Perhaps I am over-analyzing this (please let us know if I am). I generally sense one of two themes in your summaries, either (1) I happily gained insight about [fill in the blank], or (2) I felt too awkward to understand much about them. I am not speaking in absolute terms, there is a spectrum between these two extremes.

So, I found it surprising that you were closer to (1) than (2) in the synagogue, but in the Roman Catholic church, you seemed closer to (2). To my outsider's eyes, both are very structured and draw "in versus out" boundaries. These are two things you disliked about the Roman Catholic church. Do you have any insight regarding why you responded differently in the synagogue? Maybe there is an element here that we can apply in our own houses of worship.

Can't wait to hear how this went. In view of this visit and your Episcopal experience, I found this statement curious, "There isn’t a lot of room in my life right now for ritual and routine."

If you went back to the Episcopal church for Lenten services (as you indicated you might), did the liturgy move you (or rather the Holy Spirit in you)? I'm quite curious to know how you respond to the Catholic liturgy, as well as other liturgical denominations.

I am curious because of my own experience. Growing up in a liturgical congregation, I have rebelled against liturgy for 40+ years. I moved to a new town 3 years ago and joined a liturgical church. As a result, I have come to embrace the liturgy and common prayer. I love that Christians the world over recite the same prayers together (at least when they really mean them to be a prayer and not a mindless recitation). I see it as means of grace to guide us to be of "one mind" (Philippians 2:2). How do you see the liturgy?

Wow!! Just alerted to your site, and I must say this is a wonderful project. I have lived in more than a dozen US cities (previously in the military, you see), and attended several of these churches. Despite seeing many advantages to other christian faiths and denominations, I always come back to the denomination that I grew up in because (1) it is familiar since birth, (2) I know the limitations and inadequacies of the denomination, and have a lifetime of dealing with them, (3) there are many of these churches to choose from where I live and I can usually find at least one with humble and servant minded people; and (4) today I see a general openness (in many, but not all) of these Churches to other forms of worship, prayer, fellowship, and spiritual growth.

I think that a project like yours is especially insightful because we can learn many things from the other denominations. My Sunday School class just finished reading Christianity's Family Tree (by A. Hamilton) and learning from other denominations is the theme of this study book.

Thank you for providing some personal insight.

BTW, you give lots of clues to your location. Simple Google searches would reveal it. If you are truly and diligently trying to hide your location, you may want to self-censor a little more.