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.

Hi all! I’d love to join in if that’s okay? I am usually lurking around a Christian group on Facebook, but then I come on here and waste time reading AIBU, would be nice to have some Christian chat on here too.

My questions:

Coffee or tea? Always coffee
Hymns or worship songs? I spend a lot of time singing songs from Bible Adventures and Superbook on YouTube!
Band or organ? Both
Flavour/denomination? CoS
What sort of after church snack? Ah some lovely tiffin a lady at my church makes!

I used to be a ‘strong faith atheist’ too, which basically meant I was mostly just very angry with the God I so hotly swore didn’t exist! Thankfully He wasn’t putting up with my nonsense and I finally gave up fighting Him about two years ago.

I will be saying prayers for anyone that’s in need and look forward to chatting with you all soon! Thank goodness for the internet, I imagine this year would have been even harder without it.

Welcome Purplethistles.

How is your sister Zen?

Welcome, Purple, great to have you on board! Would love to hear more of your story as to how God changed your mind :)

Welcome purple.

I should probably answer the questions myself
Tea or coffee? Tea
Hymns or worship songs? Both
Band or organ? Both. Depends what they are playing.
Flavour/Denomination? catholic
After church snack? Biscuits. Preferably home made.

So many things reminding me of stuff that we’ve missed this year at church this weekend. Not just the services. No picnics, no barbecues, no fayres, no film nights, no parties.

@Madhairday I now have your little book and I'm really looking forward to 1st December! Love the retro cover too (hope that doesn't sound like a back handed compliment!)

So here's me

Tea or coffee? Tea
Hymns or worship songs? Both, although we hardly get any of the former at my current church
Band or organ? Band or piano for preference (apologies to my organist friends!)
Flavour/Denomination? Anything evangelical, currently Anglican
After church snack? Oo, a nice custard cream maybe?

Thanks @AugustBreeze! I do love a nice 80s Christmas card look I pray it is a blessing for you. It's only short reflections but thought they might be helpful in a year where everything is so overwhelming.

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay - I know, I feel so sad about everything we're missing with church. So glad too because often through the winter I'm excluded and this time feel more a part of it due to online stuff, but sad about missing singing carols together, and just the whole joy of it all. Looks like we'll be able to meet in December at least in tier 1 and 2, but probably just the same with far less people and masks etc. It's something though.

Love to all at this really pants time

"Love to all at this really pants time "

This!

Giving thanks for a Christian counsellor allocated randomly to me by a secular organisation, who's really helping me untangle some deep stuff.

That’s a blessing August. Hopefully you’ll get everything untangled.

I think that’s a really important point, MHD. I hope one thing we can carry forward from this is how we include people who can’t attend because they are ill or vulnerable in some way. We do a certain amount so far, but I can’t help thinking that we could be doing more.

I'd love to hear your story too purplethistles

Hello, WelcomePurplethistles I like the "strong faith atheist" being angry at a God they claim doesnt exist. I've met people like that on MN. I should be interested in hearing what changed your mind but speaking from experience its always so hard to share.

Dutchoma I hope that nearing the end of lockdown 2 you are feeling a bit better? Thanks for asking after my dsis. Seeing your message reminded me to give her a call and also to pray for her. She's grinding on, has spoken to her union, seems a bit less depressed and a bit more determined. I wish she'd find a new job.

So glad church will be back on for most of advent. I haven't got round to thinking about advent devotional. Need to do that now. I need a routine but I always work so hard in December my prayers are just as I wake up and go to bed nothing much in between.

I find it so hard to fit in prayer at the end of the day, any tips?

I'm sorry I'm so rubbish at posting. I don't really know what to say. I've suffered bulling on MN and just had enough of the general attitude being shown on here. I've really had enough. Shopping is becoming, frankly, dangerous. I don't have a gp or access to medical care anymore. Given my condition is really scary.

I would, if people could, appreciate prayers.

I do keep you all in mine, even though I'm not posting I do try and keep up and read the thread.

I've been reading the bible in a year this year (I'm a few days behind currently), and, I pray as a part of doing that. I'm a strong believer that God hears all prayers, even those we don't/can't vocalise wherever we are.

