After moving to a new city, I was glad to discover that there were several branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, in my area. I began shopping for my new church home with a wish list in mind—I wanted a church that was convenient, friendly, and inspiring. 

First, I figured out which churches were located near public transportation or had easy parking. I then looked for a church with a larger membership so there would be more people to share the work. I was willing to participate in church, but I preferred that doing so wouldn’t encroach on my urban lifestyle.

I actually wasn’t in a hurry to join a church. I’d actively served in various roles at my previous church, and part of me felt I deserved a vacation from membership. I was content popping into the services and then rushing off to enjoy my day or evening. I was probably aware that this was a self-centered way to approach church, but at the time I reasoned that I was taking care of myself by setting boundaries. I see now that my true motive was to prevent church obligations from interfering with my sense of fun.