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Philosophy/religion

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Doxologies, Delirium and Discussion: Religion Chat Thread number 3

1000 replies

nickelbabyhatcher · 05/04/2011 16:49

Here we are!

Roll up and sign in!

Oldies welcome, newbies welcome, anyone welcome!

It's basically a "what happened in church/spiritual life/anything else you want to chat about that's vaguely related (or not) to churchy stuff.

OP posts:
MadHairyMilkEggonEasterDay · 11/04/2011 18:13

Oh take that back - just saew you have to email it back in that format.

MaryBS · 12/04/2011 08:02

All our service booklets are done in Word and I guess I've grown used to juggling the text around so it works in booklet form!

Am feeling a bit overwhelmed here, when I think how much I've got to do over the next couple of weeks AND also there's the kids to consider too!

PositiveAttitude · 12/04/2011 08:17

Mary, the coming 10 days is the worst along with Christmas, here, too. It is so hard juggling it with children at home, too. Do you do set hours, or have you flexibility? I have found it best for me to be working in the evenings and early mornings - I have already done my work for today, arrived at the office at 6.30, home by 8 today! I was also there 6.00 - 9.30 last night! It works for me well, but maybe not so easy with younger children. Hope you can enjoy some time in the sunshine with the children.

We are heading off to the beach with a picnic today.. DS's request. Not a sandy beach, but a stony one so we can have a skimming the stone competition! Hmm I always win! Wink

MaryBS · 12/04/2011 09:00

This isn't parish administration type work, rather this is my own church and organising and putting together services and writing sermons.

This Sunday, we have a visiting priest who needs briefing on Palm Sunday liturgy - which I need to check first as there is some confusion over what we are doing. I also need to write a sermon. I also need to go round the village putting up posters for holy week services. I also need to put together an order of service for Compline. I also need to organise the rota for the watch till midnight on Maundy Thursday, and sort out the passion gospel for Good Friday. And write a village magazine article - mine is a regular feature, previously done by the vicar, and is the front page article, so can't get out of it. Plus I think there are a few other jobs...

nickelbaalamb · 12/04/2011 10:33

I don't want Publisher! Shock

I like Micrographx Draw 6.
it's brilliant

(and no longer available)

nickelbaalamb · 12/04/2011 10:36

The churchwardens are deciding this week if we're going to do a Palm Sunday Procession.

Last year, we did a stupid traipse round inside the church and ended up getting mixed up with each other, because the walk they proposed wasn't long enough, so we added a bit.
bloody nightmare.

I like walking around outside the church! And trying to be in time with the organ when we get back! (that's half the fun of it)
We're never in time - usually at least half a verse out (at best!)

I love that bit - I (being a bit sad) like walking round streets of town hoping that people feel guilty for nto being in church and want to join in.
(what usually happens in this town is that people look at us as if we're a bit odd... Hmm )
Grin

MaryBS · 12/04/2011 11:28

THIS week??? Don't they know???

Am also taking Morning Prayer at another church in our benefice. The liturgy I have doesn't seem to cover this eventuality. Am now thinking I'll need to produce a service book for this... but do I preach on the Palm Gospel or the other Gospel, as there'll be 2 gospels??? Also, what will the liturgy look like?

MadHairyMilkEggonEasterDay · 12/04/2011 11:29

Oh Mary hope you can get some rest amid all that!!

nickel I'd prefer an outside walk too and yes lol at people thinking we are mad on town marches etc, been there too Grin

I have a lot to sort too, got to finish the May what's on newsletter today (don't ask) and sort out a presentation for the MU tomorrow, while looking after kids and entertaining friends and packing for Milan (can't complain about that bit!!)

nickelbaalamb · 12/04/2011 12:13

no, they haven't decided yet! Shock
they've got a leadership meeting this week, so...

dunno what you'd preach - I personally would preaach on whatever I've already prepared - so I didn't have to write a new one.

MaryBS · 12/04/2011 12:17

I haven't got anything already prepared though... have consulted the priest, who advised me to preach on the palm gospel, maybe making the point about the contrast of the crowd, welcoming Jesus to the crowd condemning him to death.

Also, they're holding a PCC in Holy Week! There's a "three line whip" on attending, due to all the controversy thats been going on here (can't say too much) re: the appointment process and secrecy. Only I'm supposed to be taking a service at another church in the benefice so can't go!

nickelbaalamb · 12/04/2011 14:21

weird. Confused

MadHairyMilkEggonEasterDay · 13/04/2011 09:49

Morning. Quiet round here today! I have a busy day speaking at the mother's union about their Bye Buy Childhood campaign (similar to the MN LGBG one) then at a friends, then have to pack, yipppeeeeee. We so need a break. Just exhausted in every way atm.

