My Life in Bits

Local Info - Churches in the Upper Valley (VT and NH)

There's a Cathedral in Norwich! (Nowich, UK 2001)

(Current as of 2005/06.)

Overview

Here's a brief rundown on Churches and Christian resources in the Upper Valley region^(def.) of Vermont and New Hampshire. This listing is subjective and reflects my efforts to find a good evangelical church that has strong teaching, fellowship, and community. The reviews here reflect the experiences of a late 20's something guy to find a well grounded Christian community. If you are a similar place in life, this listing may be of use in finding a church. If you aren't a similar place in life, then this may also be of use, after all, as a church is a family, a good church can accomodate all members of a family.

Why?

Why did I bother with this listing? In a nutshell, I couldn't find one anywhere else. When I last moved, I was able to find a resource like this, and it was greatly useful in finding a church. So, here's my chance to return something:

Local Bible Studies / Christian Events (Not tied Directly to a Church)
Local Churches - Reviews, locations (maps) links to websites

Local Bible Studies / Christian Events (Not tied Directly to a church)

Valley Home Fellowship Group - an interdenominational group of 20's and 30's Christians who meet weekly for a bible study. Currently they are meeting on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM.

Opinion - for a 20's and 30's bible study in the Upper Valley this is probably the best one available. This study primarily exists because a number of local Christians want a chance to study the bible together, to grown in faith, and to encourage each other in faith. The actual bible studies tend to attract 7 to 12 people each week, with 9 or 10 being a typical group. Usually a reasonable level of preparation is put into study preparation, although it can be a little hit or miss at times.

Crossroads

Crossroads is - a companion program to the Valley Home Fellowship group. Crossroads is a monthly event that takes place on the last Monday of each month. It is a basically a dinner event the provides a great opportunity to get to know a wider range of Christians in the area. This even periodicaly draws people from as far away as Piermont (that's far in New England terms!). The Crossroads event is not a bible study, but is intended to be more of a Christian outreach event. This event is more closely tied with the Valley Bible Church, and is listed on their Regular Activities page. (Note! this page is usually out of date and the Crossroads event frequently does not take place at the Crossroads Cafe. Email the Valley Home Fellowship group to get the location of the next event.)

Opinion - great group of people, well worth attending. At times this has been more of an evangelical outreach event, now it is just a social event. Valley Bible Church could really do with getting these webpage organized, who knows how many people give up on this group after using the awful directions on the Valley Bible Church webpage.

Dartmouth Resources - Navigators and Christian Impact at Dartmouth

Not being involved with Dartmouth, I have not had much exposure to either of these groups, but apparently both are strong and do good work.

Local Churches - Reviews, locations (maps) links to websites

Valley Bible Church, White River Junction, VT (map) - A moderately sized (two services, maybe 50-70 people each service) evangelical church. This is one of the primary evangelical churches in the area. Known to have (relatively) good community and fellowship. At times following the sermon can be like herding cats (lets see, was that an aside to an aside, or are we on point 8b of the sermon?). They also run the Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) before between the Sunday services. The 20's and 30's group of the ABF that I attended four or five times didn't use bibles or have much fellowship, but apparently they do study bibles and have fellowship during the fall season. ABF doesn't meet in the summer.

Opinion - Valley Bible Church is a well grounded church with lots of well meaning and dedicated Christians. Sermon-wise, the Sunday services can be lacking at times. Overall communication and attention to detail are often weak.

Grace Outreach Church, West Lebanon, NH (map) - The largest and best known Charismatic church in the area. Not being much of a Charismatic myself, I attended only once, and felt that while the worship style was not exactly my preference, the sermon was long on emotion and short on substance.

Thetford Baptist Church, Thetford, VT (map) - a great church in the middle of nowwhere, actually it's just north of the Norwich - Thetford town line. Thetford Baptist Church seems to be great church with a community of 40+(?) regular members.

Opinion - As I only attended this church once, my views on this church are rather limited. This church did have good preaching and a welcoming and seemingly active congregation. I would have liked to have made this my home church, there appeared to be precious few people there who were at a similar point in life as myself. If you view small as a limiting factor, then its size does limit it.

West Lebanon Baptist Church, West Lebanon, VT (no map available) - a solid Baptist church centrally located on Seminary Hill in West Lebanon NH. There are probably 60 to 100 people in regular attendance. The congregation also represents a nice cross section of society. Music ranges between hymns and praise songs. The preaching usually stays well focused with several clear points and a take home message.

Opinion - West Lebanon Baptist Church seems to have an active and caring congregation that is most things to most people. The music ranges between praise songs and hymns.

Christ Community Church, Plainfield, NH (map) - a nice church in a fantastic barn-like building. Solid preaching along with a welcoming congregation. Mabye 40-60 members in regular attendance.

