Graham, Gloria and Gossip! Religion Chat thread (part 4)

[nickelbabe]

I know we've not officially finished the last one, but I wanted to get the link in before we ran out of room!

Everyone welcome - the aim of this thread is to generally chat about church life, or just gossip in general!
You don't have to be a regular church-goer, nor do you have to know what we're going on about!
It's not about debate, it's just about chatting
:)

lostinafrica every blessing with whatever is happening, hope that you will soon get some clarity.

Can I ask for some insight here:- dd just sent me a text message saying that dgrands came out with "God is only real for stupid people". She had said that she did not disagree with him but not to say that at school.
I have just texted her back to say that she therefore thinks (and leads him to believe) that both his Oma and Grandad are stupid people and so is his beloved uncle. And of course for that matter is the Archbishop of Canterbury but we'd better leave him out of it.
What do I say?
She was very cross about the fact that not only does he have to attend assemblies, he also has to say grace before he is allowed to eat his lunch.

Prayers lostinafrica.

DO, you know what your daughter does/doesn't believe, I guess its inevitable that her DS will pick up on it. All you can do is allow God's grace to work, and of course your pointed text will hopefully have made her think about what she says to her DS! I'm quite happy being a stupid person. I've been called stupid before for not understanding something (due to having Aspergers) so to be called stupid for my faith is a bonus!

Bluetinkerbell sorry for not replying before. Its quite complicated who can and can't leave a service, and there are stricter rules when its the main Sunday service and/or if its a Eucharist. As a bare minimum though, anyone leading services is supposed to have the approval of the vicar and the PCC and is supposed to be supervised if not authorised (by being a Reader for instance). A Reader would still need approval from vicar and PCC though. If you go to the C of E website, its covered under the canons of the church (The ones starting B I think).

Mary thanks for that! I will go and look it up! :)

I hope everything works out lost :(
Prayers and hugs at a very difficult time.

Oma - that means there must be a heck of a lot of stupid people in the world
I wonder if that has been told him by someone else? (other than from your DD, I mean)
(oh, dear, I have images of SGB talking to your DGS! )
I have no problem with your DD not wanting to bring up her son in God, but I think it's another thing entirely to tell him that people who do believe are Stupid. It's not the best way to improve tolerance amongst peoples, is it?
Sorry, I have no advice on the subject :(

oddly, I was brought up in a house that was split on the subject. My dad is firmly anti-religion (of any kind), and he does say that there's no such thing as God. But I think part of him does believe in God, just not religion, iyswim.
My mum was not a practising christian as an adult, but has always had faith.
and as children, we all went to church (Big sis started that one, and mum started up the Sunday School because of that), but we were always allowed to choose for ourselves what we thought about it all.
So, I'm the only one that goes to church regularly, little sis is a christian but doesn't go to church (her DSs go to a CofE primary, so she says they get enough religion at school ), and big sis goes sometimes. She wants her DCs to be christians, but she's also obsessed with the local Catholic school at the moment (not because of religion, but because it's the best school in her area - of course that meant she was contemplating having her DS baptized catholic! and - he was done CofE in the end...)

Oh lostinafrica I will be praying, that is tough, let us know any updates. Great that your finding God amongst it and knowing his call. Keep holding on to that. God doesn't always do what looks best humanly speaking.

DO .. that must be so heartbreaking for you. A lot of people think that way though, you just have to take a glance round MN Perhaps your text will make her think, becuase yes by implying christians are stupid he is saying you are and many other people. It's sad, it's almost like people feel threatened by it so have to be prickly and defensive about it :( When actually it's the one thing that could be their ultimate fulfilment. I am so sad for the lost sometimes. :( Thinking of you and praying for dd and dgs. x

Have been to a bible study again this morning...so lovely to just 'be' at one and not the leader - I am taking a step back and merely listening for a while. It's refreshing :)

you're not your

oh lost really feeling for you and hoping that there's been some more clarity. Are you with an organisation that will help you with logistics if it is necessary to move?

I've managed to pick up a stomach bug (as have the DDs but not DH or DS - maybe it's a female thing ) so have spent all morning in bed. Had to cancel my Mums and babies group and am now in the lounge looking round with dispair at the mess and wondering how it will get tidied/cleaned before visitors who are coming tomorrow.

