Maybe, the problem lies in the numbers of people, where 'new people' just get lost? My family has felt very much like this in the large SDA Churches - felt that we could never break into the 'cliques', yet in smaller churches, we have always found warmth and friendsip.
I have felt this way in so many churches I have attended. Except for one. It was Rockwood church in Oregon where I lived at the time. I do not remember why we stopped going to church as I was a young child. However, I will always remember the pastor who made everyone and I
do mean everyone feel as though they were the only one there. At least that is how I felt and it is hard for me to fit into the 'cliques' in any atmosphere. I was blessed by this pastor and he was actually the one who baptized me when I was a young child. I just wish I had stayed in the faith and also that I had followed his footsteps in how he was as a person in general. I have now grown up, still remember him. Finally got into touch with him before I left the other forum thanks to a person from that forum. I did find some friends but very few. I thought it was more but as of late, I have found out different. Hope this will be a friendship forum for me.
Sorry, now I'm off my soapbox.
(hint maybe we could get a soapbox for peeps like me?)