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    Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church
    Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church
    Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church
    Audiobook7 hours

    Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church

    Written by Rachel Held Evans

    Narrated by Rachel Held Evans

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Are you struggling to connect with your church community? Do you find yourself questioning the core beliefs that you once held dear? Searching for Sunday, from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans is a heartfelt ode to the past and a hopeful gaze into the future of what it means to be a part of the modern church.

    Like millions of her millennial peers, Rachel Held Evans didn't want to go to church anymore. The hypocrisy, the politics, the gargantuan building budgets, the scandals--to her, it was beginning to feel like church culture was too far removed from Jesus. Yet, despite her cynicism and misgivings, something kept drawing Evans back to church.

    Evans found herself wanting to better understand the church and find her place within it, so she set out on a new adventure. Within the pages of Searching for Sunday, Evans catalogs her journey as she loves, leaves, and finds the church once again.  

    Evans tells the story of her faith through the lens of seven sacraments of the Catholic church--baptism, confession, holy orders, communion, confirmation, the anointing of the sick, and marriage--to teach us the essential truths about what she's learned along the way, including:

    • Faith isn't just meant to be believed, it's meant to be lived and shared in community
    • Christianity isn't a kingdom for the worthy--it's a kingdom for the hungry, the broken, and the imperfect
    • The countless and beautiful ways that God shows up in the ordinary parts of our daily lives

    Searching for Sunday will help you unpack the messiness of community, teaching us that by overcoming our cynicism, we can all find hope, grace, love, and, somewhere in between, church.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateApr 14, 2015
    ISBN9780718033965
    Author

    Rachel Held Evans

    New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans (1981–2019) is known for her books and articles about faith, doubt, and life in the Bible Belt. Rachel has been featured in the Washington Post, The Guardian, Christianity Today, Slate, HuffPost, and the CNN Belief Blog, and on NPR, BBC, Today, and The View. She served on President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and kept a busy schedule speaking at churches, conferences, and universities. Rachel’s messages continue to reverberate around the world.

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    Reviews for Searching for Sunday

    4.5/5

    326 ratings25 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I don’t know how it happens, but Rachel Held Evans always manages to say exactly what I’m thinkling, but with less rambling than I would. So beware, this is going to be rambling. I’ve pretty much always gone to church. Not just one church. Lots. And all have given me something. Each has changed and shaped my life. And that is really What this book was about. How churches, in all their human folly and mistakes, are still able to shape and improve our lives.Everyone has problems with their church: not enough young people, not enough serious Bible study, not enough respect for tradition, too much reliance on tradition. But Searching for Sunday doesn't dwell on the problems. It's a celebration of the good things and important things the Church can give. Somehow, this book has struck a chord in a different crowd than Evans' other books. Before, it seemed like evangelicals and "recovering evangelicals" had heard of her or had opinions about her. But I found this book on my grandma's coffee table a couple weeks after it came out, and people in her Episcopal church had been reading it. What churches are for and how they do their thing are important questions for all Christians, and Evans is a master as creating bridges between people. Whether it's progressives and evangelicals or the young and the elderly, this book has an important message of connection for us all.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      It's one of the best books I have read.
      healing helpful encouraging
      I'm not alone
    • 5/5
      I think 4-1/2 stars would be my official rating, since that wasn’t an option I rounded up. I deeply connected with her journey. I found that I agreed with virtually every point made. Christ had been so clear in so many ways. The church in America has misused so many of the lessons, from it’s beginning to where it is today she did an excellent job at articulating her experience and was very open and transparent about each thought and her response. My 1/2 star deduct was just a personal preference item. Some of the writing was a little dramatic and a little cheesy.

      However, much of it was well written and helpful.
    • 4/5
      What I read here resonated, resounded and reverberated to so much with what I have been pondering these past years. The “lord have mercies Christ have mercy” refrain and what was placed within it is worth the tears and lament. I struggle with what was left out. One of the quoted authors once talked about a value of having “the gospel without the Bible”. The stuff in the Bible that makes us uncomfortable, well, it’s supposed to.
    • 5/5
      Loved this book. It resonated with my very soul and quenched a thirsty heart.
    • 5/5
      Evan’s love for the church & her embrace of the dilemma of doubt gives comfort to us who are similarly disillusioned. It also provides a path.
    • 5/5
      Really helpful and inspiring. Nuggets of gold. Such a sad loss to her family and us, but her inspiration lives on.
    • 2/5
      First, let me say how much of an appreciator of Rachel Held Evans I am. I certainly appreciate her perspective and insight into both theological and cultural matters, especially that in which the Church is involved.

