Church Picnic = Social Opportunities (NOT!)

[Pburgh]

Brian, you really are having a hard time of it. ((Hugs))
Regarding the picnic, gtalum and Mary were so right. You need to go up and introduce yourself. The best person at a picnic (in my opinion) would be a 40 year old (older) Mom person - not one with young babies. Just go up to her and say "Hi, I'm Brian and I don't know many people here so I thought I would introduce myself." She will take you under her wing and introduce you to dozens of people old and young. It's the "motherly" thing to do - trust me. From then on, just be yourself and don't try so hard. People we realize the nice person that you are - give them time.
Karan

[drudd1]

Everyone has given you good advice. I only have one problem with the situation. I am under the impression you attended a Church Group function. From the looks of it, the folks at the function are attending church for all the wrong reasons, or have been sleeping through Sunday Services and Sunday School.

Crashing a beach party where you know no one would absolutely require some effort on your part to get acknowledged. But I would have thought a church group would have had a few individuals that had a big heart, were outgoing, and would make you feel welcome. This was, after all, a church function. Have they eliminated the whole Christian Fellowship part of church groups and I missed the memo?

[Guest]

Everyone has given you good advice. I only have one problem with the situation. I am under the impression you attended a Church Group function. From the looks of it, the folks at the function are attending church for all the wrong reasons, or have been sleeping through Sunday Services and Sunday School.

Crashing a beach party where you know no one would absolutely require some effort on your part to get acknowledged. But I would have thought a church group would have had a few individuals that had a big heart, were outgoing, and would make you feel welcome. This was, after all, a church function. Have they eliminated the whole Christian Fellowship part of church groups and I missed the memo?

http://www.takingnewground.com/index.cfm/
It feels like it. In fact, last summer I was attending small groups that met throughout the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area. I continued until November. At first, I felt welcomed, but towards September and October. I begin to feel out of place, leaving early. In fact, at the group I attended (the 18-30s pastor's home), they were having a cookout for the end of summer. I stayed a meer 45 minutes before I elected to slide on out. They were more interested in their little friends they knew from the hospital nursery (yeah, I went overboard there ) 20 years ago. That and continuing ignorance of them combined with my first year at a 4-year university led to the demise of it.

NOW...I guess the pastor and "leadership team" MAY have woken up. They are ATTEMPTING a revamping of the ministry. (I don't know how much revamping can be done--otherwise starting over and making people who are relatively new-1year for me--feel welcome no matter if they look nerdy.) I have my doubts, I hate to say. I will believe it when I see it.

Oh, yeah, they are outgoing and friendly but only towards those they have known for sometime.