What happens at church?

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I am very curious about how some of you have so many interactions at church. It seems that many here have a bishop or some other person at church that bothers them and causes stress and grief to their life. It seems that many find a group in their ward to cause problems or be clique-ish, or making facebook/blog posts that annoy or bother half the ward.

Whenever I read these things I am always kind of shocked that anyone has this much interaction with people in their ward. Perhaps it is because my kids are young, perhaps it is because I am viewed as a waste of time in my ward, perhaps my ward just doesn't care enough in general, I'm not sure.

However most weeks my Sunday consists of talking to 3-4 people that I consider friends, saying "Hello" or perhaps if I am in a good mood "How's it going?" to another 3-6 people, getting texts with foul language in them from landpoke and YOhio, then teaching my class and trying to give a pound or pat on the back to the 5 kids that I had in Teachers Q. My bishop never asks to talk to me, nobody ever confronts me about political issues, nobody even gets upset at my snazzy suits. Sometimes when I read CUF I wish I was in a more exciting ward.

For those that seem to have more involved wards, what do you think makes them so involved? Is it not possible to just skip/ignore the people that cause the stress?

[YOhio]

To answer your main question, our primary family worship service is called sacrament meeting. It’s held in our chapels on Sunday and lasts approximately one hour. You’re welcome to come alone or bring your family; children are present in virtually all our congregations.

We sing hymns (hymn books are provided). Church members say opening and closing prayers. We partake of the sacrament (communion), which consists of prepared bread and water, blessed and passed to members of the congregation by priesthood holders. And we listen to two or more speakers who are usually members of the congregation. You might be surprised that we don’t have just one pastor or preacher. We do have an unpaid bishop who presides over each congregation (called a ward).

Before or after sacrament meeting there are a variety of other age-appropriate meetings you and your children can attend. If you want to attend these additional meetings: Ask someone for directions. If they don’t know, they’ll find someone who does. Visit the Meetinghouse Locator to find the beginning time of the three-hour block of meetings and the starting time of sacrament meeting.

[Moliere]

Is it not possible to just skip/ignore the people that cause the stress?

This is what I do, although there are very few people that bug me at church. I love 50% of the ward, like 45%, and avoid 5%. I don't go out of my way to shake hands with leaders (stake leaders and others) but I'm good friends with the bishopric and they are all great guys so of course we chat when they aren't running around. Of course I live in Texas so the proportion of great people to losers is much higher than in Utah.

[Indy Coug]

I'm racking my brain and I can't honestly think of anyone in my wards over the last 12 years that I outright disliked.

My level of socializing has varied from unit to unit, but on average probably isn't real high, so maybe I just needed to provide myself more opportunity to be bothered by others.

[UteStar]

I would say that I really like 25% of my ward...like about 30% of my ward...neutral to about 40% of the ward...and not care much for the other 5% of the ward. There really is nobody that I dislike but there are a couple of people that I don't care much for and that fits in the group. But I talk to quite a few people during church and enjoy it.

[Art Vandelay]

I would say that I really like 25% of my ward...like about 30% of my ward...neutral to about 40% of the ward...and not care much for the other 5% of the ward. There really is nobody that I dislike but there are a couple of people that I don't care much for and that fits in the group. But I talk to quite a few people during church and enjoy it.

Strange. That is exactly the inverse of how your ward feels about you. But hey the 5% that like you, really really like you.

[Pheidippides]

This is what I do, although there are very few people that bug me at church. I love 50% of the ward, like 45%, and avoid 5%. I don't go out of my way to shake hands with leaders (stake leaders and others) but I'm good friends with the bishopric and they are all great guys so of course we chat when they aren't running around. Of course I live in Texas so the proportion of great people to losers is much higher than in Utah.

Me too. Actually, I like 30%, tolerate 30%, am indifferent to 30%, avoid 9% and very much dislike and wish ill will upon two people or so. Both of said two people are in leadership positions of one kind or another and I would be happy to tell exactly what I think of them if somebody would but ask.

[UteStar]

Strange. That is exactly the inverse of how your ward feels about you. But hey the 5% that like you, really really like you.

Those are people are lying to you and messing with you. I am pretty much universally beloved.

[byu71]

I really don't know 90% of my ward and try to keep it that way.

I hate people trying to line me up and inviting me to empty nesters. My home teacher is an awesome guy. My first Bishop in the ward is an awesome guy. My Dad's cousin is an awesome guy. I really like the current Bishop.

I don't know anyone else well enough to say whether I like them or not.

[statman]

Characters at church...

We had this lady in our ward in TX who was BIZARRE. She was mid forties, kinda dumpy looking. Wore makeup but never quite right. Hair always was kinda ratty. Clothes never quite fit and never quite looked right. Her husband was the most straight-laced guy you'll ever meet. On the High Council. Very boy scoutish. And they were doing well financially. He was a fairly senior guy at motorola - accountant, I think. Kids were very nerdy, but nice enough and liked by other kids in the ward in spite of their nerdiness (and their apparently freaky parents).

Mom had one WEIRD habit - and Dad probably had one WEIRD fetish (not that there's anything wrong with that). She wore stripper shoes to church. And I mean as stripperish as you can get. And fishnet stockings sometimes went with them.

It was rather amazing...

My wife and I still talk about the shoes 10 years later. My wife's vote for the sluttiest was red shiny platform pumps. ONLY a stripper (or hooker) would wear those babies. My vote went to the black patent leather over-the-knee boots with the spike heel, the slit in the back and just a little padding in the knee <wink, wink>. What on EARTH would possess someone to even consider wearing those things to CHURCH?!

[mUUser]

I seem to run into two problems with my Bishop.

1. Basically, I want to go to church, worship, then come home. I don't seek out a lot of interaction -- just want to be left alone generally. For those that I've connected with in the ward, I make an effort to get together with them outside of church.

2. Travel sports means we'll miss some church. He's called me in on a couple of occassions about that.

The church is my bishop's life, and I don't think he understands why it isn't mine.