      This is my first foray into her lengthy writing (not counting blogging). I began the book with an enthusiasm as I had heard The Liturgist podcast wherein she spoke about this book. She hit a chord with me that I had longed to hear from someone else: a chord of dissatisfaction, struggle, and turmoil when it came to the Church. A struggle that is nestled in the realm of being a believer (even with doubts), yet having that turmoil all the same. In that podcast, she nailed much of what I had felt for many years. However, the written version just did not have the same effect.

      I did not connect at all with her writing style in this particular book. Her prose was certainly nice and her ability to recollect these past events and reflect upon them now was impressive; however, I simply found myself drifting off in thought and was not captivated by it. I had to put forth too much mental strength to focus on a desire to read it than it was worth to me.

      I am not a completist: I do not have to have the full set of whatever nor do I have a compulsion to finish something (television, book, etc.) that I cannot connect with. That connection was lacking in my experience with this book, which I did not complete. After many attempts to start again and again at it, it seemed ultimately something that could easily have been discussed in an article or, as with The Liturgists, in a podcast. And that's where I will have to leave it.

      I do recommend this book for those who are big fans of hers and particularly those who are women as her style of writing (to me) seemed geared heavily to that audience. The topic she discusses is one of immense importance in modern-day Christianity where the Church is many times a place of struggle rather than a place of comfort and healing for many. I know many love this book and that is wonderful; however, after some time, I'm hoping to be able to approach it again to glean from it what she has intended fully.

    • 5/5
      Great! thank you and peace be with you. Hallelujah ?
    • 5/5
      Sometimes church is difficult. Not God, but church. Not church per se, but the struggle for community and an authentic expression of worship and engagement with God. Despite our best hopes an intentions it is full of human beings, each with their own needs, gifts and foibles. And my heart breaks at some of the things we do or say in the name of ‘faith’. So, when I saw this book, I was very keen to read it.The blurb says"Like millions of her millennial peers, Rachel didn’t want to go to church anymore. The hypocrisy, the politics, the gargantuan building budgets, the scandals—church culture seemed so far removed from Jesus. Yet, despite her cynicism and misgivings, something kept drawing her back to Church. And so she set out on a journey to understand Church and to find her place in it."I can’t say that I don’t want to go to church anymore, I desperately want to hang on in there, but at times I struggle to find my place in it, for many reasons that are probably another blog post. (oh and I cannot by any stretch of the imagination claim to be a millennial sadly, but if the cap fits – read the book)The book is set out around the seven sacraments: baptism, confession, Holy Orders, communion, confirmation, anointing the sick and marriage. Each section contains stories that will break your heart and then some to gladden it. It looks at church through people’s stories – true community and a large part of what church, imho, is all about.The basic premise of the book is ‘why are people leaving the church?’On reading Searching for Sunday it transpires that many of Rachel Held Evan’s questions are about God, and the struggle for an adult faith after a childhood following him and sharing all about him. But if that wasn’t enough, the church and it’s attitudes get in the way of her finding the answer to those questions – however much she longs to be part of it. Rachel tells her story, but one that I’m sure many of us can identify with.Much of the gist of this book is about putting aside cynicism. Rachel suggests that if we want to heal our wounds, we have to"kick the cynicism habit first".There are many other gems and food for thought, but you need to read the book to get the full picture.There is a lot of sense in this book. A lot of despair, but also a lot of hope.The finger is also pointed back at me – what am I doing to help or hinder the faith and church life of others?If you’ve ever wondered about leaving church, or about why others do, this will give you some insight. Stories of how others might see the church we have become so entrenched in that perhaps we don’t see some things any more. Perhaps it might give us another perspective on what we see as ‘normal’. And if you are searching for Sunday, perhaps it will help you find it – or at least make you feel that you are not alone. Perhaps it will take you to the place where you can embrace church – flaws and all. For as Rachel concludes,"All we have is this church – this lousy, screwed-up, glorious church – which, by God’s grace, is enough (p235)"We are after all a resurrection people.
    • 4/5
      I started this book back in January, reading it here and there during church when I started to feel anger or hurt or disconnection during worship services. Then this week I decided to finish it (I had only made it through about a third on those random Sundays).

