Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

Original poster

Safe haven chat thread for believers

423 replies

Starwisher · 04/04/2012 23:45

I thought it be lovely to start a" safe haven"thread for all the believers on mumsnet. It doesn't matter what religion or spirituality you are, the important thing is a belief in God or higher power that unites us.

The idea is too talk with other believers to share ideas, thoughts and feelings or even general musings.
So come in and relax!

please can I respectfully ask that this is not a debating thread to challenge people. While I am not the mn police, there are other threads to debate on or please start your own. This is a safe haven

OP posts:
SophieNeveau · 06/04/2012 12:01

music and singing are so beautiful, I can see you feeling close to God by joining the choir.

Itch, I am glad you found this thread, I was so pleased to find this thread too.

MonsterBookOfTysons · 06/04/2012 12:05

I have been having a google due to this thread.
I have found a church that looks welcoming and similar to my old Unitarian church, they have a creche for dd and a junior church for ds. But I am scared!
I am scared to walk through the door and meet loads of people I don't know, I am scared that I won't know when to take the dc to the creche etc as it is done halfway through the service and I am sure my dc will cry.
Any reassurance please :)

itchitch · 06/04/2012 12:06

thanks sophie. i don't usually look at these threads. there is always a part of me that feels drawn to Jesus but i ignore the feelings mostly. have so many questions still. life has not been easy as it is for a lot of you on this thread and I am in awe of your strength. x

itchitch · 06/04/2012 12:10

monster you should just go for it. in my experience newcomers to a church ate usually made very welcome. sounds exciting!

Codandchops · 06/04/2012 12:11

Can you go with DD monster. I help with our Children's Liturgy and started helping because DS would not go off without me Grin

Original poster
Starwisher · 06/04/2012 12:13

Itch hi!

I'm glad you found this thread. I know when I started looking seriously into exploring if God was real or not (about 4 years ago) something just clicked and I felt very emotional,like there is more to life than this after all. There is a beautiful spiritual life, not just the worldly one.

I was at my lowest point and one day I heard the words "God will change you from the inside out" and the words just over took me.

4 years on people say the change in me is incredible. I'm not perfect, I still have my troubles, far too many, but I have never felt so strong and content inspite of whatever is happening in my life.

OP posts:
MonsterBookOfTysons · 06/04/2012 12:14

I don't know, I am happy to help out though. Do you think I should phone them?

tummytickler · 06/04/2012 12:17

Monster The two churches I have been to with childrens work say a prayer for the children leaving for clubs. They make it very obvious! You could always arrive 10 minutes early and introduce yourself and ask what happens. I expect that you will be able to go with your dc the first time and settle them down, and then sneak back into the service.
It is so nerve wracking walking into a new church! Just take a deep breath and go for it!

itchitch welcome to the thread, it sounds like God is tapping at your heart. I definitely had that when I came back to Jesus as an adult, A nagging feeling that I just couldn't get rid of. Looking back I am sure I was getting a nudge in the right direction from God! I think I will always be questions - questions are good!

Sirzy · 06/04/2012 12:18

Monster, it if would make you feel better then phone first. If you go on Sunday you will probably find there are a lot of 'newcomers' there anyway as Easter Sunday is a service which tends to attract new families (in our church anyway)

When you arrive you could have a word with the warden/sidesmen and they will point out to you when children would normally go off if that's how it is done.

tummytickler · 06/04/2012 12:19

starwisher that is exactly how I feel. As though regardless of how stormy life is outside, within my heart I feel peace and strength.

Monster is there a list of contacts on the church website - maybe you could email or phone the children's work co-ordinator, or the vicar?

Original poster
Starwisher · 06/04/2012 12:19

Hi sirzy :)

OP posts:
MonsterBookOfTysons · 06/04/2012 12:20

Thank you, I think I will phone themI will definately go for it and be brave, I may get mil to come with me :)

MonsterBookOfTysons · 06/04/2012 12:21

x posts tummy, yes there is, an email is a good idea, I won't babble then :o

tummytickler · 06/04/2012 12:23

Monster I am sure you will be welocmed with open arms. It can make it much easier to know what to expect in terms of service structure though can't it? Especially with dc. Making mil go is a great idea!

Sirzy · 06/04/2012 12:25

Hello star wish!

Original poster
Starwisher · 06/04/2012 12:33

I am amazed this thread has taken off like it has! I thought it would just be me on my lonesome, but I'd give it a shot anyway.

Im pleased this thread is genuinely helping people

I also feel such a sense of relief... Finally I can talk openly and honestly with no fear of judgement... And breatheeee!

OP posts:
Sirzy · 06/04/2012 12:39

It's a nice thread, especially when you see so many on here where any mention of religion or faith is automatically swooped on by people so critical.

MonsterBookOfTysons · 06/04/2012 12:43

Tis a lovely thread Star! :)

itchitch · 06/04/2012 13:13

tummy and star thanks. that is sort of what it feels like. a tug at my sleeve like "don't forget me". star your story is lovely and I guess i wish something definitve like that would happen to me. does that make sense? x

hiddenhome · 06/04/2012 13:54

Can't go to church Sad ds2 is all whingy and off colour. dh has gone to choir. Have no babysitter Sad

itchitch · 06/04/2012 15:57

That's a shame Hidden. Hope ds is better soon and you can go on Sunday.

SophieNeveau · 06/04/2012 15:59

I hope ds2 is feeling better soon.

We didn't go to church, we had a bit of a religious chat earlier started by dc, which was interesting.

TheGreatestmadhairDayinHistory · 06/04/2012 16:15

Hello, I hope I'm not intruding, but just to say we do have a long running chat thread for believers going on (the 'Chataway' one) and it would be a shame to be two camps as it were - lovely to see you all, and hopefully we can all talk together? I recognise a few of you (waves to CY and hiddenhome).

Good friday is such a poignant but powerful day - hope you're all having a good day.

KalSkirata · 06/04/2012 16:30

lovely thread. I'm a muslim (which means one who submits to God) but I must admit to struggling sometimes and wondering if I'm deluded. I see signs of God and then I see my daughter suffering (she was born brain damaged) and its painful. Its also hard being a lone muslim.

Madforfootball · 06/04/2012 16:34

Mary- if you son doesn't want to get confirmed please don't force the issue. But more than that, please be proud of his decision and tell him so.

I was confimed Cof E when I was 10, because there was a chance I would go to a Catholic boarding school when I was 11 and my mother wanted me done beforehand. I was too young to really know if I believed, and by the time I realised I didn't (a few years later) my mother took it as a personal insult. I could never stand up to her about it and felt trapped going to church for many years. Even in my mid-20s she nearly burst into tears when I told an a and e receptionist I was aethist within earshot. Her control over it has pushed me further and further away. If I'd had her support when I was younger there's a chance I'd be a committed Christian now.