Oh you lot can help me think about dh's Licensing/installation service for new role. What does a Fresh Expressions licensing look like? Certainly nothing like the usual anglican caboodle. We want to be different from the first (awkward sods that we are) and not to go into the community saying hey, look, we're the anglican church here now, get used to it and welcome us, but more going in and praying, worshipping, staking the ground so to speak Grin Any creative ideas? Sorry no organs/robes/choirs nickel Wink but open to pretty much anything really...

nickelbaalamb · 13/04/2011 09:56

I've never heard of a Fresh Expressions licensing.

although, I will say, you might be best served to go in gently - Our lady priest that went to a new church had a traditional licensing, as dictated by the bishop, and the service was a blend of tradition and modern. She is happy-clappy, and the church in general is too, but she spent time when she moved there to question the parishioners on what they wanted.
Then she took everything on board in order to amalgamate.
That's when you put your own stamp on it.
Most people I know in churches say that a new incumbant should spend about a year (so they can see everything that happens in the church) watching and learning.
Then if things need to change, you introduce it gently "ooh, let's see if such and such would work. Let's try it for somany months. If it doesn't work, we can re-think"

I'm sure you know all this, because you said "but more going in and praying, worshipping, staking the ground so to speak ", so it looks like you're not going to "do a Nick" (which is what our last vicar did - "hello, I know you've got a long tradition here at St Michael's but i hate tradition, so what I'm going to do is rip out all the furniture, change everything, reduce the congregation to the bare bones and talk down to everyone that has put in years of hard work into this church. Oh, while we're here, let's also get rid of the organ and the robed choir, put in stupid screens and.... oh, where did everyone go? Confused" )

Best thing for your induction is probably just to ask for the music you want, and let the church do the rest. :)

MadHairyMilkEggonEasterDay · 13/04/2011 10:00

Sorry I've prob not explained it properly nickel - there is no church at all - nada! It's a fresh expressions post because it is a church plant role - into a huge new build estate with no church presence, so it really is starting from nothing, hence the thoughts about licensing being different, as from the start we are keen not to impose our own preconceived ideas about what it is going to be like, but to listen to the community, to get to know the area. Which is why we don't want it to be the traditional 'here is your new vicar' thing....more of a here we are, what do you think about what church should be like here? etc.

I know this all sounds somewhat vague, but that's prob because there is no set way of doing things. It's so exciting though and so challenging :)

MaryBS · 13/04/2011 10:19

Have you checked out the Fresh Expressions website and FB group? That might help?

nickelbaalamb · 13/04/2011 10:23

where would you be based then? Confused

DutchOma · 13/04/2011 10:37

We have a lovely connection with our music school which is about three doors away from the church. We have also contacts with the nearby schools, some of which have a chaplain. We also have a charity shop/coffeeshop attached to the church.
Are there any other churches in the area? Community groups? Women's Institute?
Can you get together with any of these and ask them what they would like?

nickelbaalamb · 13/04/2011 13:04

I need content for the magazine.
We're (read: I'm) doing one for May-Jun-July, so it can have easter stuff, ascension stuff, pentecost, trinity, ordinary stuff etc.

Please help!

Grinthanks!

PositiveAttitude · 13/04/2011 14:10

Quick prayer request, just posted on the prayer thread, but just in need of urgent prayer.
DD2 has just been in a car crash. She has been taken to hospital on a back board with her neck stabilised. Dont know any more, just off to hospital now... please pray.

MadHairyMilkEggonEasterDay · 13/04/2011 14:45

Oh PA...praying right now :(

hotcrossSES · 13/04/2011 15:49

PA - just seen this and praying for you and your DD2. Hope it's not too serious and praying that God will look after her and any others involved.

nickelbaalamb · 13/04/2011 17:03

oh my, PA. Sorry to hear that. :(

to her (but not too hard...)

Praying she'll be okay. xxx

MadHairyMilkEggonEasterDay · 13/04/2011 17:25

nickel, we will be based in the community. It's what is known as a Bishop's Mission Order so a directive from the bishop, not attached to a church as that could easily drain all the life out of the project with time commitments etc, but it will be 'sponsored' by some local churches and certainly supported by churches round about the area, in fact they have been incredibly supportive already :) We're excited!

Any news PA? xx

nickelbaalamb · 13/04/2011 17:35

interesting.
that's why it's so important to have a proper office in the house, then!

MaryBS · 13/04/2011 17:48

Praying PA....

Nickel, if they're any use, you can have my article I wrote for our magazine, from 2007, where the initial thoughts were on Pentecost (before I rambled - they're called Reader's Ramblings). Also my sermon on the Trinity, if that is any use?

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