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Originally Posted by ziggy  I took the three membership classes and now I'm deciding whether or not I'm actually going to stand in front of the congregation, sign the book, and become a member. I'm not sure what's holding me back, but there's something.
Service on sunday was about solstice, kind of. It was called "breaking the surface" and about coming up to breathe/coming into the light after darkness.
Here's a random question - anybody ever want to ask somebody to not sit with them at church? I go to church alone. There's this person who comes to church - she's only come three or four times, and I knew her before, though I wasn't the one who invited her. She sits with me and she's just ridiculously distracting. She is always sharing my hymnal with me, instead of picking up her own on the way in, she will make these little comments during the service, and she's just awkward. I know I probably sound petty, but it's just hard to pay attention to the service when somebody is really distracting.
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I don't know how it works at your church, but at my church people sign the membership book when they feel ready, even if that is months after they took the membership classes. If something is holding you back, in my opinion, it is just fine to keep attending and wait until you feel really moved to become a member.
Funny coincidence: this Sunday I sat next to a woman I don't usually sit with. She tends to make comments, and also even shout things out during the service. She was also doodling, though I never would have noticed if my dd had not pointed it out to me. I wasn't really bothered because this person does not try to engage me in conversation during the service, which does bother me, but about halfway through the service my dd leaned over and whispered to me, "She is really annoying me!" Luckily we stayed for the second service so my dd, who likes things to be "just so" was able to enjoy that service without distraction.
I think artgoddess has already given you some great suggestions and I am really bad at that kind of situation myself. If you arrive before the person, you might try sitting in a single seat between two other people or between a person and the aisle. If your church does not get that crowded you could try arriving a little later so she gets there first and then just not sit with her. That makes me sound kind of pathetic just avoiding someone instead of speaking up doesn't it? Well, I'm not usually a conflict-avoider, but in this case that is probably what I would do.
and I am fairly impressed with his ideas and writing.