Opinion - Reasonably well rounded church, several friends are regular members. I found the bible studies to be slightly ~~unnerving (no, they weren't sacrificing chickens)~~ disconcerting due to the teaching style pursued, the contents of the bible studies were great, but there was almost no discussion. After reading the passage to be studied, the assistant preacher would tell the bible study group what was meant to be learned from the passage. This would last 45 minutes to an hour. Maybe one or two questions would be interjected in this period. That combined with a very family oriented atmosphere (lots of very inquiring questions about me coming alone) gave me strange feeling about the place. These views were formed over the course of six or eight weeks of Sunday attendance and three weeks of bible study attendance.

Update! (6/06)

I have been contacted by the Christ Community Church concerning the comments made on this site. Some of the members of their church took exception with some of the opinions expressed here. A concern was that some of these comments were too unqualified and ungraciously worded. After some discussion by email, I was able to gain a better understanding of their views and their approach to communication. I offered to clarify my comments and to more fully describe how I came to the views that I have. It was also my understanding that the CCC leadership would prefer that I remove any language that might be construed as offensive to members of their congregation. I declined that request and instead have chosen to pursue the path of speaking the truth in love.

As an editing note, the original writing that the CCC church staff objected is marked with a ~~strike through~~ and the updated text is alongside it in italics. This revision approach was chosen so that others might have an understanding about what language was being debated.

It is my current view that some within the CCC tend to have an approach that has a greater emphasis on obeying church leadership than many other evangelical churches have. There also appears to be strong sentiment within some church members of zealously, and offensively, applying their interpretation of the scripture to other Christians (and perhaps themselves, although I do not know the church well enough to have an informed opinion). In my recent experience in communicating with a member of CCC pastoral staff, I came to the view that was not interacting with a lukewarm Christian; instead I found the totality of our dialog to be rather scalding.

I would also like to mention that while my actions of leaving the CCC church and attending another church do speak to my overall views of this church, I also have the view that there are many wonderful and sincere Christians at the CCC. I also would like to note that the off-putting characteristics that I observed at the CCC may no longer be present, or they may not be an issue for everyone. If you are considering going to this church, please evaluate this church based upon its present merits.

If you are truly evaluating whether or not you would like to be involved in this church but would like to address any concerns that you might have with my opinions, please feel free to contact me.

Olivet Baptist Church, West Lebanon, NH (map) - a small Baptist church with a close and very welcoming congregation. There is an enthusiastic atmosphere and there appears to be a real interest to follow God. This church has a conservative bent, on the surface, most men wear ties and the women were usually in dresses. It is my impression that this is the type of place where women do not speak much (preaching, congregational prayer, etc.) during church. Music tended towards hymns and the bibles are definitely the King James Version. A very enthusastic preaching style (is that BOOMING or is it controlled SHOUTING?).

Opinion - These folks put the fun in FUNdamental.

First Congregational Church of Woodstock, Vermont, Woodstock, VT (map) - solid preaching, well focused, easy to follow, and well grounded. The fellowship and community aspects of this church are weaker than some other churches, but it is something they are actively working on this area. Some folks who like there Sunday message with a sugar coating so it doesn't upset there stomach may find the preaching uncomfortably direct at times, that being said, this isn't a fire and brimstone place. Theologically, this church tends to be rather 'reformed' (someone in passing once described the pastor as a 5000 point Calvinist). However to my relief, I found that few members wear their 'reformed' credentials on their sleeve as some are known to do.

Christ Redeemer Church, Hanover, NH (map) - I don't have much experience with this church, it is purposely located within walking distance of Dartmouth College to make it accesible to students. It has more of a contemporary (not happy-clappy though) style of worship. In the past sermons could at times wander a bit, apparently they are getting better though.

Note: ValleyNet, a local ISP, also maintains a listing of local churches. It is an ok listing, however it is not comprehensive.

My Experience

Vox Clematis En Deserto

No, I'm not that voice of one crying it the wilderness, but my experiences here have been one of a great deal of spiritual wilderness. What is is like being a single, late 20s, early 30s alpha-male living in secular, rural New England?

In a word, tough. I've attended four churches that I have thought would be my congregational home and I have also visited numerous other churches. While the church experiences have never been overtly unpleasent, I often felt like a square peg in a round hole. With great effort and convincing I could be made to fit, but in reality it just was not meant to be. At least twice I have given serious thought and study as to why believers should even go to church. While I am convinced that believers should participate in a church, it has been my experience that for people similar to myself, few if any of the local churches broadly fill the biblical roles that a church is supposed to fill. I have been able to find good teaching, but I have not been able to find good fellowship or community within a church. Yes, many of the churches do have good fellowship and community - for families, fathers, children, and the older congregants.

