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Original poster

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

991 replies

nickelbabe · 06/08/2011 11:52

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
:)

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Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/09/2011 09:51

problem with that idea is that I don't think it's worth the time, effort, hassle and money to only get £1 for funds.
we've got 50 calendars - that's only £50.
It means that it's more likely that next year they'll go "oh, it wasn't worth doing that calendar, it raised hardly any money at all. let's not do it again"

I wish I knew who the lady was that suggested it in the first place - tehn I could ask her how much they sell theirs for. :(

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thanksamillion · 17/09/2011 13:41

I'd go for 5.99. 6.99 sounds quite steep but I can see that you're not going to make that much money for it. What's on it and what type is it? ie how wide is it's appeal going to be? Also how many people are in your congregation - if they all buy one how many will you have sold?

We had a bad day yesterday as someone wrote off our car Sad. Insurance here is only third party so we won't get anything from that and we just don't have money to buy a new one (and neither does the person who had the accident). It's also used for many of the projects that we run too, not to mention our own food shopping (180km round trip to a supermarket) ahhhhh

MHD I was wondering what you do on Sunday's now without a church as such! Does it feel strange? We're so used to the 'go to church on a Sunday morning' model I always think it must be tough to really get outside of that and see where God is leading you Grin maybe He's really a fan of Sunday lie-ins

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/09/2011 13:48

It's got loads of people from the benefice in it - including kids (I was told to appeal to everyone who might buy it for proud grandparents etc)
I'm not sure how many people are in the congregations - hoping at least one per family?

ouch on your car! :(
hope you find a solution soon.

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MaryBS · 17/09/2011 17:04

Maybe ask for a minimum donation of £5.99? People might then give more? Or make it clear what they cost to produce, as I certainly wouldn't have known! I think my nephew, when he was selling calendars as a fundraiser, sold them for £7.49

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/09/2011 17:07

That's a good idea, actually.
(i suppose we can tell people how much they cost to produce if they ask about the price)

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madhairday · 18/09/2011 15:48

So nickel you'd have liked the church we went to this morning (milly - as part of the project we have been asked by the Bishop to make a 'spiritual home' at one of the two sponsoring churches, which are ermmm rather different in flavour) - we are going to the first one for a month and the second the next month. They were really friendly, it was a v traditional anglican, with choir, robes, servers etc, I was thinking of you nickel as the choir were good and sang really nicely, and I was thinking what a difference a good choir can make. It's quite a big church, thriving, and the dc really enjoyed the groups. You know what, I'm open to wherever God wants us for this time until something is established here. I know this is not my comfort zone and my favourite brand of worship, but what seems more important to me is the welcome, and how welcomed the children feel also, and I think they really did. Things don't always come down to what gives me a buzz. We'll see what happens, and what God says, but all in all, it's making me think a lot :)

Bluetinkerbell · 18/09/2011 17:19

mhd you should have come to our Taizé inspired Celebration service this morning Wink It's our service aimed at they youth and families. We told them all about our pilgrimage to Taizé.
Our elderly normal congregation stays well clear of it most of the time, only a few keep coming, the others take a week off! Which I find a little offending and not very supportive of my work as a youth and families worker!

Can anyone help me? We have recently started a youth club on a Friday evening in our parish centre. We would like to hold a sleepover event in November. But I can't seem to find any 'regulations' about having boys and girls and leaders sleeping in the same room!
It is aimed at youth between 9 and 13 years old. If I would have still lived in Belgium I would just organise it and not worry about boys/girls sleeping in same room. But I know it is a bit more strict around here! We only have one big room and the church.
I would just stick them all in the same room, girls on the one end, boys on the other, numbers are limited to 20. I know they recommend adults/boys/girls all in separate rooms, but what are the guidelines if that is not possible?
Or should I just forget about the idea?

MaryBS · 19/09/2011 07:41

Sounds great, Tink!

Not sure about guidelines on sleeping in the same room, do you have a diocesan child protection officer you could ask?

Bluetinkerbell · 19/09/2011 10:05

Mary just sent them an email! Our diocese isn't the best at communication Wink Sent our diocesan youth officer an email 3 weeks ago, and haven't received a reply yet!

Original poster
nickelbabe · 19/09/2011 11:10

aww, mhd how sweet that you thought of me!
Grin
yes, it's true that even a church that's far different from what you are used to can still feel "homely" if the people are friendly and welcoming. :)

If you can't do separate rooms, what about stringing a curtain across? With the leaders in the middle.

