How far to church?

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reformedcop

reformedcop

Puritan Board Freshman
Just wondering how far everybody travels to their home church.

My family travels about 59 miles each way to church on Sunday. We have done so for about three years. We don't mind the drive because the preaching and teaching is outstanding. Our pastor is absolutely awesome.

The part that is starting to wear on us is the fact that the distance really makes it difficult to participate in Bible studies, prayer groups and other fellowship activities.

Does anyone else experience this?
 
30 miles one way. Our church is in a rural area, and once my family lived there. But we found it necessary to move into the city and now we have to make the trip. It is a beautiful drive, though, especially in the fall.
 
Our church is 130 miles away. It takes about two hours each way.

We interpret the fourth commandment pretty strictly and so we spend the drive to church time listening to sermons and discussing them and singing hymns. On the way home we usually talk about the services that day and our children discuss the issues that arose for them throughout the day (often clarification on the sermon, but lately the topics have been cliques, avoiding gossip, overcoming evil and offering Christian liberty). It is a really good time as a family and a nice end to the Lord's Day.

I wouldn't recommend it, but since it is what the Lord has providentially given us, we have found it to be a joy.

jenney
 
reformedcop said:
Just wondering how far everybody travels to their home church.

My family travels about 59 miles each way to church on Sunday. We have done so for about three years. We don't mind the drive because the preaching and teaching is outstanding. Our pastor is absolutely awesome.

The part that is starting to wear on us is the fact that the distance really makes it difficult to participate in Bible studies, prayer groups and other fellowship activities.

Does anyone else experience this?
Click to expand...

Our trip to church every Lords day is grueling to say the least; It is about 3 inches! I move from my office to the living room. We meet here in my home.:D
 
Scott Bushey said:
Our trip to church every Lords day is grueling to say the least; It is about 3 inches! I move from my office to the living room. We meet here in my home.:D
Click to expand...

Man, that's sad to have only a little room to meet. Is it 6 inches to the kitchen and 11 inches to the bathroom? :D
 
45 minutes drive each way in the morning, and 2 minutes drive in the evening :)

For those folks who are driving for an hour or more, do you think the Lord is calling you to do this long term, or maybe to move closer?

Matt
 
Currently I make a 40 minute drive (if traffic is really good, it's 35 - and any time I go down in the week, it's bound to take longer).
Hopefully this isn't a long-term situation; I graduate in 6 months and things will probably change - somehow! - after then, but I'm not really sure where exactly I'm going to end up. :)
 
I walk a few houses down the street and cut across a large field and I'm there (about 5 minutes). I haven't driven there yet (always walked).:)
 
Wow thanks for all the responses. It looks like lots of people have been or are in the same boat. We actually really don't mind the drive and use the time in the much of same way that jenny described. Sometimes its just hard to see all the really good things that take place during the week and know that we won't be able to participate.

As Trevorjohnson said in the other thread it is difficult to get involved in the "life of the church".

The preaching is extremely solid and the worship is very reverent so its woth every minute of the drive.
 
Sunday, The Most Modern Day Of All

I once drove 2 hours each way to church. At this time in my life, I'm wanting to find something in my own community to help build. The question is how far can I bend before breaking my back? :think:

There is a theologically and lifestyle compatible church about 30 miles away, but the only real option locally (I have this thing against women or queer pastors, and that really cuts down on the options) is an LC-MS church. The Pastor is great, and conservative and confessional. I love the liturgy, and since I'm from a German family that immigrated here in the mid 1800's, I fit right in to the Missouri Synod. :cheers2:

But its a tough dilemma. People will be disappointed with me whichever way I choose. There are pros and cons on both sides. I like the church 30 miles away, it has great people and accomodates many of my Reformed quirks like paedo-communion. The LC-MS church would make all my children wait until a 2-year catechism class in the 8th grade before taking communion (seems ridiculous). In fact, I don't even know how long it would be before I would be allowed to commune. (I might be hard to catechize! :lol: ) And there's lots of issues like I don't celebrate Christmas but its pretty built in to the whole shebang there. But I SOOO appreciate that there is a confessional, conservative Pastor in my hometown, and feel pulled to help him build up my community in Christ.
 
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21 Miles, 28 Minutes to spend a blessed day, with my beloved brethren worshipping and praising our glorious God and Savior.
 
reformedcop said:
Just wondering how far everybody travels to their home church.

My family travels about 59 miles each way to church on Sunday. We have done so for about three years. We don't mind the drive because the preaching and teaching is outstanding. Our pastor is absolutely awesome.

The part that is starting to wear on us is the fact that the distance really makes it difficult to participate in Bible studies, prayer groups and other fellowship activities.

Does anyone else experience this?
Click to expand...

Hi -

Somehow I missed this (your signature!) but I know your pastor and what you're talking about... I'm sure it's a blessing to sit under his preaching and teaching. Please say hi :wave: to Reddit for me. We've lost contact since we were in the same church together in Illinois several years ago... I was just reminiscing with my wife yesterday about Reddit and I teaching a Sunday School class on Nehemiah together back in the day :think:

Todd
 
Philip A said:
This morning I am getting ready for the hour and a half drive to the nearest Reformed church.
Click to expand...

...and the worst thing about church being so far away is that a flat tire can put a stop to the whole trip :mad:

At least I noticed it before leaving.
 
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