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Original poster

hideous hymns, vocal vicars and theatrical thuribles. Religious Chat Thread Number 6!

999 replies

nickelbabe · 17/02/2013 19:24

Welcome to the Religion Chat thread.
We're mostly Christians, but all are welcome.
a lovely soace to talk about church life, spiritual journeys and stuff in general.
It's not about debate, it's about chat.
Come oldies and newbies!

this is the previous thread

OP posts:
thanksamillion · 18/02/2013 14:46

Hello, just checking in to the new thread.

Original poster
nickelbabe · 18/02/2013 15:26

I got an email in reply to my crazy homework from NV.
He had obviously read it Saturday night (according to the email reply)
"Not crazy!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this - very helpful. "

ahem.
Blush

OP posts:
Bluetinkerbell · 18/02/2013 15:57

Yay nickel I think NV is going to be a real blessing for your parish! :)

I want to start up a group for youngsters aged 13+ in the parish, as youth club finishes when they turn 14. Haven't figured out content/activities yet though or when to hold it.

niminypiminy · 18/02/2013 15:59

nickel that's excellent! I agree he is clearly A Good Thing.

Original poster
nickelbabe · 18/02/2013 16:02

a real blessing until something goes horribly wrong.

It just seems too-good-to-be-true at the moment.

OP posts:
Bluetinkerbell · 18/02/2013 16:18

Oh niminy you were too quick, was going to write Wink

Original poster
nickelbabe · 18/02/2013 16:40

Mary
It might be helpful to contact other churches and ask them what they do and how it works and whether it is successful

ooh, I'm really excited now, I do hope you do it!

OP posts:
Original poster
nickelbabe · 18/02/2013 17:33

you filled my thread with Graham Kendrick lyrics

i don't love any of you anymore.

OP posts:
niminypiminy · 18/02/2013 18:15

Aww, it was only in fun. We still love you.

(Sorry, blue I got carried away Blush)

Original poster
nickelbabe · 18/02/2013 18:35

ah now the thing makes sense!

it should be though.

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SESthebrave · 18/02/2013 21:12

Mary - how exciting! I agree, it could be a brilliant vocation. FWIW, my personal experience as a teenager was positive when we were allowed to discuss things in an open environment where we would be respected, challlenged and affirmed. For example topics such as abortion, Jesus' divinity & humanity, Justice & Peace issues.

Re confession, it was something I thought a lot about when becoming RC and I can really see the benefits and the riches it brings. It is often done face to face now and not behind a grille. You normally have the option. Every priest I've ever spoken to has spoken very humbly about it. It is amazing to hear the words of absolution and I find the preparation and examination of conscience part of the sacrament extremely helpful. What I find hard is purely a personal thing as I worry that it can become a bit of a counselling session. That in itself is not necessarily a bad thing but I had a bad experience when at uni. My ex BF threatened me with a knife and I was beating myself up because I couldn't forgive him. A friend recommended a Christian counsellor. At the 2nd session, on finding out my Dad was an alcoholic, she suggested that he had abused me as a child. When I told her that I really didn't think he had, she suggested that I had blocked the memory.
I've never really told anyone that so excuse me for offloading but that's why I have an issue with Confession.

MaryBS · 18/02/2013 21:20

No seriously, its only what I said I'll do if I have to!

MadHairDay · 18/02/2013 21:54

I love that blog you posted, niminy :)

I've possibly done the melty nicey phase and the dark depressive phase. There's room for both, I think, as long as done from a genuine spirit. The problem with the gushy Jesus one is that it's been overdone as a hypocritical stereotype. People can actaully be gushy in a meaningful way, if their lives reflect it, and if it listens to other people, iyswim.

I don't agree that some of the stuff is missing the mark to try and be in with the kids nickel, I think a lot of it now is authentic and just where they are at. My dd responds so well to stuff like Soul Survivor and loves that type of worship, I can see that not all would, and there needs to be stuff for them too. But by and large I think the culture now is more for that kind of thing and that is what draws them in. :)

Hahaha at the Graham lyrics filling up the thread Grin

SES that's a horrible memory for you :( I can see why you are not sure about confession. Unfortunately, one person can mess things up. Not at all what you needed at the time :(

Original poster
nickelbabe · 18/02/2013 22:05

mhd. if a lot of it is authentic and just where they are at then it follows that some of it isn't Wink

sorry mary, you've signed up now! WinkGrin

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niminypiminy · 18/02/2013 22:20

I'm all a-flutter! I've just written to ask if I can go to the regional ministerial training course open day next month! That was such a difficult thing to do like Indiana Jones putting his foot out over the chasm all my cautiousness is telling me that I'll never get selected, and that I'm just setting myself up for an almighty (sorry, didn't think of the pun there, the word just came out) disappointment -- it's taken me ages to pluck up the courage and send the email, and to say in it that I hope to start training in the autumn.

thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts · 19/02/2013 08:31

How exciting! Go for it.

Original poster
nickelbabe · 19/02/2013 08:43

yeay! you've got to go for it :)
well done and good luck

OP posts:
MadHairDay · 19/02/2013 10:04

Yay! That's brilliant niminy. Go for it, you'll be brilliant :)

OK nickel, yes that follows. Was just feeling fairly down last night and felt a bit stroppy. Ignore me.... Grin

hiddenhome · 19/02/2013 22:38

SESthebrave that was so unprofessional of that counsellor Sad I find that, in confession, the priest will answer any questions you have about improving your faith and avoiding sin in the future, but wouldn't foist stuff like that onto you.

niminypiminy · 19/02/2013 22:49

MHD hope you have been feeling better today.

hiddenhome · 19/02/2013 22:56

I am failing in my Lent promises Sad I promised not to want to choke the living crap out of people have bad thoughts about people, but did a long shift yesterday and everything just came flooding in and I failed. Work is my achilles heel.

niminypiminy · 19/02/2013 23:05

hiddenhome don't be sad: we all fail, all the time. I've managed precisely no days doing my 'no sugar' promise -- dh has even given up teasing me.

I came across this on another (nautically themed Christian) forum -- it was about why we always get annoyed by people in church, but it could apply to anywhere, really. I find it very comforting:

"Sure the Church lets me down. It's full of bastards, and has 2000 years of bastardry in its history. But I'm a bastard too. That's why I need Jesus. He isn't."

hiddenhome · 19/02/2013 23:18

ha, ha I like that niminypiminy Smile

jaynebxl · 20/02/2013 07:29

SES I'm appalled at that counsellor.

Niminy what is that day? Is it with a view to vicar training or something?

jaynebxl · 20/02/2013 07:30

Hidden home I think that was a tough lent promise. I reckon no chocolate is infinitely easier than not wanting to choke people!

Love that quote niminy!