Religion Chat thread number 1

[nickelbabyjesus]

I wanted to put some random thoughts and stuff regarding church, without it having to be a debate or a specific topic (and not prayers, either)

It's basically, a "what happened at church (or in my musical/spiritual life) this week" thread.
Please join me!

I'll start:

We had Midnight Mass (on Christmas Eve, would you believe!), and it was half past 11, everyone was sitting and ready for the service to start - I waved the organist to give me my notes: he was just about to plat them when:
" TAXI FOR suchandsuch " came blaring out of our speaker system.
There's a Wetherspoon's over the road and looks like the DJ's mike was on the same frequency as our radio mikes.
So, all the congregation started giggling and we had to wait 5 minutes until everyone was calm and collected enough to carry on.

Sorry first sentence doesn't make sense but have to pop out - back in a bit!

I hoping so - but I hope that frequently with DS1........

Hey ho,

I think our churches together works better now one of the CoE vicars in the town has left. He was VERY anti-woman priests/women in positions of "authority" in the church.........so much so that he (and his congregation) refused to attend events at some of the churches out of princples.......not helpful when 2 of the other CoE churches have female vicars, and several of the pentecostal/charismatic churches that are part of it also have women in leadership....

He's left and attitudes seem to have changed a little as well.

Praying for you and DS1 being better.

We do a town walk of witness as well - i think the SA does the music. then they all congregate outside wilko's at the top end of the High Street and sing and pray.

I've never doen it (always working) but I do stand in my shop doorway to watch it go past.

it's awful, isn't it, when one person's different opinion means that everyone can't work together for the love of Christ.

That's one thing we used to hate about the old vicar - he wanted everything his way and went out of his way to change things where they didn't need changing, got everyone's backs up and gretly reduced the congregation, then left.
It was good he left, but we all wish he'd left sooner, or never come. :(

(actually, I remember when he announced he had to leave - I nearly clapped and cheered out loud - probably the only reason I didn't do that is because he left to look after his ill/old dad, and that wasn't happy. )

I just did a recorder lesson for an absolute beginner. I'd forgotten how bad they sound to start with. I guess it could be worse

i can imagine!
I keep trying to get DH to try the recorder and he manages some ear-piercing shrieks on it!

I don't know how - i've checked all his fingers are pressed on properly (pressed on so hard he had perfect circles imprinted on each finger and thumb) I told him to blow more gently - he was blowing as gently as he could!

the trick is you don't blow - you breath - very gently. If you blow then you'll get a horrible squeaky sound - and don't forget to teach proper tonguing from the start.

try explaining that to a man who takes 33300000000 attempts of explaining to understand anything ! pgrin]

even...

I wondered whether that was a piano (italian) haha

Get him to play either the harp or the piano. Provided they've been tuned correctly they always sound great! Actually, better start him on the piano, takes a bit of time to learn to tune the harp.

Ah, sorry, that's what I get for mumsnetting after a few g&t's after work. I've just got grim memories of playing the recorder at school.

Get a treble or tenor recorder? Less easy to over-blow...

[ at how this thread has turned into a 'Teach Mr Nickel To Play Recorder' thread. Does he even want to play recorder?]

no, he doesn't want to play the recorder.
It's me forcing him because I can play it and i think he should- like I'm learning the piano and it's really hard.

I like playing Christian music cds in the car but I'm getting a bit bored with my current selection. Does anyone have any recommendations? I like things that are sometimes a bit up tempo. Most recent cd I bought was a Stuart Townend one and it is really good, I've just listened to it too many times and need a change. Any ideas?

I'll pass that question onto the others - I'm more of a classical church music girl, so i'd end up recommending something you wouldn't like.

I would recommend John Rutter though - he's modern and warbly (but not guitar based).

I like the idea of DH playing the harp, now, thinking aboutit.

I will put it to him

ooo Robin Mark - you must get a Robin Mark CD - he's fabulous

\link{http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=robin+mark&aq=f\have a listen to some of them} ("When it's all been said and done" is my current fave}

Some of the complation CD's are quite good as well - a good variety on them. I'm quite liking the look of the new SOF one. I've got "A Ton of Worship" (which is is a really cheap one) plus some of the Best Worship/More Best Worship ones.

sorry - I should have said "When it's all been said and done" isn't a lively upbeat one - it's just one of my current favourites)

HE does some fab upbeat stuff though - with a lovely Irish lilt to lots of it

actually you tube is quite good for discovering new artists etc.

If you search for something like Christian Worship - and then expand "search options" and click on playlists you'll find playlists of various artists that other people have put together.

I'll let that one carry on around me, while I tell you about my Guides!

I mentioned earlier that they're coming to choir every 2 weeks for RSCM Church Music Sunday and their Music Group Badge.

Well, last night was the first night!

It went really, really well.
At least half of them already knew how to read music, and I gave out handouts to those who didn't.
Started off doing single notes (with asst organist doing the notes) and most of them could get them straight away. Some took a bit of warming up and getting used to it, and a couple couldn't get them at all.
We did that, and I got them to sing chords (split them into groups for that one)
My favourite one was getting half of them to sing a G and half of them to sing an A - fantastic dischord - told them that it Must sounds horrible, and if it didn't they were doing it wrong.
First, it sounded good, so they were tuning to each other rather than singing their own note (yes, i started with the hardest exercise! [evil grin] ) - the next tiem they did it (afterhearing both notes together on the organ, rather than broken) they managed to make a hideous din!

Then we did a psalm chant - I wanted to do a "proper tune" and that was what asst organist had on the organ.
We did it to very silly words (and some actions too cos it was blinking freeeeeezing in the church!), and it sounded fabulous!

We went for an hour, and that was too long - losing concentration after about 40 mins. so next time they're coming for 45 mins, which is good for me, cos it won't overlap with junior choir.

Should be fun.

Oh, and could everyoen please suggest some well-known rounds for us to sing next week?
you know, like "row row row your boat" but a bit more grown up.
thanks!