apples! very small rocks! cider! lead!

going to a new church for the first time is rather like the first day of school. VERY rather like, if you, like me, are one of the shyest people on earth. and you are going by yourself. the 4 year old does not count, in this situation, as another person.

luckily, there seem to only be about 50 people in this congregation. which, although incredibly sad, makes it easier for the terrified among us to join in. too many people is overwhelming. and everyone was very, very welcoming.

since we moved back to australia just over 4 years ago, i think i've been to church about... 4 or 5 times. its not that i haven't wanted to, but it gets difficult when you have to go on your own. my husband doesn't like church much, and to make things even MORE difficult, he's catholic, and i'm anglican. so i'm not allowed to take communion at any church he would want to go to, and he wont take communion at any church i want to go to. and i don't drive, so i either need a very close by church, or i need to impose upon his life to take me. luckily, both these have happened.

the church i went to last weekend is about 3 or 4 blocks from my house - easily accessible in nice weather. i walk twice as far to take my son to preschool. and hubby has said he will join me in the walk, or drive me if the weather is too icky. he has no interest in going himself, but thinks it will be good for me and critter.

and the people were wonderful. as i've said, i haven't attended church much in the past few years. the place i used to attend handed out a prayer book and a hymn book upon entry, so i always had everything on hand. this church is very very much smaller, and only hands out the notices. so i was slightly stuck. not to worry! years of church attendance have pretty much seared all the words into my mind. but someone across the aisle nipped over and handed me an open prayer book. on the right page.

i cried that day. i'm hoping it was mostly pregnancy hormones getting to me - i get very excessively weepy. but it was also just so... nice. it felt so GOOD to be in church. it felt amazing.

i'm very disappointed that i cant go this weekend. i made plans months ago that i cant get out of, but next weekend ill be back again. and the weekend after.. and after that.. and after that...






*for the normal among you, the title comes from monty pythons holy grail, burn the witch scene - things that float in water. also among the list is churches.