Going away from my hometown that I've been in ever since I can remember was hard. Pursuing a college degree away from my familiar city seemed like a scary thing at this time last year, and still is kind of scary in a way, though I know now more or less what to expect this time. But what I noticed over the course of my first school year away from home was how much I missed my home church.

For as long as I can remember, my family has been attending the same church. Church has always been an incredibly important part of our lives, both as individuals and as a family. My mom is the organist and pianist, my dad is in charge of the soundboard, participates in choir, and often helps lead the service as a cantor. My brother and I both worked in the nursery, watching kids who wanted to play and not sit still. I've played both violin and piano during the service, helped serve communion, led Sunday School music (very briefly), and participated in youth group activities. As a family we've been ushers, provided coffee hour, gotten to go to all the potlucks and fun things put on by the church, we even performed "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" one year at the big party that kicks off the school year at the end of the summer. We love being involved, participating, and contributing any way we can.

There's something special about my church that I will always miss. Actually, several things that I will miss, if I'm being entirely honest. First of all, the space is unique. The sanctuary is a hexagon, I believe, with chairs on all the walls for the congregation and choir to sit, and the pastor stands in the middle at the altar for parts where he speaks and leads, and serves communion. During the sermon he has to constantly walk in circles so as to see everyone, and it's quite funny sometimes but also makes the sermon so much more accessible than someone preaching from far away at a podium. It's like he's having a conversation with everyone. It's different from other churches I've experienced, not better, just different, and I've found that I enjoy the style a lot.

I've also noticed that it's special to me to get to go to church with my parents now. Again, ever since I can remember that's just what we did; we went to church together as a family. But now when I'm back home for whatever reason or whichever break, going to church together is a treat, and we get to do it even less often than what would have been because I've been working at this really cool summer camp (as mentioned in my previous article) meaning that I'm gone most of the summer and unable to attend church at home. It's made me realize how much going to church with family means to me.

Another thing that is special about my church is the congregation itself. There are some truly wonderful people at my church. Some I know I will be lifelong close friends with, others have been incredible mentors to me, and all have been open, loving, and supportive of me in different ways. Many of the people who I have known for a while I always remember as people who simply exude joy, spreading it to everyone they meet- newcomers and old friends alike. Many others constantly are serving the church in numerous ways, whether that's helping out with communion, readings, ushering, offering, family promise, or even filling in as a preacher sometimes. Everyone helps everyone, accepts everyone, and supports everyone. It's a community, a family, and an incredibly loving congregation that has supported me through some of the hardest times in my life, as well as celebrated with me in some of the happiest times. This a community that has a worship service filled with ancient, traditional, and contemporary hymns and music, a community that puts on crazy parties and potlucks that include pancake racing and talent shows, a community that loves and loves and loves.

I hate that I don't get to go there as often as I'd like, and that I'm away from the church that helped make me who I am. But I'm glad that I get to take the things that the people there have taught me and given me and spread a little more of that joy and love to some other places that may really need it. Thanks Trinity, you guys are the best, and I love and miss you!