Went to a spiritualist church tonight...

[Milkhell]

It was a bit odd. Christian hymns and prayers but then a man being a medium at the front, which in my experience Christians don't 'believe' in.

He didn't really bring messages - just random snippets to people in the congregation like someone owning a ferret, someone being good at painting, someone dying in a motorcycle accident (but as it applied to two people he was talking to them both).

I just found it all a bit confusing.

Can anyone explain to me what it was all about?

I've never been to one MiLovell, so I can't help you I'm afraid. Can I ask: what did you think it would be like before you went?

Sorry Milkhell. I don't know what my autocorrect did there.

This isn't a Christian church.

It is difficult to say what is going on without knowing the brand of spiritualist church you went to. The Spiritualist churches that I'm aware of meet up to demonstrate spiritualism and that is the focus of their service. They use a hymn and talk format so it will look familiar to people who just turn up - a bit like the new services run by atheists.

Some spiritualists say they are Christian spiritualists and this may mean they believe that when Jesus rose from the dead he was a ghost and thus proving their belief in spirits or they may regard him as something else and that is where my knowledge runs out.

It sounds interesting and maybe a version of spiritualism I've not heard of so can you give more details or what went on or which organisation this church is part of?

Yes that's what I thought - the Christian stuff seemed totally at odds.

I always wonder if spirits were going to 'come through' why would the stuff they say be so random? "Who owned a ferret?".

I'm on a bit of a spiritual quest but I don't think this was right for me.

They seemed quite kind, the man did a sermon about believing in yourself and focus.

I'm sure it was called the Elite Christian Spiritualist Church.

Any spiritualist services I have attended have also had the demonstration of mediumship as the main 'focus' of the time, with some songs to lift the energies and then perhaps a healing service at the end. I do not know if this was a particularly affiliated branch of religion though.
Re the ferret comment - when working with spirit, you have to take what you can get and pass it on! Anything can come through. There are many many different styles of people's contacting and passing on messages from spirit, all very varied in detail, and often very interesting.

Hi indigo . I've chatted to you lots in different guises.

Are you a medium? I'm so interested.

aha....I hear ya!
mediumistic, yes :)

How does it feel? Can it feel quite scary?

Funny but that reminded me of many of the charismatic Christian meetings I've been too. Intense worship music then a time of ministry that basically involved a guy at the front singling out various members of the audience with messages, not from dead people but god. No ferrets were ever mentioned though. Feel well disappointed now.

I think the scary part is where you don't realise what is happening to you, and no one near you can offer you the slightest assistance - ie it's not something that everyone will understand and most people will attempt to close you down (whilst attempting to do their best at understanding) such as - there's no such thing as life after death. But, you still see people in your minds eye, and yes, they are telling you things to pass on to others.

I scared myself many years ago by passing on messages to others (in a development circle type setting) that were so accurate, I actually couldn't believe any of it was real. I freaked out. I didn't go back for many years. No one told me it was so easy, and it was different to what I had expected it would be. Way different. I thought spirits had to actually materialise in front of you, else they weren't really 'real'

Are you being scared around this?

A little bit!

I'm just confused. I'm soon scared about death and would take huge comfort knowing this isn't 'it'.

• so scared

I lost my mum last year very suddenly. We had always believed In the white fluffy feathers as a sign from someone passed saying hi or just letting you know they are here.

I believe since losing my mum after different things happening I believe she is around me guiding and looking out for me. I have smealt her perfume literally when I've not been around perfume I've even had my name called in a way she did.
I miss her terribly but I do take the comfort of her in my eyes not gone. I know others don't believe this though and I respect that x

We're thinking of a spiritualist church but not sure if its me

We have hymns at our spiritualist church, along with a prayer, a reading (not from the Bible) and a healing silence.

There is a guest medium every week, each one with their own way of working and possibly their own set of beliefs. Some with mention 'Father' when they lead with the prayer, others mention a higher energy or a divine spirit. We always say the Lord's prayer.

I am a Christian who occasionally goes to a Spiritualist Church. My God is an all loving God and I feel safe and not scared at all at the service and demonstration.

I go to a development circle too, and I can not explain rationally how I get messages, how I know stuff. It's something that I just can't deny.