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

I feel fairly certain that when Abraham Lincoln said 'You can please some of the people all of the time and you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time' he was actually referring to church music.

Edd 10-14 is indeed a tricky age, although I first went to church, on my own, at that age - teenage rebellion against my atheist family. I liked its churchiness and the fact that it was so different from the rest of life. I'm happy to believe I was a strange and unusual child, but actually my 11 year old would prefer to go to a choral evensong than an all-age service. What he really longs for is a place where he can seriously discuss things. He doesn't want to be babied down to. (Am trying to work on that one...) The other, who is 13, would probably like something like Soul Survivor or Rave in the Nave type events. He's pretty happy at Messy Church (which, as the other one comments snootily, is neither messy nor church). Neither of them have been going to church since the year dot, and it's been a bit of a struggle at times to get them to come at all. That perhaps isn't very helpful...

Niminy choral evensong is my favourite time at church.

One thing I've found very difficult is going to sung Eucharist at a new church where they don't provide the music for the mass setting. (Which I must say seems to be almost all churches I've visited, albeit that's not many). I don't know many hymns either. So I generally feel like I am unable to worship at those services, as for me the music is crucial to my involvement in the service. Maybe it shouldn't be and I should use these times to widen my awareness of silent prayer... I understand a lot of people cannot read music, but it would be lovely to have the option!

The church I sing in the choir with does have hymn books for the congregation with the melodies and the two mass settings they use printed in the service book.

I tend to find music at more 'lively' services I've been to are pretty easy to pick up, so I mind less!

Would there be any chance of speaking to one of the priests or choir members (if there is a choir) and ask whether they have a spare copy of the mass settings which you could have or copy?

Probably, Oma. But I'm shy enough in a new place without wanting to seem awkward and put anybody out! It doesn't matter all that much really, as I'm rubbish at getting to church in the first place, mainly because I'm lazy and like bed on a Sunday morning!

Dancing I know exactly what you mean about not having the music for the mass settings. So irritating! I also wonder why on earth churches don't give people music versions of hymn books - if not to everyone at least have a number floating around. I'm pretty good at picking up tunes now but you can always tell when people don't really know the tune. If even a few people had the music in front of them it would lift the whole congregation's singing. And even if you can't read music, you can see when the tune is going up and down.

dancing at old church, we deliberately provider congregational copies of the setting to be handed out at services.
the sidesmen basically refused to do it. Their reason was that if people wanyed a music copy they'd ask for it.
my replies that if they don't know it's available they won't ask fell on obstinate refusal....

Music copies normally cost a lot more than words only.
The Hideous book has many printing errors in the melody version (compared with words only copy)

Some churches have only melody copies (ie no words only), but don't tend to have full music copies.
Most churches have words only and treat a request for music as something very strange and new (albeit exciting)

Yes nickel I'm sure the music copies are very expensive and completely understand why churches don't have them as standard. As I said, I really should learn to use the time to focus on other forms of praise! Just not really sure where to start.

Hello {waves}

Been off mumsnet while I've been on holiday, had very little coverage. Did come home early, last Wednesday as I've been I'll again, still pretty unwell, so that was disappointing.

Ooh if anyone is interested in seeing where Nickel and I were, at new wine, it was featured on songs of praise last week and you can get it on iPlayer.

Interesting discussion about music, and about teenage DC. It is a funny age. At the moment my eldest is stressing about her results on Thursday...

So sorry you've been ill again, and on holiday mhd. Really hope you start to see some improvements. Fingers crossed for Thursday! Such a stressful time.

Sorry you've been ill madhairday.

I must admit that the talk of music has been really encouraging! I tend to spend the five minutes before Mass rehearsing unfamiliar hymns with the congregation - we always practice the psalm responses and the sung parts of the Mass so people are familiar with them before we begin. This is a bit dependent on people turning up five minutes before the start, but I try..

I do wish we had the music available in the hymn book though. After leading the music for months armed with just the words (madness), I finally tracked down a music copy - which cost £70! People get very nervous about copyright - maybe that's why people are reticent about sharing?

Sorry you had to come back early mhd

Now I'm not in the choir, I often find I don't know a good proportion of the 19th century hymns that are sung, but no music to help in the congregation's hymn books :s

Liked the way the visiting priest ended the service on Sunday - 'the worship is over, the service begins'!

Sorry to hear you're so unwell, MHD. That's horrible to have to come back early from holiday .

I ended up choosing a really well known hymn tune to go with the words on Sunday - took ages to sort out but people sang enthusiastically enough, except that I'd managed to leave the memory stick with the powerpoint at home and forgotten all about it, so there was no powerpoint for those people who like powerpoint ... I had to stop us all, wait for hymn books to be given out, and then restart the service. Then I had to stop the (stand-in) organist who charged into the Gloria without waiting for me to do the absolution. But it was all fine, actually - I think people don't mind if things go wrong as long as you're not fazed by it and you carry on calmly. I like that ending too Doublegloucester.

I like that ending, but just to be pedantic, our whole lives are an act of worship as well as service... (always one)

Thanks all. I am feeling very rough indeed. Still waiting for call from consultant. But rather excited as have spoken to the publisher interested in my book and they want to work with me... Nothing set in stone as yet but a definite agreement to work together to see what shape we can make it, and after that hopefully a contract which is scary! I've a lot of work to do though - some of its a bit too academic for a general audience, and there are too many words at present, so a lot to do and think about, but I'm so excited about the journey. Editor was absolutely lovely too about my illness, said they'd always work at the pace I need to, never to worry. Really kind and lovely. I can't really say who yer but hopefully it'll go to the next stage.... Just got to do some reworking. Not really well enough to give it proper attention right now which is so frustrating.

I'm afraid the only answer is to buy music copies, if the church doesn't provide them.
Which is easier if your church only has one book.
We have a collection of several different full music copies, which we've bought bit-by-bit so dh could have his own copies whilst being DoM.
But of course, now, we're church hopping and only have one copy of each!
And we never know what book the church will have because it never says on.the website

Hmm. I don't like "the worship is over" because worship is never over. Or shouldn't be.
They kept using "worship" at New Wine to mean "music" and it got very annoying.

nim it sounds like you did brilliantly

mhd

Sorry you're so ill, MHD, but yay to good book news.

Thanks nickel and broomstick. Had a rough night on acute ward, hopefully moved to respiratory ward later on.

Prayers for healing MHD. As well as comfort while you are in hospital.

Sending much love and prayers mhd

Can't resist popping in to say I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT GREENBELT TOMORROW!

I hadn't fully realised that Greenbelt was on the Bank Holiday weekend, when I'm still away. I hope you all have a wonderful time.

Love and prayers to you mhd. Hope you are well enough soon to think about your wonderful book.

Edd have a fabulous time at Greenbelt! And come back and tell us what it was like afterwards!

Thanks all. I'm settled in respiratory ward and the IVs are beginning to kick in.

Enjoy greenbelt, Edd! I bet you'll love it ☺️

Hope it's a nice ward, mhd and you get some rest tonight.

Edd , hope you have a wonderful time at GB