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.

Most CoE sermons are no longer than that, but I have been in services in our (Baptist) church that went on for 40 minutes. Having said that I once years ago) sat through a sermon lasting two hours and was spellbound. Only the once though in many years of church attendance.

I have just checked Greenbelt and I won't be here that weekend as I have bought tickets to go to the open air Shakespeare play in Diever, the place in Holland where I was brought up. Have not had any contact with it since before I married and moved away, but we were very involved with it as a family and it was a big part of my teenage years. Quite shocked to find how expensive Greenbelt is.

2 hour sermon Oma

I am going for A mainly because it was the work Xmas do last night and I am hungover

When I was a kid we'd sing a psalm at most services. They were always sung just after the Sunday School had gone out and before the main sermon. The old hymn books had psalms at the front and hymns at the back. We don't sing them anything like as much now and the old tradition has largely died out. I think it is a bit sad, but the old psalm tunes could be a bit dull so I can see why people didn't want to sing them.

Quite shocked to find how expensive Greenbelt is.
Hmm that's the only thing. I think they have had financial troubles sadly. I would say you do get a lot for your money... But that's no use if you can't afford it in the first place of course.

Edd, hope you had a good work do. Mine is next week, much wine will be needed, gulp!

Oh my goodness... The price!!!

It's not that different in price to New Wine (though NW goes on for a bit longer), and you could pay more to go to Spring Harvest.

It's no use either if you only want to go to see friends that are going. And I suppose the friends would rather avail themselves of what is on offer than talk to me, which would have to be off site as I don't think I could coope with the noise.

We shall have to find another way to have a meet-up that includes you, dear Oma. In my mind's eye I see a picnic, with lots of chat and some acapella singing. Possibly this is a pipe dream - but wouldn't it be lovely?

Ooo... A Capella...!

In the new year, when I have my new calendar I shall pick a Saturday date off the calendar, end of June/beginning July and we will have a meet up with everybody who can come. We've done it before, we can have a go at it again.

What a great idea! Advance notice, though, I'm being ordained as priest (God and the bishop willing) on 1 July, so I couldn't come then.

That sounds like a plan , though you may regret inviting me if you go ahead with the acapella singing!

GB is expensive, but it compares favourably or at least on a par with other festivals - I don't think it's motivated by big profits...

apples, we sang psalms when I was a kid too. Sometimes when i'm sure i'm entirely alone I play them on spotify and sing along at home.

I have recovered from the work do. At least I won't feel like drinking again for a while!

You and TUO are excused singing Edith

Niminy congratulations. Maybe Edd will follow

Niminy good news. I think God has been willing you on, no idea about the bishop.

You'll all end up knowing who you are! Unless you wear disguises- picnic, wine, a Capella singing and mysterious beards...

We could all wear GK masks, plk

Lovely idea Oma. I'd love to see you again and meet up with folks here :)

But I don't want to be excused! Waaah! I LOVE singing. Just not sure it's such a joyous experience for those on the listening end!

As a choir trainer, I can say that very, very few people can't sing.
The vast majority of people just haven't been trained well.

I will take Edd (and TUO if she wants) and teach her to sing.
then she can join in the singing

MHD - i imissed your post!!
I'm so glad you're going to NW too!
Yes, we definitely have to meet up - i think it's week 1 we're going to - it's straight after the schools break up

Sorry for having so many days to catch up on...

Edd - why did they not replace it with a Morning Prayer service instead and have a lay person doing it?
you can train to be a Reader, which will take less time, and then you can get a licence to adminster communion that has already been blessed.

Oma - i believe you're traditional. I enjoyed it when you joined us in the choir :)

I'm very upset that you're all going to Greenbelt (apart from mhd) when I'm going to New Wine. I think you should all come with me instead.

I enjoyed it too when I joined you in the choir. Sorry I can't find a choir to join here. Keep an eye on the meet-up I'm going to organise here next year. Combined prayer and chat people. All welcome.

Impressed with your mugs caulkhead - one of our previous curate's had one with "Vicars do it standing up in the pulpit" on it.

(Oh - how we miss him!)

you can train to be a Reader, which will take less time, and then you can get a licence to adminster communion that has already been blessed

Good luck with that!. I've been a Reader for the best part of umpteen years, but only one Reader in our parish - (actually, our diocese) - is licensed for HCE and the Bishop won't entertain the idea of any more.