Ok here it goes. We moved here last year and I would like to find a church for my almost 8 year old and I to go to. She wants to go to Sunday school and I wouldn't mind attending church again if the atmosphere is comfortable and people are friendly and welcoming. This is my dilemma...

I was baptized Lutheran and attended the church until I was 5 and we moved. I then attended a United Methodist Church for almost 10 years. I then went through a period where I didn't believe everything I was taught. I am still trying to figure out where I fit. I am more of a spiritual person then religious I guess you can say. I believe in God I believe Jesus existed but I feel the Bible is just stories retold by people and changed to fit their beliefs. I attended a Metaphysical Chapel a couple times in PA and loved it but we ended up moving here. I am frustrated that there is a Scientology and Unitarian Church but no church similar to the Metaphysical chapel I attended. Unless I want to drive to Silver Spring, MD.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Also please tell me the main differences between non-denominational and inter-denominational, episcopal, methodist and united methodist, southern baptist, baptist, reformed etc. Oh and for goodness sakes what is Wesleyn and Seventh Day Adventist?????? Any input would be appreciated. Please don't bible thump me though my mother-in-law is a strict pentecostal and I hear enough.

Ok here it goes. We moved here last year and I would like to find a church for my almost 8 year old and I to go to. She wants to go to Sunday school and I wouldn't mind attending church again if the atmosphere is comfortable and people are friendly and welcoming. This is my dilemma...

I was baptized Lutheran and attended the church until I was 5 and we moved. I then attended a United Methodist Church for almost 10 years. I then went through a period where I didn't believe everything I was taught. I am still trying to figure out where I fit. I am more of a spiritual person then religious I guess you can say. I believe in God I believe Jesus existed but I feel the Bible is just stories retold by people and changed to fit their beliefs. I attended a Metaphysical Chapel a couple times in PA and loved it but we ended up moving here. I am frustrated that there is a Scientology and Unitarian Church but no church similar to the Metaphysical chapel I attended. Unless I want to drive to Silver Spring, MD.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Also please tell me the main differences between non-denominational and inter-denominational, episcopal, methodist and united methodist, southern baptist, baptist, reformed etc. Oh and for goodness sakes what is Wesleyn and Seventh Day Adventist?????? Any input would be appreciated. Please don't bible thump me though my mother-in-law is a strict pentecostal and I hear enough.

OK - but I apologize that I have to "thump" just a tiny bit here.

First: There Is Only One Truth.

I am glad to know that you want to find a church for your 8 year old but it should be one that you feel will show your child the Truth and that you together grow in that Truth. Since there are many denominational churches to choose from, why not try going to the source of Truth to find your answer. You don't need to go to church, per sé but it helps if you go to God.
This can be done in the privacy of your home with your child in prayer - asking for God's Guidance to help you in your family and to sincerely invite Him into your heart and home .

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

As far as your feeling confused, here is just one last thump:

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Trusting and asking God to personally guide your life and your child's life is the first step.
:)

OK - but I apologize that I have to "thump" just a tiny bit here.

First: There Is Only One Truth.

I am glad to know that you want to find a church for your 8 year old but it should be one that you feel will show your child the Truth and that you together grow in that Truth. Since there are many denominational churches to choose from, why not try going to the source of Truth to find your answer. You don't need to go to church, per sé but it helps if you go to God.
This can be done in the privacy of your home with your child in prayer - asking for God's Guidance to help you in your family and to sincerely invite Him into your heart and home .

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

As far as your feeling confused, here is just one last thump:

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Trusting and asking God to personally guide your life and your child's life is the first step.
:)

She attended a church last year for AWANA and really enjoyed it. I personally would not want to go to that church regularly. Since we are new I wanted to find a church that fits our family so we can meet people with similar beliefs and be able to make new friends. Thanks for your insight though.

The "Thumpers" are going to be all over you in a few minutes. So let me see if I can squeeze in a small bit of helpful info before I have to block this thread...

There is very little difference between Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopal or (ducking for cover) even Catholic. They all are structured very much the same. Wesleyn is an off shoot from Methodist, so although I have never been to one of their services, I think they could be included in this list. The differences in all the groups I've already mentioned is in the fine details, not the big picture. Given your lack of direction, getting the big picture is important, the details are icing on the cake.

Baptists vary widely among themselves. Most could be classified with the above mentioned groups, others are very fundumental and strict in their interpretations of the Bible. Some of them would take your statement about the Bible being "just stories" in stride and (like most of the above mentioned groups) talk to you about why those stories have meaning and value. Others would pull out the stake, ropes and lighter fluid.

Don't know much about Seventh Day Adventists, except that they celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday because that was the original Sabbath. Sunday came about because folks started celebrating Jesus rising from the dead being a more important event than the day God took a nap after creating the world.

Non-denominational chuches are trying to capitalize on the fact that so many of the others are all the same, so they try to focus on the big picture and avoid the details....problem is that most of the ministers were raised in churches or instructed by others who did focus on many unimportant details, so how successful they are will change widely depending on the minister. So, you have to do some shopping around to find one with a message and a way of delivering that message that works for you.