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 just emailed the priest to ask about preparing me for confirmation. I feel a little bit sick with nerves about the whole thing, to be honest.

Broomstick I was confirmed as an adult about 14 years ago. The classes were great, a chance to discuss things you'd always wondered about. And I have had some, um, unorthodox views. The confirmation itself was just lovely.

I find the thought of the actual confirmation kind of horrible, tbh, as I really don't like making big public commitments (which is part of the reason I'm not married). And (and this is the hardest bit) I've been in a pagan group with my closest friends for the past 15 years, and it will have a huge change on the dynamics of our friendship when I tell them, and it's reached the point where I have to tell them.

Can you ask for a confirmation at home, or as part of a private service? I was baptised at home as a child.

I know it is difficult with non-like-minded friends. I pray that God enters into your friendships and uses this step for everyone's good.

I was confirmed as an adult into the anglican church (was initially confirmed methodist but this isnt good enough for ordination). It wasn't how I imagined it would be, and there wasnt a lot of showy look at me as so many people got confirmed at the same time.
I would imagine it unlikely there would be a private confirmation as it is to publicly confirm your baptism promises and also it is carried out by a bishop. I pray that it works out for you.

I'm not really worried, and I know it will all be fine. I'm just taken slightly by surprise by how big a deal it feels.

I teach confirmation classes to adults and teenagers (separately!). Sometimes people are nervous but we always try our best to put them at their ease and make sure we explain everything as fully as possible - both the theology during the course and what to expect from the actual service. We welcome questions! And we can take extra time with people who need it. They'll look after you. And don't be afraid to ask questions.

I remember someone said to me once that if something is making you nervous and it feels like a big deal, that just means it matters to you. And we spend a lot of time trying to think things don't matter to protect ourselves from disappointment or grief.

So, it is a good sign that it feels like a big deal, because this does matter to you.

It is a big deal to come out fo Christ, especially if you have friends who are unlikely to understand where you are coming from and who have a completely different mind set.
But once you have tasted what Jesus Christ can do for you and has done for you, there is nothing else you want, except to be close to Him.

Exciting stuff, Broomstick!
I was received as an Anglican as an adult (was previously Roman Catholic). It felt so... right :-)

You make Jesus sound like crack, oma
Seriously though, you're right. Better than drugs.

broomstick I know exactly how you feel. But I'm sure it'll be good.

That's wonderful broomstick
I can see why it's nervewracking for you.
I'm not sure how you'd go about coming out to your pagan friends- finding what the faiths have in common is good and not being too controversial!
I find confirmation exciting - it's saying "yes! This is what I want, I want Jesus' love" much more exciting than baptism of an infant (I've never witnessed baptism of an adult) because you're there of your own mind and you really mean it.
:)

An adult baptism is a most wonderful thing, Nickel and I have witnessed many.

I handed over the church wwebsite yesterday. And email.
It was weird. It wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be, but it does feel final and I don't like it.

Today I was speaking to a friend on.the phone who seems to think.that sub-organist has been officially approved by the pcc as organist and that when dh goes back he'll be sub-organist. It's hars to be on a break when comments like this come out: because we've had no communication from the church at all, we don't know whether it's true or whether she's got the wrong end of the stick (eg that pcc appointed sub as acting organist while dh is ln sabbatical). It's so frustrating and makes me feel more anxious about being out.
Especially as there seems to be opinion that we "just left without warning" (what actually happened was that we texted the vicar that we wouldn't be there on the dates and that we did nothing official until we spoke to team rector).
If we had "just left" then they would have got away with being shits again.
I'm not letting that happen.

Nickel

Thank you :)

So, problems aside, do you enjoy going to church?
This is a time of year with lots of extra services, do you think 'Oh good, Ash Wednesday!'?
Why do you go to church?

You know what? I don't any more. I used to go for the singing and to feel close to God, but not any more. The singing is crap and I feel closer to God in my own environment than in church. Also I feel I'm doing God's will better being active than just sitting in church.

I feel the same, Oma.
Not because of the crap singing, but because of the being pushed out because no one's willing to move and change when necessary (I hate unnecessary change, but it makes no sense to continue when lack of change is worse)

It worries me that I use quite a lot of time and energy in 'presenteeism'. I'm wondering if everyone else is there because they want to be. If so, I don't have to be. However if we are all there because we are supposed to be then I suppose I should be too!!

I took a day off to go to Ash Wednesday! That service really speaks to me.

Pre-dc I used to go for the singing (choir), closeness to God brought on by the singing and communion, and the feeling of community (small church).

Post-dc I don't have the opportunity to sing or to listen to the readings etc so I try to get what I can via communion. Trying to cling on to community feeling too, though too often I get stuck at the children's table during coffee time which is miles away from the adult chatter.

I'm new to this thread, I hope you don't mind me joining in! It just resonated with me the comments about enjoying (or not) going to church. If any of you don't enjoy it but still go, do you mind if I ask you why? I have a very strong faith, but I left church 2 years ago and so it is something close to my heart. I knew something was wrong...it felt like a big machine if that makes sense? Too much worship of the man at the front as well. I believe God called me out and I now fellowship on a Saturday with a small group of believers. Its a very lonely path going against the system, but He has showered me with His blessings and I have such a hunger for His Word like never before. I'm not posting here to rail against the church and cause division, but just to discuss these things with anyone who is interested!

Welcome, Lilynopad! I think there are lots of ways to do church and fellowship with a small group of believers is also church. Churches are people, not the building or the formal institution.

I definitely get my soul nourished through my home group and also enjoy Sunday services in my quite traditional CofE church. But I also like attending services with friends at other churches and seeing how we all do it differently.

Thanks for the welcome building!

There are indeed so many different ways of 'doing church'! Actually, the fact that we meet on a Saturday is quite relevant. The more I studied the Scriptures the clearer it became that God told us to keep the Sabbath (on the 7th day) holy forever. It was man who changed it to Sunday (Constantine I think?) and who also introduced Christmas and Easter, all pagan traditions. Aren't these all 'the ways of the heathens' which God warned Israel about all those years ago? Lent is from a 40 day period of weeping and rejoicing for the pagan god Tammuz! The usual response from Christians is that it is ok because that is not what it means to us today. We have taken these pagan things and made them holy. Not sure there is scripture backing this up but I'm not as learned in the Word as I'd like to be! I'd be interested to know what you guys think. This is still a new walk for me, but I'm convinced it's His leading.

Hello *Lilly!
*
I'm not too bothered by the roots of some of the church practices. It made sense at the time, I imagine.

I think it is the need to formalise everything now that I find difficult. I'd be happy living in a community of believers who get on with a faith based life. But I imagine practically as soon as a community formed we'd end up have services, morning prayer, evensong etc.

It's the gathering for the sake of it I struggle with, I think. Maybe I'm just short on 'extrovert' at the moment. Maybe I'll feel different when some other stressful areas of my life are resolved.