Choirs, worship songs, after service coffee - the all new religion chat thread

[niminypiminy]

A new place for us to share the lovely, silly and annoying things that happen in church life and share our great love of Graham Kendrick.

I personally love see him lying on a bed of straw; starry night, and similar songs. :)

Fergus - I'm not CofE but CofS. The CofS is a little bit different to the CofE - I find that in general things tend to be a little more stripped down. Everyone on here is very welcoming and it doesn't really matter which denomination people are from. I think there are some evangelicals who pop in every now and again too.

Fergus I'm definitely not c of e, although I was in the past. I see others here that are different denominations as well, there's some interesting hints!

Nickel good luck!

OK will give it another bash. Happy to say our choir/ singing group is about 17in number. Try to do a bit of modern and trad just to keep everyone happy. Sing harmonies usually - have an excellent director. And with carols always the descant. Last night we sang with our orchestra. This Light of the world is the following line 'u stepped out into darkness??? Not my fav but it's okish. Why the question re Mr Kendrick?

Caulk why are you not allowed to sing 'celebration' ?

That's the one Fergus, it would be ok-ish for me if we didnt have to have it at every opportunity.

I was confirmed CoE, but have now worshipped at a large Baptist church for more than 20 years where unfortunately I (and quite a few others) have lost the plot a bit for various reasons. But it is still my 'home' church, we have my husband's remembrance service there and I am still connected.

Mr Kendrick has been around long enough that even very traditional places like mine might have heard of him! I've introduced some Matt Redman but they are really not sure. My choir is 9 on a good day and 3 on a bad one. Most can't read music so they are more community choir than anything that musical but they do it with, mostly, good heart.

I have to don Christmas jumper and novelty earings and visit the care home in a state of post viral belugh. Then more rest so I'm ready for the main event at the weekend. Rubbish timing to be ill.

I love See him lying on a bed of straw :)

Fergus, all welcome here of whatever tradition, a few of us are Anglican but quite a few from different denominations too. We just like to banter and tease one another for all our differing tastes and ways of doing stuff. All in very gentle and friendly spirit. You are most welcome.

Infection being persistent here so housebound. Pah. Having a drinks party tonight so will sit in regal state on my sofa while people bring me mulled wine and mince pies. Not so bad perhaps... will be exhausting just to talk though.

It's coughs on a major level in this manse. DH is nursing a hacking dry cough, no chance of a dr's appt. Still has the Christmas eve Christmas tree service whatever the point of that is, then the Christmas Eve service and of course Christmas day - thank goodness just a short service on Christmas day. After that we can relax and hope that his cough gets better. PEACE.

What's a Christmas tree service, never heard of that? We finished the school services today (1 parish primary, 2 secondaries so a LOT of children dressed as angels ...), now gearing up for the parish ones.

Fergus the Graham Kendrick thing is a bit of an in-joke, like a 'are you a dog or a cat person' question.

Finished all the carol services and school services here, now enjoying a small oasis of calm before gearing up for Crib service/Midnight communion/quiet communion/festive communion on Saturday and Sunday - which will finish for me with taking home communion o someone who can't get to church.

Tomorrow I have to construct a stable out of corrugated cardboard. With two very grumpy and tired children. Wish me luck!

Prayers for all with lurgies and lost voices.

fink I have no idea what a Christmas Tree service is. Maybe similar to a Crib Service?
We're going to Supportive Church's Stable Service (dress up as characters from the christmas story) on christmas eve. It was lovely last year (happy clappy music notwithstanding)

Every time I think about how important church services are at this time of year I burst into uncontrollable sobs. It is insane. The total opposite of what churches should be doing right now.

Christmas tree service? That's a new one on me. Is it a chance to sing carols round the Christmas tree? If so, I like the sound of that.

I've never heard of a Christmas tree service either...

I have Isaiah 9:2-7. To read at midnight mass that is. Oh the things that please me now! My 44 year old self would not credit it (I'm 46)

I've heard of Christmas tree festivals - think flower festival but with Christmas trees - and Christmas tree lighting up services - Ely Cathedral had one this year, loads of people came.

Worship song experts: I'm choosing songs for an all-age service for Epiphany with music group rather than organ. Any bright ideas? Most worship songs come out of churches that don't necessarily follow the church year that closely so difficult to find good ones for seasons. Any suggestions would be fantastic. (As you can see choosing hymns/songs/carols is one of my less favourite jobs.)

Edd that's a wonderful reading to do.

danyellas donkey. you can borrow the dc's they correct. audibly.

whats epiphany?

I am c of E currently. one of the c of e churches I attend is more like a pentecostal church. I would leave but chn are settled. (too noisy) It changesd after the old vicar left.

other church is nice. but nowhere for ds to escape to if he finds the room overwhelming.

I was bought up non conformist. which is why I am happy to rant at bishops and email them if they are careless enough to leave their email addreesses lying about on the internet.

Epiphany = when the wise men arrive. Happens on 6th Jan.

I like the idea of a Christmas tree service!

Edd - that passage is beautiful. So lovely that you're doing it for the midnight service.

I'll have a think on epiphany worship songs, niminy:)

Thank you Madhairday

Epiphany was traditionally seen as the third moment of revelation: revelation to the gentiles. So I'd say any worship songs which focus on the Incarnation should still be good without having to find everything particularly mentioning the Magi.

Chris Tomlin has a nice range of jazzed up standard carols like Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy) if you've got a strong lead singer. Hillsong Let Us Adore. Emmanuel by Michael W. Smith. You could probably find a modern setting of We 3 Kings, although I don't know one specifically.

Yay work finished for the year, woo!

Taking dd (nearly 3) to informal carols at one church on Fri, then crib service at our old church on Sat, and Christmas Day service at old church. Really hope old church isn't spoilt by lots of 'haven' t seen you in a while' type comments.

Slight shadow hanging over us is a row with the in-laws last weekend. Hope all is resolved by the weekend... Gulp!

Light of the world is a good one
How about Townends From the Squalor of a Borrowed Stable? Beautiful and full of hope.
Hard to find specific epiphany ones apart from we 3 kings. Agree with Fink - any incarnation songs. The Servant King is good if you want a bit of GK,or O What a Mystery I see.
There's a lovely new Christmas album by Matt Redman called 'these Christmas Lights' which is worth checking out.
How about What Child is This? It has this verse:

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come Peasant, King to own Him
The King of Kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Double - hole things get sorted with your in laws.

Still stuck in and missing beer and carols in the pub.

You may al go 'nooooo' but the song that I keep hearing is 'One more step along the way I go' to bring out that the Wise men had an awful long way to go - and so have we.