Wanted: Thriving singles group at church

A reader shares her dilemma:

I live near Ballantyne and am looking for a church close by with lots of singles. It seems to be a big problem around here. Carmel Baptist has lost many members; I went there for a long time. Calvary Church doesn't have a strong singles group, Church At Charlotte is in the process of building one, and the singles group at Forest Hill Church dissipated.

Can you ask the community for suggestions? Many singles feel without a home.

What say you, Relaters? Do you have any church suggestions for her?

Stogies, stilettos and sex -- at church!

Alisha: Deirdre and I did something we've never done together ... We went to church!
Deirdre: My mom would be so pleased! But we were on a mission: To check out the "Stogies and Stilettos" series at Watershed, a church community that meets at Actor's Theatre in uptown Charlotte. The five-week series purports to help attendants better understand the opposite sex.
Alisha: We were intrigued to uncover how the church would integrate uncensored conversation on relationships into its theological mission. It was interesting, indeed. I especially enjoyed the video montage that included funny - and very much on-cue - phrases about the differences between men and women. Here's one from American writer Oliver Herford, "A woman's mind is cleaner than a man's: She changes it more often."
Deirdre: HA! And I liked the funny scene from "Hitch," the flick where "date doctor" Will Smith helps dudes score the ladies they want. I was surprised to see cute quotes and a film clip in "church." But I dug it -- and I'm sure that was the whole point.
Alisha: I was shocked a church would name such a series, "Stogies and Stilettos." The concept was refreshing -- there was a good mix of religion, where you felt as though you had really been to church, and at the same time, there was a hearty dose of realism about sexuality and how we engage each other in day-to-day interaction. It was preachy yet relaxed, and modern yet traditional.
Deirdre: I agree, but I will say I hoped for more on the topic. The first week's program was entitled "X & Y," and while I came away with the basic message -- that we should be good to each other and take care of each other, and while it's totally cool to admire another person's beauty, lust is NOT cool, because it's all about what that person can do for you and that's it -- I wanted more substance.
Alisha: You summed up my thoughts to a tee. The church is planning on four more messages in this series, and I hope they delve more into the topic because obviously a church planning to discuss sex freely was enough to get us to attend.
Deirdre: Well, one of the co-pastors said conversations over the series would get "raw." I'm sure it'll come nowhere near what we'd consider raw, but the very fact a church community is willing to explore communication issues between the sexes is a welcome event. It never would've happened in the church I grew up in, that's for sure.
Alisha: Just make sure you know there is prayer, Scripture readings, and hymns, so if you go expecting just a Mars vs. Venus speech -- you're in for a big surprise.