Church Tour 2018 – Plum Librarian LLC

Church Tour: Central United Methodist Church

This morning, Marie and I attended a 9:30 service at the Central United Methodist Church in downtown Lansing across from the Capitol. I’d only been inside this enormous church once but it was that experience that made them a definite for Church Tour. I was participating in a rally against the Second Gulf War onContinueContinue reading “Church Tour: Central United Methodist Church”

Checking in on Church Tour

For the past 5 months I have been on Church Tour, reading the Gospels, and trying to open myself up to Christianity. Trying to set aside my previous beliefs about Jesus and see where this new path would take me. Allowing Christian religious services and practices to touch my heart. I have been a regularContinueContinue reading “Checking in on Church Tour”

St. Martha’s Catholic Church

This week, my church buddy Jacob and I attended St. Martha’s in Okemos. This is the home church of my colleague and trivia team buddy Clare and she was our very lovely hostess during mass. Marie had to drop her hubby off at the airport this morning so she joined us for lunch after theContinueContinue reading “St. Martha’s Catholic Church”

If Jim Jones Could Do It… I’M JUST SAYIN

I get that a multi-cultural religious congregation is hard. And I’ve said, as a white woman, that it’s been difficult to be a part of a Muslim ummah (congregation) in America. I feel that I don’t have as much of a voice as Muslim-born men from majority-Muslim nations. And that became unacceptable to me. SoContinueContinue reading “If Jim Jones Could Do It… I’M JUST SAYIN”

Social Justice Vs Service

I’m finding that the churches I’m visiting are either big on social justice or they’re big on service. There may be some overlap, but the main focus is clear to even a casual observer. It’s on the bulletin boards. It’s in the church announcements. It’s preached from the pulpit. It’s what people are talking aboutContinueContinue reading “Social Justice Vs Service”

Ramadan 2018: 4: So, what’s up with fasting and church shopping at the same time?

One of my atheist parents’ greatest gifts to me when it comes to religion was that they passed on a strong, clear position that all religions are created equal. They all have plusses and minuses and they all fill similar personal and social needs. (That doesn’t mean they think cults should get tax exempt status.)ContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2018: 4: So, what’s up with fasting and church shopping at the same time?”

Church Shopping with the Red Cedar Friends

Marie took me and Jacob to her home church this week: the Red Cedar Friends. Remember how I said if I found God this search would be over? Well, I felt God in that silence. And that’s the first and most important thing. But I’ve decided to take it slow. The Red Cedar Friends isContinueContinue reading “Church Shopping with the Red Cedar Friends”