DO don't know what to say except that you will be in my prayers

to milly too.
:(

I'll try to lighten the mood a bit
I'm jsut compiling our latest issue of the magazine.
I always think the bit about weddings is dull - it's basically just a half-page advert saying "ooh, you can get married in our churches" woop-de-doo.
I've done a little article on marrying at christmas time. :)

We're trying to vamp the magazine up this time (and for the future), which means we're going to have a colour front cover and maybe some photos in the middle too (if I can get any that are relevant to the time of year! or even of things wot we 'ave done),so I'm trying to make it look a bit more interesting inside too - it's hard work, because even though everyone knows that the magazine will be printed soon, noone's come to me with anything to put in it.
I'm even having to press DH to come up with an article (that he has been promising me since the spring issue!!)

Any of this www.yourchurchwedding.org/youre-welcome/special-day-special-place.aspx any use nickel?

I ought to be writing my sermon but I'm struggling! Its about giving to Caesar the things that are Caesars...

oooh shall I send you mine Mary? I've googled it, and it's aimed at children more but I think it's quite good!

ooh, Mary - you know how I feel about yourchurchwedding! It's full of ideas on how not to do it (ie, ooh, let's make you choose a crappy "hymn" or another crappy "hymn" or a song you did at school! why not jsut choose The Animals Went in Two by Two and be done with it???

In the end, apart from my pretty christmas wedding bit, I jsut copied what it said on the church website - but i did add a bit about consulting the people in charge of music at either church (because our wedding clerk puts couples under pressure to know what hymsn they want at their first meeting!! I know that's not what she intends, but even just asking "have you thought about musicand hymns?" makes them think "oh shit, we need to know music now! quick! what songs can you remember?"

I need something on Epiphany, otherwise the mag looks like it's just about christmas, and it's got to last till end of Jan!

Sorry Nickel, that was a bit evil of me

Yes please bluetinkerbell, send me your sermon :) I'll pm you my email address!

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers, everyone. Everyone here is being really supportive too, now that we're beginning to let people know. I still haven't seen DH, but have made brief phone contact from time to time!

It all looks pretty definite now, which leaves me (in the heat of the late afternoon) looking in despair at the house and not knowing quite where to start. DH should be home in an hour or so and then we can discuss things more and come up with some plans together. That'll be nice!

Milly - unfortunately, DH works for an organisation that is likely to fold when we go. One of the other two senior positions is vacant and the other will be in about a month. The organisation needs more prayer than us as a family, I think. :( It does such good work, but they're not easy positions to fill - a small organisation and a tough country to work in. A predominantly Muslim country, but these positions have to be filled by Christians.

lostinafrica I am so sorry. That sounds so hard for you, and so sorry the organisation will have to fold. Just to say praying for you and thinking of you, you have our support here. Do you know what will happen from now?

that's okay mary, i know you're evil anyway

it's such a worry that they give you such short notice. Have you anywhere in mind to live, or will you jsut be coming home to nothing?

They do this from time to time, the government; they think that we're here for malevolent reasons anyway and there's no trust. Although DH had a fairly good relationship with the ones he's in regular contact with. There's still been no reason given, though.

We don't really have anywhere to go. We'll stay with my parents initially; that's where we stay during the school summer holidays when it's too hot here and there's nothing to do. But the next job could still be months away...

Have had going round my head all day. Have to say it's starting to annoy me, but it's a good song - and I was amused to note that it's another Stuart Townend!

I love that song lost, it's an oldie but goodie I think.

So frustrating for you about the whole thing. Where do your parents live?

Just had an utter mystery, parcel has arrived, in it are cakes, wine, cheese, haggis (?!) and oatcakes, definitely addressed to us but no signature, just cryptic msg I can't work out, I'm mystified (but rather pleased!!) (apart from the haggis as I am veggie but kids and dh can have it)

I'm not clicking on it.
you have to tell me what the songs are before I will click - especially if qualified with "it's stuart townend/GK/some godawful (scuse the pun )modern christian thing"

tell me what it is and i might decide to click on it.

well, at least you can stay with your parents.
I take it you won't have an income now either? :(

aw,, you can get veggie haggis (you migth have to buy your own though!)

:o at nickel - it's Stuart Townend singing Shine, Jesus, Shine with Graham Kendrick's pets on backing vocals.

Ok, it's Bruckner's Locus Iste, sung by Kings.

Ok, it's actually The Lord's Prayer, ST's version. Really.

:o

I got 'The Lords my Shepherd' from that link lost, not the Lord's prayer...

eww at veggie haggis!! What's in it??

lol @ SJS with GK's pets on vocals [grin[

Oh, duh! Mixed those two up, they are quite different, aren't they? I plead extenuating circumstances! :o

Mmm, now have good choral music replacing the shepherd song in my head...

great, so now i'm going to have to click to see which is the truth.
meanie!

veggie haggis is mostly pulses. It's very much like stuffing, and it's quite spicy. yummy with mash and gravy. :)