Cool Choirs, Clappy Choruses, Cringy Coffee: Religion Chat Thread No 5

[madhairday]

I thought seeing as our other thread has gone somewhere into the oblivion that is old MN pages, I would start us up again anew for a new term. This is a place for those who are Christians (and anyone who's not, we're not an exclusive little club) to chat about life, theology, church, any other stuff and of course Graham Kendrick, as nickel would not forgive me if I forgot to mention him

So all welcome, old and new, it would be fun to chat and chew over anything that comes to mind. Lurkers say hello!

Anyone got a nice juicy topic to get the ball rolling then? Or if not come say hi anyway and tell us how you are doing. :)

Best or worst ?

need to find something to wipe tea off screen.

Ah, I am ploughing through a pile of essays (ahem... [adopts 'Language, Timothy!' voice] 'essays, niminy'! [hard stare]) and I needed a laugh.

I also LOL-ed at Nickel's categorisation: 'charismatic' vs 'normal'.

In favour of the smells 'n' bells camp, though, I think it's probably fair to say that I've never heard of anyone breaking their foot in a freak thurible-related incident...

Grrr... am having a smilie/code fail today. You all know what I meant with my ^^ and **...

Now see I like smells and bells and I like charismatic. It's when the two are combined in a really awkward strumming When the Music Fades in front of an ornate but ignored high altar style that I get real hives.

Love it - Hillsong 'Hosanna' is my all time favourite.

'Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause.
As I walk from earth into eternity'

Worst (sorry anyone) Father God I wonder.... just don't like it.

Oh and I do like that Matt Redman ......

We had this at our wedding ....

?The Father's Song? - by Matt Redman

'The king of love has sent for me...' So many people do not know that...

And ?King of This Heart? - by Matt Redman

I love when it says ?undivided my heart will be?. That doesn't to me speak of not having doubts, but rather of not having a heart of stone.

Does that lot qualify me for a Charismatic badge!

High church and charismatic is rarer than hen's teeth but I love it.

I'm off on a training course today and I'm looking forward to the worship as it will be different to the style I'm used to. If there is no one who can provide the accompaniment then we will sing acapella and that can be strangely beautiful.

I'd describe myself as Catholic Charismatic, if I had to put a label on myself :).

As for people singing loudly in church, that's probably me too , although I have been told I CAN sing. It bugs me that people don't want to sing out and praise God, I love it! It does cause me problems though when I'm singing stuff I don't understand (usually Victorian stuff about ineffable etc), or I don't agree with theologically (my voice among the scoffers).

I hardly dare stick my head above the parapet in the 'song' discussion(I think I would go for Nickel's church if I could fly) but our church was a much appreciated venue for the last meet up as Northampton is so central. Would need much more help as far as catering is concerned, but I'm sure that could be organised.

Been instructed to give up MN for Lent.

We'll see ......

thegreenheart most of the singing in churches here (Moldova) is acapella and it can be lovely. Once or twice I have got the giggles when someone has started a song way too high .

My taste in music errs to the modern side but I like a good hymn in there too. When we were in the UK in the summer we visited an Anglican church in London that had the most fantastic worship - really good band/singer who really led, but also an organ that was really played when the worship needed it.

I am also thinking more at the moment about different styles of worship and different emphasis - probably because more people here are Orthodox and the focus on the mystery which can sometimes (not always!) be a bit missing in other brands of Christianity.

MHD I'm not sure I have 'eyes of my heart' although I do like the second section of that song (to see me high and lifted up...')

DS(5) had me giggling last week in church when we were singing the "modern" version of "Oh Jesus I have promised". He was marching on the spot, swinging his arms vigorously to the music, with a big, pleased grin on his face. I agree with him. There is something quite oompa, oompa about it.

townbuilt I did that last year! :) It did have its consequences though

townbuiltonahill - I'm wondering if I should do the same (and drastically curtail fb too - perhaps limit to 15 mins/day) - I mostly lurk rather than post but the time I'm spending online is getting a bit silly and I've got so many things I want to do and am not finding time for (I've enrolled on the "Introduction to the Bible" correspondence course via the Good Book College and want to try to do more background reading as well as trying to read the bits of the bible I don't know so well).

at Bluetinkerbell - I hope it doesn't have the same consequences here - dh definitly doesn't want any more!

i wouldn't worry about singing loudly and badly at church - most of our choir sings loudly and badly

Ginger - agree - i introduced that tune to my church, they always did the wolvercote version

i don't mind really.

There's a woman in our church who alway sits behind us singing LOUDLY. I'm afraid I just mime, especially when the hymn is 7 verses long. I get worn out.

sits down with cup of tea and browses MN

TUO, I just spluttered my tea on my screen at 'I've never heard of anyone breaking their foot in a freak thurible-related incident... '

A THURIBLE? A thurible ? a thurible ? ...and the knights say...

Loving this songs chat and with you re the loud singers. DH is a very loud singer but has a classically trained voice so all the old dears love him and he's in tune, it is painful when someone sings very loudly out of tune.

This is making me want a huge worship fest now....I'm just booking into the new wine women's day in march, if anyone wants to come along :)

Harrogate is a bit too much of a trek - though I'd be interested in hearing Christy Wimber in Poole. I doubt I'd get a pass out on a Saturday.

of course, i never sing badly, too loudly or out of tune.
oh no.

Newlark I wouldn't want to lead you astray - I said I'd been told to; it just depends how obedient a DH I am. But IMO that course of yours sounds time better spent than on MH threads. (Except this one, of course)

Mad has just diverted me to The Irresistible Revolution and I've also downloaded Calvin's Institutes (been meaning to read them for 40 years) and a MN poster's recommended book on Theology. So, like Pooh with his pot of honey, I'm off into a corner to make sure they don't get disturbed ....

mhd are you going back to the London one?
Can't believe that was the last time I saw you, where had the time gone? That was also the weekend I found out I was pregnant with Lotta! :)
I'm not giving up anything this Lent, but just bought some books with daily readings and reflections.

For me a lot of the songs are new, only been going to church here for 2 years now

MHD... Not sure I'm 'New Wine' material, but if you're coming to Harrogate I will definitely meet up with you somewhere for coffee/lunch/whatever...

Blue and Tuo - I'm going up to the Harrogate one this year - bit of a trek but a friend is happy to drive, and the venue there is lovely - really comfy seats etc. Tuo would love to meet you but it's full on and the break for lunch is not really enough to get out for lunch anywhere - you just eat your sandwiches wherever you can find a spot. It's lovely though, such an amazing and refreshing day, it's Ele Mumford speaking (she's the mum of the lead singer of Mumford and Sons) and she is good. We'll have to try and meet up another time - didn't realise you were in Harrogate, such a beautiful town, love it.

Would love you to come Blue, understand totally if it's too much though to leave dd3, people do bring babies so that's an option if you fancy it.

Kay, would love to go to the Poole one but that's too far away for me.

Maybe you should try it out Tuo, you might love it - no GK in sight, but possibly too much Redman - can totally understand though - a day conference of cathedral worship would not be my thing - although I'd love the silence and feel of it I think :)