Christian Coffee House - Prayer/Chat thread. No rubbish church coffee allowed.

[Madhairday]

With the latest prayer thread coming to an end, we thought we would create a new thread for prayer and general chat too - we had chat threads running for years alongside prayer threads, and we thought it would be great to combine them. I try and collate some of the prayer requests from the last thread in the next few days. In the meantime, dive in! Lurkers/newbies - you are welcome to post. Feel free to start any chat subject about Christianity, church, worship etc, and do share any prayer needs.
Would love to hear from those who were on previous threads and haven't been around for a while, too. Come and let us know how you are.

Welcome @yummyyummymincepies - lovely to have you here. Oma's words are wise as always - sometimes it is a case of just hanging on in there. Times are really tough and I think we can only do what we can do, be kind to ourselves and each other and find ways to meet with God in our isolation.

How are you, dear Oma?

Hello both, thank you for a warm welcome :) and also for the wise advice.

The enthusiasm is very draining Dutchoma and he certainly has a very strong faith in his atheism. I am far more vulnerable and less confident in mine. That is okay. We can only do our best. There has been some small progress recently in that he's given up trying to hide the children's Bibles and with no church at the moment we don't need to have an argument over our plans on a Sunday morning

That sounds terrible, he is a wonderful husband. It's all just a bit complicated. It's nice to have a safe space here for a chat.

‘A strong faith in his atheism’. Says it all, doesn’t it? Trying to hide the children’s Bible? You are right, you can only do so much. For the rest: smile and nod, you respect his ‘faith’, he should respect yours.

Smile and nod

And to answer MHD’s question: I have much to be thankful for, but if the honest truth is known, I am struggling. Near to tears a lot of the time, missing friends, although we can talk on Zoom where we also have choir practice. But I am not coping well without the support of the rest of the choir and found that I had no voice to record even the easiest pieces. I was so glad when we were back in church, even with a lot of restrictions and now it is all gone again. I’m sure there is a bright side to look upon, but just at the moment I can’t see it. Sorry for the moan, as I say, I should count my blessings...

Oh dear Oma, please don't say sorry for the moan. We all need to be honest and share our struggles with one another. I'm so sorry it's rubbish at the moment.

Hope this thing is over with soon. I do miss worshipping together too. I think online worship is incredible and has opened so many doors and I'm thrilled about that but I do miss worshipping with others. Saw New Wine is cancelled again next summer and had a little sob.

Sending you lots of love and you know where I am if you need a little cry.

Thank you. Yes, I know where you are, but there is already so much on your plate.

I am sorry you are having such a tough time

Oma, I will always have time for you.

Thank you. You are one of my counted blessings

Hey Dutchoma came on here to ask for a prayer, realised there were lots of new people who I should say hi to and say a prayer for, then saw you are struggling. I'm sorry. I hope you are feeling a bit less down. It's so hard to record yourself singing. Like you can tune your voice and keep time and find the words so much better as a group. I added my voice to a choir project this weekend and we were told just record it and get it out there. I watched a bit of it back and freaked out that my timing might be off! If anyone knows of any online carol concert singalongs do please share. I shall miss that this year. I just hope we can sing in church next year.

Wanted to say welcome to newcomers. It's great to have you here. I've not been on here much. Sucked back into the rest of MN!

cattermole your post about many grieving people on mumsnet made me think. So often I direct my prayers for people on this thread and forget that there are more people here who needs the holy spirit moving in their lives. Thanks for the reminder.

yummymummy I sympathise, my DH is a determined atheist. He humours me going to mass but would rather me and the kids didnt mention anything religious. It's a shame to not be able to go to mass as a family or pray together at home. Guess we just have to keep praying for them.

MHD hope your health is holding up at this traditionally bad time of year. Hopefully lockdown helping keep you well and not dragging you down.

Atomic Squash I'm a northerner too. I have every hope of being back to church in December but I'm Catholic and have been back since July, temporarily stopped now. Is your church still closed? Which denomination are you? I know my methodist friends have not restarted in person mass. It must be hard. My prayers for you getting the support you need at this special time. Hopefully getting some good quiet bonding time in the day with baby at home and not missing mat leave socialising too much.

I've written too much as usual. Could I ask for your prayers for my friend and her family please? They lost their son a few years ago and it's his birthday this week so will be especially sad for them all. There are 3 young boys all missing their older brother. It's really heart breaking.

Since we have so many new people is it time to resurrect the questions?