In the course of attending a variety of churches, I once inquired about a mens fellowship / lecture session only to realize that men in this context was a code word for 'fathers' and 'husbands'. I felt in like a ham sandwich at a bar-mitzvah; an unwelcome item at a event that was for males who had come of age. In another episode, I was excited to learn about a weekend bike trip (I can pedal a bike!) for 20s and 30s that was being organized at the church I was attending. Being a guy, I relate best through actvities. I read on and realized that it was for couples only. Later, I investigated further - was the focus going to relate to being married? No, the organizers just thought it would be fun for couples to go biking. I bet it was, I would have like to have gone. I am not sure if that church was on a mission or if it was just a club for Christians.

At a different church, in six weeks of attendance, I answered four or five very direct questions about my singleness. Did I come alone? Are you married? And helpfully once in response, we've got a really nice single girl here, she's a scientist or something. Perhaps something was wrong with my singleness, something that others did not know what to do with. As a single male in my prime, what was it they wanted to fix?

Finally, at my penultimate church, I thought I had found my place to belong and to contribute to. I got involved with a long running prison ministy at church that I was attending. What a breath of fresh air. I could engage in real fellowship and possibly even get to the point where I might be able to help in the discipleship of an inmate. I found the prison church services to be more sincere than those on the outside. The believers in the prison were forgiven Christians. And unlike my experiences in church on the outside, these were not nice men or mamas boys, these were real men whose flaws had unfortunately manifested themselves in behaviors such as drug dealing, alcoholism (drunk driving / vehicular manslaughter), murder, and child molestation. Besides, I've never been a great evangelist and having a captive audience was great! Myself and a few other (single) guys were enthusiastic participants and really felt blessed to be able to participate. Indirectly, witness opportunities were also created. All my immediate colleagues were guys and judging from their personalities, some of them probably possesed double Y chromosomes. Given the prison ministry, I could spark a conversation with, what did you do this weekend? I went to prison... (maximum security no less). It was an instant in with guys. No hemming and hawing, uhh, guys, do you love Jesus? Because you might not know it, but real men have a personal relationship with Jesus. Would you like to have a personal relationship with Him...

Then, after a few months of involvement the program was suddenly cancelled. Energy was shifted to a womens' prison ministry. Understandably, as a single guy I was no longer welcome. Women, and a couple of men who accompanied their spouses were welcome. I returned to my place in one of the furthest back pews in the church, usually slinking in a few minutes after the service had started. I guess I could always be an usher, donning a tie and blazer to conform as I politely passed a plate. But then again, maybe not.

On another occasion at the same church, I was drinking a coffee and talking with another single guy friend after church in the fellowship hall. (Hey big guy, God wants you to have life to the full! What do you say after church we eat some ginger snaps, drink bad coffee and get some fellowship? No thanks.) Fittingly, we were both leaning against a wall while facing the entire room. In front of us were families, middle age and elderly couples, a few students, and some odds and ends. Most were happily chatting with what were probably long-term friends. I could not help but think, I just want to get know some of you, some of you must have some good wisdom - I was not raised a Christian, how do I go forwards? Perhaps some of these older men were quite godly and had grown greatly through privation, war, and life's timeless challenges. But I can only speculate as I never had the opportunity to learn from them. After a moment's thought, I turned and asked my friend - do you feel like you fit in here? No, not really was his response. After trying post-service fellowship for a couple of years I gave up and now I am rarely seen at the coffee hour anymore. My friend? He got married this last year. He recently mentioned that fitting in seems easier.

Have I tried to be engaged? Yes, I have tried church retreats (why 'retreat', is God's Kingdom in retreat?), talking with pastors, attending home groups, and introducing myself. Could I have tried harder? Probably. Am I socially abnormal? No, not in any remarkable manner. Would I invite a male friend who is interested in Christianity to church? Probably not until well after he was a Christian. In the last two years, nearly everything that I count as a meaningful Christian experience has taken place outside of the context of church. A roof furnished for orphans, winter firewood supplied to needy families, Christ modeled to highschoolers (however dimly!), real fellowship, accountability, and growing in faith. Men like myself need challenges. These challenges are only infrequently being supplied by churches.

While now less enthusiastic, I still go to church and try to make a positive contribution in the few areas where my gifts and passions overlap with the needs of the congregational body. The last thing church needs is one less guy.

The church is like manure. Pile it up and it stinks up the neighborhood; spread it out and it enriches the world. - Luis Palau

The Upper Valley Defined! Roughly speaking, the Upper Valley includes towns such as Norwich, Thetford, Hartford, White River Junction, and Wilder (Vermont), as well as Hanover, Lyme, Etna, Lebanon, West Lebanon, and possibly Plainfield (New Hampshire).