting way, one that was almost the same but not quite. Like on The Simpsons when Bort and Liza save Krusty the Klown. It would be called Port Merrie EMC and would be ably helmed by one Claiton Gleeson.

Like our old church, it would be a diverse community of believers held together by a common love of God and each other. It would strive to manifest that diversity in its worship (hymns one week, Hillsong the next), its ministries (cradle roll for the newbies and senior lunches for the seasoned) and its leadership (all ages, both sexes). Best of all, it would be a place where all views and backgrounds were respected (even if respectfully disagreed with).

Sigh. Or, if we couldn't find the doppelganger church, I wish our *other* church wasn't quite so great (well, not really, but it would be easier to leave if we were storming out in a huff because no one consulted *us* on the plum-coloured back wall).

But, as we believe that a church community is important for so many reasons, we're hunting for one that has an Our Heroine/The Husband/The Girl/The Boy-sized hole in it. We're surrounded by Lutheran and United churches in our area; certainly potential places of community, but there are a few doctrinal issues that make us a bit hesitant.

The Husband tried a Mennonite church last week - yes, there really are Mennonites everywhere you look! It was an extremely welcoming church, but quite traditional in its worship and not a lot of children. I tried an Evangelical Free yesterday. Not the most welcoming (but to be fair, I was always terrible at welcoming new people), but it certainly had potential.

But how does one define "potential"? If we can't have everything, then what is settle-able and what is a must? Geographical distance? Surmountable, but makes connecting mid-week difficult. "Meat-y" sermons? Can do without if necessary, but it sure is nice to feel fed and not just loved each Sunday. Children's programming? Very important to us, but not necessarily a part of every church. Musical worship style? We like a bit of everything, but can we handle a church with only one set style?

Unfortunately, our other church (I can't say "former." It's still "home" to me) has left some awfully big shoes to fill. Ronald McDonald-sized if you will. The result is that I've become a bit of a church snob. I turned my nose up yesterday at the pastor who quoted Chuck Swindoll as his main source and then mispronounced "unanimity." And then I felt convicted for turning up my nose - fortunately I was in a good place to feel convincted.

(As petty as that reaction is, it does beg a question: can I/we feel comfortable at a church with sermons that seem watered-down?)

Ah well, no one said it would be easy and no one can expect to find the perfect church home on the first try. Well, our church back home was the first one we tried. But lightning doesn't strike twice.

Yesterday was dreary again, so we headed off to the Science Museum. It's like Touch the Universe. Except it hasn't been neglected since 1985 (or whatever year the funding ran out), so it's still cool.

The Boy with the Triceratops. Wearing his dinosaur shirt, of course.

The Girl playing some sort of game.

$35 on tickets and the highlight is colouring.

I liked some of it. It was awfully, oh I don't know, "science-ey." I was flashbacking to Grade 12 Physics with Mr. Hennessy. He was an exchange teacher from Tasmania and he called us "naughty sausages." And tried to teach us trigonometry in one day (for some reason, Grade 12 Math was scheduled concurrently, not as a prerequisite, so we lacked the necessary skills). SOHCAHTOA, baby!

Well, the kids are eating breakfast and the laundry's just about done, so we're almost ready to pack up and head out of here. Back to the True North for the three of us! Looking forward to loonies and twoonies (my wallet gets so fat from all these one-dollar bills) and knowing that it goes without saying that "guns are banned on these premises" in public buildings.