Posted by Helen on: 06.26.2006 /
Jim and Matt were in my area this weekend as they continued to work on their book. They invited me to have coffee with them yesterday morning and then go to a service. We visited a small Presbyterian church near me.
It was fun to meet Matt and see Jim again (I met Jim a couple of months ago when he was last in Chicago).
I’m not sure how many services they’d been to already by yesterday. I do know that as of yesterday morning Matt was definitely still an atheist. ;)
Jim had told me that the two of them would probably have their laptops open and take notes through much of the service. They did, but no-one came over at the end and asked them why, which disappointed me a little.
I needed to go home after that. Jim and Matt drove into the city and attended one more service before they had to head back to the airport.
I would have loved to talk with them about all their church experiences so far but there wasn’t time. I guess I’ll just have to buy the book!
Comment by: Julie Marie
1When is the book due out?
Comment by: Marty
2Helen – I would be interested to read your review of the service – will you be posting something?
Comment by: Helen M.
3I might post some comments about it, Marty. I’m not sure yet.
Comment by: Helen M.
4Julie Marie: according to Jim, the book comes out next Spring.
Comment by: Juile Marie
5well I should be finished with the Openness of God by then…hahaha
Comment by: jim
6Sorry – my laptop was down for a day (= my life came to a halt) amyway – yes the book (tentatively titled Jim and Casper go to Church) will be out in Feb- Mar of 2007.
Matt (Casper) and I are having a blast working together, eating, traveling, driving to churches- this is the most church I’ve had in years and the most Casper has had ever!
We are thoroughly enjoying the project and hope to add a number of other voices, including Helens in the book
Comment by: Helen M.
7Jim I’m glad your laptop’s working again. Thanks for the update on the project!
Comment by: Marty
8Jim – is there no book, no movie, no TV special, no? yet to come from Hemant and your hookup, this blog, etc?
I would think that someone could write a fascinating story just of the evolution of the blog(s)/discussion board.
Comment by: Matt Casper
9I second Jim’s comment: we are having a blast. And it was great to meet Helen and visit her church, which reminded me much of the one I attended as a wee lad.
Jim and I have been to a few mega churches, and a few not-so-mega churches, and have spent nearly every second when we’re not in church discussing the nature of faith, the history of of the church, and other big-league issues.
After every one of my visits with Jim, I feel the need to talk about movies, baseball, cars–anything that doesn’t require a whole lot of thinking.
But that rarely happens. Here’s what does:
“So Matt, where you been?”
“Visiting churches.”
“Why?”
And then, here we go again, into the nature of faith, the history of of the church, and other big-league issues…having enough conversation to fill a book!
More later, as always…
Athesitically Yours,
Matt Casper
Comment by: Helen M.
10Thanks for your comments, Matt.
Just to clarify – it wasn’t actually my church we visited.
I’d been inside their building a lot because I used to go to a Bible study (not run by the church) that met there. But last Sunday was the first time I’d ever been to one of their services. In fact as I recall it was my first Presbyterian service ever.
I did see a few people I knew at the service, who I’d met at the Bible study.
Matt I hope you’ll find some people so uninterested in your church adventures that you’ll be able to discuss movies, baseball and cars with them ;)