Hallelujah He is Here - Chataway

[DutchOma]

Well here you are then I don't post often, but just to save Nickel a job...

That's really tough MHD. Almost everything you could think of would include needing a space! I did start my Mums and babies/toddlers group at my house though so it is possible. Although it's now grown and definitely wouldn't fit any more. In amongst the shops are there any cafes?

Developers really shouldn't be allowed to build without any community space. It's just not healthy!

what about using school premises?

School premises are definitely on the list for weekend meetings when we grow enough for that. However they can't be used in the day for eg toddler groups as there isn't any spare rooms/hall space. We keep trying to find solutions!

On the edge of the estate there is a garden centre with a tiny little cafe, and a playbarn, again small. Both nice little spaces but impossible to see how they could be utilised. we could poss do an alpha course in the cafe, but for community groups not so easy to see. There is also a couple of pubs, which could again be used for evening get togethers. It's the daytime community activities it's hard to see happening. However a possible high school is in the offing. I do hope if it happens it includes space for such things. would make a huge difference I think..

Thinking about it, I guess the playbarn could be used as a mums get together - it doesn't seem to be atm - it is tiny though with no real baby space....hmmm

have the pubs got function rooms?

schools for holiday clubs.

Wow! Lots of ideas sparking here, MHD.

I am excited/nervous. Off to our local theological college/lay religious education centre tomorrow morning, to discuss the possibility of organising some outreach events based around the research that I'm doing with a colleague. (I realise that sounds a bit obscure, but I can't say more without outing myself really...) Anyway, it's all quite exciting. Colleague was meant to be coming with me, but has double-booked himself, so I'm on my own. Mostly worrying about finding the place atm! I'm a good navigator; I'm just very bad at navigating and driving at the same time.

Hope it goes well TUO. I'm rubbish at navigating/driving too, I love my SatNav very much :) I'm sure it'll go brilliantly - sounds interesting.

Nickel yes holiday clubs is on our ever growing list, lol!!! Pubs don't have function rooms unfortunately.

I am finding today hard. we found out dd's old teacher died. She was early fifties. dd is devastated. She would have had her this year had she stayed where we were before, so all her old classmates are in this lady's class. :(

:( prayers for strength for DD

Sounds exciting TUO :)

Just in case anyone missed this thread... :o (at least they didn't call you a GK fan, Nickel :o)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1468850-to-be-shocked-ive-been-libelled-in-my-local-paper

thanks

talk about humiliation!

:o

That did make me larf.

sorry

That is a very funny thread. I never could make head nor tail of Netmums.

thanks!

Nickel... How terrible!

Had a lovely morning - though I did get a bit lost (found the place, couldn't find the main reception ) - and have got lots of really exciting plans. I can't wait...!

Nickel! Dreadful! How dare they?!

DS(4.8) during service on Sunday morning, "There are two Jesuses, isn't there? One in heaven and one in my heart."
As it was in the middle of prayers it was a bit difficult to answer, but I said something along the lines of, "Actually, it is the same Jesus. He's both in heaven and in your heart. Jesus is everywhere."
He looked at me but dropped the subject. I tried to take it up later when we could talk but he was not interested. Then yesterday, he came while I was cooking his tea and said, "Jesus is in heaven and in my heart, isn't he? It's the same Jesus, not two." and I answered that he was. Thinking that it must be confusing with Jesus being in at least two places at the same time I then tried to say that Jesus being in his heart AND in heaven was a little bit like DS being in my heart even when he was away from me. He "is in my heart" because I love him as well as he is where he is physically wherever that may be, but I didn't very far with that one because DS lost interest again.
I get the distinct feeling I'm failing miserably at explaining God to my son . I can't rely on DH helping out, atheist that he is. It must all be so confusing to a kid! Or maybe I was just overcomplicating it?
HELP! Any wise words of advice greatly appreciated.
(Apologies for long post)

i think that sounds like a good explanation :)

the fact you are able to compare the feeling of having jesus with the embodiment of jesus is good. It'll get easier to work out that someone can't be "physically" in your heart as he works it out.

Sounds good to me, ginger :)

Thanks for the kind feedback.
I guess I just find it so difficult to judge what to say to DS, how to say it, what to push, etc. Don't want him to turn out to be one of those embittered, traumatised people who blame everything wrong in their lives on a Christian upbringing. I feel so inadequate sometimes.
Thanks once again.

you'll be alright - I think the best plan is just to use church and God as a normal part of life.

Our DD will (hopefully) grow up seeing church as as much a part of her life as school and home.

We don't have any excuse not to attend, which I suppose is lucky for us! except holiday and illness.

She's been going since she was 6 days old, and we spend a lot of time behind the scenes, too, so that helps.

When I was a child, my mum cleaned for the vicar and his wife, and cleaned the church too, so we used to "help out" during school holidays. It meant that we saw the church outside of services, and it was always part of our everyday life.
I think that's helpful - maybe if you volunteered to be on the flower rota, or the brass-cleaning rota, that would help too.

KWYM nickel - my dc have been part of/around churches all their lives to and see it as part of them/who they are. It can be helpful, I guess it depends on the child - mine have always loved it.

How are you, and dd? Got over the terrible occurrence of the wrongly reported slur on your good name?

XXXXXXXXX

I find it difficult to deal with the kids questions too sometimes. DS1 wants to know exactly where heaven is and why it is that we can't travel there. He's learning all about space at school and I think he imagines that heaven is in space somewhere. How does everyone else handle this?

no, i haven't got over it.
People come in the shop saying "I saw you in the paper" and i think

luvvie hun