Coffee or tea?
Hymns or worship songs?
Band or organ?
Flavour/denomination?
What sort of after church snack?

Shall keep them in my prayers Zen. And you too Oma. Your counted blessing comment has reminded me of something that helped when I was struggling this time last year. Mostly to be thankful for all the things I did have (even if I didn’t always feel that thankful at the time) rather than asking for all the problems to be fixed. It did make things easier to deal with somehow.

Nearly forgot zen

www.southwestcarols.com/

Will this do?

Hi Zen, will be praying for your friends and you Dutchoma.

Hello to a fellow northerner, I am Catholic too, we were back having mass over the summer while we could. Which was lovely, but still not the same with no singing. But we are back to being open for private prayer only at the moment. I have been stewarding both masses and private prayer sessions and the private prayer session are certainly less well attended.
Luckily with the change in rules to allow young children in the numbers of people who can meet, I can get out most days and see other people one and one with baby which helps a great deal with the loneliness. So counting my blessings there.

Ooo love a good questionnaire.

Coffee or tea? Black coffee, but only if its good coffee. I only allow my self one coffee a day (or I'm up all night) so it has to be a good one.
Hymns or worship songs? Both, if I could have them. My church doesn't do any worship music. I listen to a fair bit on Spotify though and love going to festivals with praise and worship when I can. My favourite artists on Spotify are Housefires, United Pursuit and Will Reagan, and Shane & Shane's Psalms.
Band or organ? Probably band, I'm not a fan of organs. I prefer a capella singing if the singers are good enough. Love unaccompanied choral singing too.
Flavour/denomination? Roman Catholic.
What sort of after church snack? I am really bad at staying after to chat, I'm quite shy and new to the parish so don't really know anyone yet. But the one thing that might induce me to stay is a sausage sandwich!

Oooh @AtomicSquash come and join me in the worship band corner, it's a bit quiet and dusty over here I love Shane and Shane! Love their version of Come Thou Fount and also love I Will Wait. Have you come across Red Rocks Worship? They're quite similar to United pursuit. I like a bit of Housefires too and Rend Collective which has some similarities. There are so many great bands out there. Have you come across Mack Brock, he's written some wonderful songs.

Zen, praying now for your friend and the family. May they know consolation in their grief and the peace of God that passes all understanding

I love the idea of a carol singalong. Maybe we should do a prayer thread one how does it work on zoom though, doesn't it sound like an awful cacophony of wailing?🤣 I love carols so much. Have to admit I've started blasting out my advent playlist because we need the extra hope this year... The Christmas one will be on soon too!

I'm doing ok thanks Zen, nothing too bad yet this winter, just the usual day to day exhaustion and some pain but not as bad as last winter. Shielding is actually keeping me healthier, unsurprisingly I guess :(

I've written a little advent devotional this year - it's a nice short one with bite sized reflections, readings and prayers. If anyone is interested do DM me

Hello, thank you for the welcome. Sorry I've missed some posts. I will be praying especially for that family Zen. So much sadness at the moment. We have a friend who has this week lost both her elderly parents to covid, it has come on so suddenly out of nowhere for them. Please pray her her and her family.

Ooh. Discovered Matt Maher the other week. Will investigate Mack Brock and Shane & Shane.

Rafal I'm really not churchy anymore, but I'll have a go:

Coffee or tea? Definitely coffee
Hymns or worship songs? Either depending on mood
Band or organ? Band, also have a secret love a tambourine it's my childhood I can't help it!
Flavour/denomination? C E
What sort of after church snack? Chocolate hob nob (and not a soft one that's been in the tin for a week)

Hi @Madhairday, glad to find a fellow worship band. I have to admit I used to be very dismissive of worship music. I listen to it regularly now and I find it really enriches me spiritually. Like a way of bringing God into the everyday when you don't feel like praying. Quite good for me too as I can listen to it with the baby and dance around the kitchen!
Love those Shane & Shane's songs, think my favourites of theirs is Psalm 145 and Psalm 34 (if you're looking for songs to check out @RafaIsTheKingOfClay). I also love the Elevation Worship Acoustic Sessions album, have you heard that?
I haven't heard of Red Rock, like what I hear so far. I was going to say I hadn't heard of Mack Brock but just realised seeing his picture that he was in Elevation Worship. Guessing he wrote some of their stuff which I like, so guessing I will like him too.
Have you come across NEEDTOBREATHE at all? If you like Rend Collective you might like them. They do a mixture of purely secular songs and faith songs, so not really worship music in the strict sense but Multiplied is one of my all time favourites, we walked out to it at our wedding and they've just released Who Am I which is worth a listen.