      I highlighted so many sentences and paragraphs and bookmarked so many pages--this book is a wonderful treatise on what it means to be a Christian and why finding a church is important. This gave me renewed hope in my own faith tradition and my approach to worshipping each Sunday.
    • 5/5
      Well this was gorgeous. It was funny and sad and beautiful, and it’s heartbreaking knowing that the author passed away so young and can’t bring any more amazing words into the world. I want to read her other writings so will continue with those until I run out and perhaps start this again.
    • 5/5
      I decided to re-read this for my book club, and it was exactly the sort of spiritual healing I needed. I have so many doubts about church, and hearing them expressed by someone else relieves my burden. This book analyzes what happens when you leave a congregation, lose your faith, and find it again. It's made even more poignant in light of Evans' unexpected death this year.
    • 4/5
      Evans is brutally honest about her struggles in her faith. She wrestles with the strong belief she had as a youth taking a hit as she questions the exclusive and sometimes abusive aspects of some churches. She talks about changing churches, starting one, speaking at Christian conferences, and finding that faith is less about religion and more about finding a home with God because the Holy Spirit is within you, not within the church walls. “But the gospel doesn’t need a coalition devoted to keeping the wrong people out. It needs a family of sinners, saved by grace, committed to tearing down the walls, throwing open the doors, and shouting, “Welcome! There’s bread and wine. Come eat with us and talk.” This isn’t a kingdom for the worthy; it’s a kingdom for the hungry.” “I’ve been convinced that LGBT Christians have a special role to play in teaching the church how to be Christian.” 
    • 5/5
      Searing in its honesty and vulnerability, Searching For Sunday chronicles Rachel Held Evans' search for authentic community inside and outside the church of her childhood.
    • 3/5
      I've been struggling with my own faith and relationship to my church for several years now. It's a lonely journey and there need to be more books like this about such journeys. My background is not the same as the authors, but I saw so much of my struggle and my thoughts reflected back in many of her words.

