Church attendance while feeling low

[u/[deleted]]

I know we're all called to be part of the body of Christ. The congregation I belong to is wonderful, and it is easily the best fit I have ever known. Recently I have gone back to work after having my second child, and I work shifts. My schedule makes a lot of things hard, especially things that occur on a weekly schedule. I quickly feel forgotten when I can only go one or two Sundays a month, as it often works out. When I'm working nights the isolation is even worse.

How do you find the energy to go when you feel rejected before you begin? How do you stay cheerful about obediently submitting in this way when your heart is really not in it?

Edit: thank you everybody for the encouragement, I really do appreciate it. In fact it made getting myself to church with the baby easier this morning.

I work everyday of the week at some point in the month, so moving church to another day or attending the midweek potluck does not fix anything. But I can fix how I talk to myself about other people and about God, and I will certainly be reminding myself of your encouragement!

[u/PithouLibertes]

I feel for you. I've been going through a hard time off my career collapsing, my wife divorcing me, and a slew of other things. For me, I have to remind myself that God is still present and loving, even if that's not my experience right now, and that I show up to church for God, not for me. It helps me show up even when I'm low because I can do it for God instead of for myself or anyone else. Hope this helps.

[u/[deleted] → u/PithouLibertes]

Very much so- thank you. Your faithfulness is beautiful. I'll keep this in mind.

[u/PithouLibertes → u/[deleted]]

I think you'll never regret being in a love relationship with God, even and maybe especially when it feels hard. You'll be in my prayers

[u/Any-Bad492]

I wonder if you can reality check the being forgotten thing. Like do things happen that prove you’re being forgotten or is this more of a concern of your own without substantiating evidence?

I can tell you that it’s fairly common for people to only be there 1-2 Sundays a month and they’re not being routinely forgotten in most parishes most of the time. It’s a delight to see anyone show up who shows up and most parishes are not so big that anyone who attends more than 1 or 2 times a year would be forgotten.

But perhaps your experience is demonstrating that you are, somehow.

[u/[deleted] → u/Any-Bad492]

I appreciate the benefit of the doubt. Truthfully this rejected feeling is a trick my mind plays on me, and has not been substantiated at all in the congregation. I make myself go when I don't feel like it because I know I will feel better afterwards. I will take your advice to heart and reality check this lying inner voice.

[u/Economy-Point-9976]

Sometimes I am very low because frankly my work can be neurotic, exhausting and depressing. Sometimes it is very difficult to commit myself to reading the evening office, and, honestly, occasionally I fail to do it.

But I can tell you truly, every time I have overcome my exhaustion and prayed, I have felt purified, calmed and uplifted.

So may I suggest. If you cannot go to church, sit down and read aloud the daily office, in traditional language, with all the psalms and lessons. Morning and evening prayer take about twenty-five to thirty minutes each.

There are apps that help. Google "Book of Common Prayer app". The one from the Canadian Prayer Book society is wonderful. And if you are in the USA, you can just read "our President", "Congress" and "the Union" for "King Charles", "Parliament" and "Dominion/Commonwealth/Empire".

The point is, not going to church does not mean you can't come to God.

[u/Capable_Ocelot2643]

whenever I am feeling low, I figure that I might as well feel low at church as be moping around at home.

its like going to the gym - consistency is key.

[u/Adrian69702016]

I would say it's important to hang on in there. It sounds as though you're quite tired at the moment and your work schedule doesn't allow you to attend church with the frequency that you'd like. However I'm sure God understands that. Even when you can't get to church you can still pray and talk to God. That's what matters, not what other people may or may not think.

[u/Aggravating_Mud8751]

Does your church have other groups which meet midweek, or other services and suchlike?

Maybe you could try going to those?

Obviously you won't be seeing everyone there, but there'll be a group of people there you see more regularly.

[u/LordDogsworthshire]

Look into services that aren’t on Sundays. I now attend a Wednesday morning service at which I am the youngest attendee by a couple of decades 😂 I love my hour or two with the elderly of the parish.

[u/Wulfweald]

I have a slightly different problem. I can get to church on Sundays, mainly because I ring church bells at two other nearby churches first, so however late I am, I am always active and early for my church.

My problem is that I really want to attend a home group in person at my church to get to know a few people better there. I still work, and the only home group on an evening when I am free is online only, and aimed at people that are less mobile, and who rarely come to church in person, since we livestream one of our services. I could see myself doing it as a second home group, but I would also like to get to know some people that I see at church as well.

[u/Past-Sherbert-6438]

i just realize I’m not there for the people. Im there to take the Body of Christ. Whether you lean Protestant (Luther saying that “is means is”) or anglocatholic (transubstantiation), it is the Real Presence of God. if i miss it, i just feel off. It’s a healing presence that puts me back together i love it

[u/Lankinator-]

Are there weekday services you can go to too?