Love new music reccomendations if you come across anything. I usually rely on the Spotify algorithms and they can be hit and miss.

Rafals, good idea on getting the questions out again. We dont have to answer if we've said before do we?! For the new people: Im Catholic, love hymns and a bit of organ, but even better when we get our violinists and guitars players, very happy to belt out "how great thou art", after church will generally slink off without getting involved but at a push can be tempted by peppermint tea and, best case scenario, chocolate brownies, sadly with covid this is very much a thing of the past)

Also thanks for southwest carols link. Have added my name for email reminder.

MHD I would like the advent devotional if You dont mind sharing please?

I would be very up for a Christmas catterwaul carolling. The sadness and beauty of zoom choir is that no one can hear you. You have mute as the timing is off if you try and sing together. Still if we could work out a good format then I'd be happy to get involved on some Christmas singing. How else do we get our carol fix?

I might as well ask for prayer as its needed. I know this is two prayer requests in 2 days but I called my dsis tonight and she was in a very bad way with her mental health, having a very hard time at work. She is NOT a believer (but loves choral singing, go figure) and works too hard as a child and adolescent psychiatrist. I think she's reached the end of the line with her healthcare trust and needs strength and resilience and the power of the holy spirit to move her to where she can do the most good in the world. Please pray for her. She "joked" about killing herself so I worry. 😰

Oh Zen praying for your sister. People don’t ‘joke’ about killing themselves, she knows that probably better than anybody else It’s one of those situations where a spontaneous prayer goes up and I will keep her in mind. I hope that lines of the hymns she loves to sing come into her mind at her darkest hours.
For the ‘newbies’: After church drink: tea and a biscuit (no mincepies or Christmas cake) hymns, organ and I Ieft a Baptist church to join the choir at a parish church. We have been doing Zoom meetings with the choir and are recording carols, but, again being honest, it makes me very sad. Thank you all for your encouragement, the last few days have been a bit better as I have finished a few of the knitting projects that have been hanging about. I also met with a bubble friend at her house and shared communion with her in the online service.

Can I join in?
Tea or coffee? After church neither.
After church snack - occasionally pinch a custard cream from the Sunday School supply (which I provide in case anyone thinks I am stealing 😁)
Worship band or organ - worship band.
Hymns or worship songs? Both. I was brought up a Methodist and live a good hymn, but like worship songs too.
Currently a happy (but not clappy) Baptist.

Zen that's so hard for your sister and you. Praying that she will be surrounded by peace in this storm.

Here's the devotional: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08MN1NX21/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_I6nTFbPC3BJ99?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Oma, I'm so glad that you could share communion in your bubble. That's a consolation isn't it. I'm so praying you find joy in this season despite not being able to be with your choir

Yay to all those worship bands, AtomicSquash! I'll check out need to breathe. I love folksy stuff so as well as rend I like things like All Sons and Daughters, Crowder and Caedmons Call. Philippa Hanna is great too. There are so many. I miss that about Spotify, the suggestions - we moved over to YouTube music because I use the videos so much and wanted them without ads and their music library is even better than Spotify. But it doesn't make suggestions in the same way.

At the moment I'm listening a lot to Audrey Assad, Quiet Science and Corey Voss, also Cody Carnes. I always like Phil Wickham too. So many!

I'll add mine for newbies:

Tea or coffee: tea
Snack: chocolate digestives (even better though, one of our families who are from India bring in a box of utterly divine samosas every week. They go very quickly. Oh I miss those)
Band/organ: Band. Not an organ fan.
Songs/hymns: both. I love a good belter of a hymn and have a hymns playlist. Also love many worship songs.

Oma, sorry for the late response but I don't check this thread very often. I am so sorry to hear you have been feeling down. Over the years and various name changes I have valued your wise advice. I feel a lot of us are feeling a bit blue this year with everything that is going on. I've started lighting candles most nights as it reminds me of the light that is coming. It is a bit odd for me, as it isn't part of my church tradition, but I find it helps.

I'd be up for some sort of mumsnet carol shenanigans. I love Christmas carols, so long as I don't have to sing Little Donkey which I can't stand.

Tea or coffee: tea
Snack: any delicious home baking that is going around
Band/organ: I like a mixture. I've always fancied learning to play Bach on the organ.
Songs/hymns: again I like a mixture
Flavour/denomination: CofS