      It's difficult to be constructive about a piece that is so incredibly personal, but my one issue would likely be that the author goes off on some tangents, that, quite frankly, I ended up skimming. The book could have been much more concise and would have had the same impact on me. Overall, this book leaves me feeling comforted and leaves me with a better understanding of where this leaves me.
    • 5/5
      What a delightful book. I so much appreciate Rachel's honesty about her rocky path with the church. I dare say that more people that will ever admit it have had many of the same doubts and negative experiences as Rachel talks about in this memoir. It is refreshing to hear such honesty and authenticity from a Christian writer.
    • 5/5
      This book came highly recommended and it lived up to those recommendations and more. Anyone who has ever had a complicated relationship with the church will find a kindred spirit in Evans.
    • 5/5
      I don’t know how it happens, but Rachel Held Evans always manages to say exactly what I’m thinkling, but with less rambling than I would. So beware, this is going to be rambling. I’ve pretty much always gone to church. Not just one church. Lots. And all have given me something. Each has changed and shaped my life. And that is really What this book was about. How churches, in all their human folly and mistakes, are still able to shape and improve our lives.Everyone has problems with their church: not enough young people, not enough serious Bible study, not enough respect for tradition, too much reliance on tradition. But Searching for Sunday doesn't dwell on the problems. It's a celebration of the good things and important things the Church can give. Somehow, this book has struck a chord in a different crowd than Evans' other books. Before, it seemed like evangelicals and "recovering evangelicals" had heard of her or had opinions about her. But I found this book on my grandma's coffee table a couple weeks after it came out, and people in her Episcopal church had been reading it. What churches are for and how they do their thing are important questions for all Christians, and Evans is a master as creating bridges between people. Whether it's progressives and evangelicals or the young and the elderly, this book has an important message of connection for us all.
    • 5/5
      The book is partly biographical, charting the author's journey from the passionate evangelical faith of a child, through disillusionment, anger, sadness, and leaving behind Sunday services for some years. It tells us of her college days, of some of her friends, of her marriage… and eventual leadership within a very different kind of church from the one she grew up in. It’s structured in seven main sections, each one entitled by one of the sacraments recognised by many liturgical churches. That might sound very formal, but more than anything these are used as structures on which to spread the story in a way that makes the path easy to follow. It flows beautifully, and the writing style was exactly right for me: it expresses, very often, things I have thought or felt, but have somehow not been able to put into words. I would recommend this to anyone who questions fundamentalist style evangelicalism, or rigidity of doctrine, or indeed who has difficulties with the upbeat nature or exclusivity of so many churches.
    • 3/5
      American Christian columnist Rachel Held Evans' memoir is a reflection on the church today through the theological lens of the following sacraments: baptism, confession, ordination, Eucharist, confirmation, anointing the sick, and marriage. She addresses the reasons from her personal experiences what millennials want from a church community and why some shun the traditional church. This book is an easy read with many spiritual insights.
    • 5/5
      “This is what’s most annoying and beautiful about the windy Spirit and why we so often miss it. It has this habit of showing up in all the wrong places and among all the wrong people, defying our categories and refusing to take directions.”This is a wonderful book because love it or hate it, agree with Rachel or disagree, it will make you think (if you are honest with yourself) about faith and the way we practice it. Structured around the seven sacraments she explores the nature of church, what it means to be church, and what it means to embrace the gospel and follow Jesus as well as what it means to doubt. Well worth the read.
    • 5/5
      I have been a fan of Rachel's writing for a couple of years, and eagerly anticipated the release of Searching For Sunday. I was not disappointed! Reading through it the first time (I am now re-reading it!) there were so many "me, too!" moments. Rachel Held Evans has a style of writing that is very easy to read without being simplistic. I really appreciated how she divided the sections of the book into the Sacraments. What I love most about this book, and Rachel's other books, is the undeniable fact that we can be followers of Jesus, yet not be completely in agreement with every doctrine in every church. Highly recommend this book!
    • 5/5
      I have enjoyed Rachel Held Evans' writings for quite a while, so I was really excited to hear about Searching for Sunday, and I wasn't disappointed! Her experience in evangelical Christianity (AWANA for the win!) strongly mirrors my own, and her vulnerability, hope, and grace throughout her wrestlings were inspiring. The sections mirror the seven sacraments: Baptism, Confession, Holy Orders, Communion, Confirmation, Anointing the Sick, and Marriage. All seven spoke to me-- her eloquence drew out the beauty found in each--but the most surprising was Confirmation. As someone raised in a thoroughly evangelical/non-denominational tradition, I've had very little interaction with confirmation in any sense. Maybe it was because of this lack of familiarity that this section really hit me; regardless of the reason, though, I highlighted, starred, and exclamation-pointed about half of that section, and I continue to mull on it. I'm sure I'll reread the entire book many times, but that section in particular will likely draw me back incessantly.I really resonated with and appreciated Rachel's loving way of criticizing aspects of her experience with evangelicalism. Speaking of churches, she says, "Each one stays with us, even after we've left, adding layer after layer to the palimpsest of our faith." Rachel manages to eloquently and completely lift up church while addressing some serious problem areas.After reading this book, I feel more connected both the church universal and with others on their faith journey, and I am more prepared to recognize the importance of faith in community. Christianity is a team sport, and the sacraments, formal or not so formal, help us to participate more fully in that. I received an advance copy of this book in return for a review.
    • 5/5
      I've been a fan of Rachel's for a while, and was so excited about the release of this new book. I relate so well to not feeling like I fit in the average church, and this book captures Rachel's journey with church. I love that she never loses hope or faith in the Church, always determined that we must do this thing together or not at all. There are times when I'm ready to just chuck it all, and her ever hopeful grace is quite inspiring. Well done. I can see many important conversations coming out of this work.