Christian chat thread continued

[Dutchoma]

A place to share and chat about our funny (and not so funny experiences) in and out of church.
Did anyone say coffee? That would be good

Broken is in HMV, I think it's about £15.

I was planning to iplayer it but have no time for tv with my current 8.30pm bed time!!

I would love to go to HTB sometime.

Tbh, given that I play an instrument and am desperate for a Sunday school for dd, a more happy clappy church would probably work quite well in some ways!

Yes that is not going to happen: 11 episodes in 36 hours. £15 for all (?) episodes seems a much better option. I will have words with HMV or Amazon

Thanks mhd though I'm cocky enough not to be beating myself up or feeling bad on God's behalf... I just really miss it !!

Oh Edd that's pretty crap. Really you would've thought at a time like this people would be thinking only about kindness. I'm sorry you're on the receiving end. It's rubbish. I've always found the only way to handle this kind of stuff is with gentleness and grace, because arguing back makes it worse. Bit like turn the other cheek and all that. It's so hard though and no wonder you're so tired of it. prayers for you to cope with it all and for grace and peace amidst the attacks.

ooh, I know something!
Turning the other cheek was like a really big insult - like "come and have a go if you think you're hard enough"
" The left hand was used for unclean purposes, so a back-hand strike on the opposite cheek would not be performed. An alternative would be a slap with the open hand as a challenge or to punch the person, but this was seen as a statement of equality. Thus, by turning the other cheek the persecuted was demanding equality."

But it does suck when you're being ridiculed.

Oh Edd you sound so lonesome. Wish we could all come and do some RL churchy gossip over a bottle of wine with you. Sending love.

[waves]

On very dodgy on/off internet connection so won't write much (have already lost one attempt!) but didn't want to lurk and not say 'hi'! Have been doing a bit of holiday catching up! Sending love to all....

Thank you all, thanks for making me feel better 💐

Today is easier so far. I've started the couch to 5k app thing, just started week 2 so early days but it's a good excuse to get out for half an hour. There's a billion people around so it's just a bit challenging for an introvert!

I've retreated into Acts and Omissions quite a bit over the last 24 hours which I'm loving - predictably

Isn't it wonderful? I am on p203.

You are ahead of me oma :)

I am not a catholic or anglican, just an 'ordinary' Christian and I think it is really good for anybody and especially non faith people to take part in a ceremony like that. You never know what kind of seed is sown in that person's life and what God will do for that person. Just go on praying.

I love an open table myself, but it seems really disrespectful to me for people to deliberately flout the rules of a church that has strict eligibility criteria for the Eucharist ... but maybe I'm old fashioned, out of date, or uptight? Anyhow, I shall MMOB of course and won't say anything but I just wondered what everyone thinks.

Oh Edd, sending lots of hugs to you.

I remember having similar problems with my wedding - priest originally didn't want to celebrate a full Mass because DH wasn't Catholic (relented in the end), DH got a blessing and I took communion, no problems there. DH wouldn't have wanted or expected to take communion and both he and his family liked being included. There was also a special blessing (of God) for my Jewish relatives at communion which was lovely.

I do struggle at IL's Anglican church as I feel I want to take communion although it isn't the same as RC: strictly speaking I should abstain but it feels odd not taking it somehow. Haven't worked this out yet.

Communion is a different kettle of fish, I think, but our similarly chequered family have got involved in other aspects of the mass (I have also done similar at Jewish ceremonies!). If it's respectfully done there is a place for it, I think.

My mum went slightly stratospheric at DH's work colleague who complained loudly that she 'wasn't given any of those sweetie things' at communion - now that was disrespectful!

If your family are doing it through respect, then I say it's fine.
God didn't make the rules of the church, men did.
Jesus didn't say "take eat but only if you've been baptised/confirmed"

I can see your point, though, Edd. I'd feel a bit hacked off of a whole lot of people who's been ridiculing Christianity and Christians suddenly turned round and decided they would take communion when I, as a practising Christian, couldn't.

I totally understand, Edd, and would be particularly hacked off with the concern for what will "look good", in particular. WRT kids... I think giving them a role (like taking collection or handing out service sheets) might make it easier for them, and those kinds of roles don't require them to profess a belief in anything. Communion is different, of course, but I suspect the priest will realise that many of those present are far from regular church-goers... Hope it all goes as well as it can, anyway.

Sorry. I shouldn't be bitching about other people on here.

If you can't bitch on here, where can you?

Oma you are so right.

I take communion in churches of other denominations.
As far as I'm concerned, my promises stand no matter who's in charge of that church.

I wouldn't take communion in a RC church, but I can see that if you were raised RC and are now atheist, it would probably feel like less of a bad thing.

And I guess it depends on the priest. Even if I were RC, a priest would be perfectly justified in withholding communion due to my unashamed mortal sinning.

I wouldn't normally take communion in an RC church, if nothing else because I wouldn't want to put the priest in the position of doing something he felt was not right. However, I have taken communion at an RC community where I was on retreat - they clearly offered to all who were staying there regardless of denomination.

The Anglican position is that you can receive if you normally do so in your own church, whatever the denomination. I imagine the rules vary in non-conformist/free churches/Church of Scotland.

Had a major shock this evening: phone call from the place we are going on holiday next Friday asking us where we were. Turns out the holiday is booked from today not next Friday. Cue major panic, phone calls all over the place trying to get various church things and services covered, now packed and only have a eulogy to write so someone else can pick up a funeral. Then we will go v early tomorrow. Sigh...