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madhairday · 19/09/2011 11:30

I think there are pretty strict guidelines, blue, and you won't be able to put boys/girls and leaders in one room, it will have to be one room with boys and male leader and one room with girls and female leader, I know it's a pain but it has to be done this way now, and tbh as well at 9-13 a lot of them would feel embarassed about being in the same room, dd just turned 11 and she has gone really funny lately about anyone seeing her in any state of undress at all, and she'd be mortified if she had to get undressed etc in the same room as boys, I know you'd be careful etc but the kids may still get odd about it. Yes contact the diocesan bod or your vicar should be able to tell you?

Sorry to hear some of the regulars don't come to your family service - boo. It was the same in our old church.

(have fb'd you back about meeting up :))

My to do list is getting longer and we haven't been here that long. How does this happen???

Oh and I'm reeling this morning from the price of school music lessons here - they were free in our last place apart from a small instrument hire fee, and here they are £75 per child per term....aaaaagh!!! I really wanted the dc to continue but things are mounting up - it is more expensive living here....all the afterschool clubs cost money too and their clubs and guides and whatnot all cost more, heating is more, even food seems to have gone up again. starting to worry a bit....know I should trust God.

Original poster
nickelbabe · 19/09/2011 11:39

actually, have to say Blue, most of our older congregation would be the same.
I don't know though, most of them turn up to the services with different styles just because it's their habit to go every week.
I think I would miss it - I used to miss the ones where Choir wasn't in attendance, when it was Music Group, but that was mainly because we had choral evensong that night, and that's probably why. :)

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Bluetinkerbell · 19/09/2011 11:39

so if we would stay awake all night, we would all be able to stay in the same room Wink
Well we would definitely not let them change in the same room and they would all have to wear pj's
I have sent the diocesan child protection officer an email, hope I will get a swift reply!

MaryBS · 19/09/2011 12:35

I've got the same problem MHD with music lessons. I WAS paying £2.50 per group recorder lesson at primary school. The teacher who was taking that can't fit DD in privately, and the ones offered at secondary school are £66 per term, first term only and £99 per term thereafter. Also DD was on about having piano lessons. So she won't be able to do both.

Original poster
nickelbabe · 19/09/2011 14:24

blimey, it's all so expensive.
I hope DH is up to teaching Isbn Piano, or we'll be stuck.
he's also got to teach it the organ, when it's proficient at piano (i'm hoping it won't be an it by then Grin ).
just hope it doesn't want to learn anything else!

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madhairday · 19/09/2011 17:08

It is a nightmare....and now dd has come home with a letter about a residential trip in feb, which will cost £238 Shock

I don't know quite how we are going to manage tbh, if I could get a job things would be so much easier but that's not going to happen, I have faced up to it.

MaryBS · 20/09/2011 07:45

DD came home with details of a Scout trip - costing £425. She tried to justify it with saying "we go to all these places - theme park, clog factory and cheese factory". I said seriously? You're getting excited about going to a cheese factory? :o

It isn't easy MHD, I guess if she has to go on it, all you can do is start saving now!

Original poster
nickelbabe · 21/09/2011 11:30

Have been compiling the programme for the WI christmas carol service, which we're having at our church. I've roped in DH and the other organist to play, and we're hoping that the choir will sing too (got to have those descants!)

I've done it so we go through advetn first, then christmas - it's on the 7th december, so it feels odd to do christmas stuff that early.
so we've got
O come o come emmanuel
(then choir doing Gabriel's message)
lo, he comes with clouds descending
(then organ solo doing in dulci jubilo)
angels from the realms of glory
(choir item Thorns in the straw - well, we've learnt it we might as well use it!)
While shpeherds watched
see amid the winter's snow
(choir singing psallite unigenito, but in english)
Hark the herald
o come all ye faithful (1,2 and 6)

and some readings inbetween (but not many because noone's volunteered to read)

just hope the choir can do it - it's unlikely I'll be there, unless I've already had the baby, so don't know how many sops they'll get.

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DutchOma · 21/09/2011 11:55

Sing choirs of angels being the last verse?
Did you hear me this morning?

Original poster
nickelbabe · 21/09/2011 12:21

yes, that being the last verse.
did I hear you?

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Original poster
nickelbabe · 21/09/2011 12:23

oh no!!
it's wednesday today!
:( :( :(

i'm sorry!
I will go to the website and "listen again" right now.
I feel like such an idiot. Blush

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Original poster
nickelbabe · 21/09/2011 13:03

I listened!
what a lovely story - about meeting your DH on the ferry. :)
the version they found has got different words to the one I sent you....
I did enjoy listening to your story.

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Bluetinkerbell · 21/09/2011 13:47

I listened too! :) off to work now!

madhairday · 21/09/2011 15:11

What have I missed? What website??? :)

Original poster
nickelbabe · 21/09/2011 15:14

ah, you'll have to ask DutchOma.
jsut in case she doesn't want everyone to know who she is....

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