Augustbreeze prayer at the end of the day? Count your blessings while falling asleep.
Becca good to see you back. Yes, I believe God hears all prayers and will never let us down or desert us, but we are not always in a place where it ‘feels’ like that. Even Jesus prayed “MY God, why have you forsaken me?” Such was the depth of His feeling. But He came out the other end and so will you. My prayer for you is that you can stay close to Him in thisdifficult time.
I have done the Bible in a year course a couple of times, but it took me 15-18 months each time.

Good to see you Becca I was just thinking about you the other day.

This place will always be a safehaven if you need it.

Just remembered it’s Wednesday and and I haven’t done the reading for the zoom Bible study course. It’s not a short reading either.

I definitely agree oma regarding not feeling like our prayers are heard. I didn't mean to imply otherwise, I'm sorry if I gave that impression. The best piece of advice I was given by a friend whose a nun was to always pray. Always assume God hears even if you think otherwise - his telephone is never engaged.

It sounds trite but it's helped me so much to think like that. Often with my mental health I doubt everything so knowing even when I doubt he doesn't has really helped me, as does knowing just because there are clouds doesn't mean he isn't there.

It's lovely to see you, Becca

Hi ladies,
Please can I get some advice?

How would I go about visiting a new church? Obviously once covid has passed by. What is the etiquette? And how would I know what would suit? I only have experience of our local church (the one with all the drama that I don't feel comfortable taking my children to anymore) and the one from my childhood which is too far away from us now.

Let me know what you think. Being brave. X

I just sort of turn up. I know I’ve seen some people here suggest calling the parish office if they have one and asking first.

I hopped about a few different places until I found mine. You might need to go to the same one a few times before you get a proper feel for it.

Thanks Rafals, bit scared of just turning up and not knowing what's going on! Especially with holy communion as this was a rare occurrence in our last place.

I'll sit at the back and try to blend in haha

Hi Yummy,

I know exactly what you mean about finding it daunting going to a new Church. I was always worried about sticking out like a sore thumb or making some dreadful mistake and everyone staring. I like to think of it like Peter stepping out of the boat (where we are comfortable and safe) and stepping out into the water. Keep your eyes on Jesus on you will find the courage. I always pray to the Holy Spirit for courage when I am putting myself out of my comfort zone.

In my experience it depends on what type of church you are going to, some will have people whose job it is to welcome new people and make sure they get introduced to people and shown where everything is. Other places it is up to you to introduce yourself to people and muddle along. Depends what kind of vibe you would prefer. I am definitely one for sitting at the back and taking it all in before attempting any introductions.
I would check out the websites of your local churches see if what they say about what they believe appeals to you. They should also give you an idea of what the services would be like. Although be aware some of the more traditional churches may have very poor websites!
I hope your search goes well and you find your new church family.

It’s always a bit daunting going to a new church, but I have usually found a warm welcome. Most churches have at least a team that hands out the order of service and the hymn books and you can ask them whether it is alright to sit anywhere. Finding a corner out of the way is a good option, you will have the chance to stay in your place if other people go up for communion. I find it quite hard to mingle with a crowd and have, sometimes for weeks, come in at the last minute, sat at the back and beat the minister to the door. It depends a lot on what you need from a church: teaching, fellowship, taking part in the liturgy or whatever.. Different churches have different emphases and not everything suits.

I think I’d add to what Atomic says and day that in some places people might not introduce themselves to you until they’ve seen your face a few times.

I think it’s easier as an RC. Masses can be very different but unless you end up in an extraordinary form one they are fundamentally the same. There’s less worry about what’s supposed to be going on so you can just slip in at the back if you want.

Yes I agree with the others, go along and keep as low a profile as you wish. You might want to check out some websites first to get the vibe of the chruch and see if it's somewhere you think would be for you. Most churches are welcoming and will be pleased to see you. I hope you find your home in one soon. I wonder if it's worth you looking at the online services for churches near you now so you can get an idea of what they're like? Maybe visit one per week to give you an idea?

May I join please and ask for some help/advice? Going through a difficult time with asking why God lets bad things happen. Background, I was brought up by atheist father after my mum died, but she came from from an RC family, albeit lapsed. I met DH at uni, was baptised RC as an adult and we now have two DDs.

This summer DD2 (9) was diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening illness. We have a huge amount of prayer support from our church friends. But I often find myself thinking Why? She is such a wonderful child, and this is an illness that has meant she has needed a lot of treatment, spent in hospital rooms with extremely poorly children (chemo etc). She may need this kind of treatment herself but we are protecting her from knowing about this at the moment.

I am finding it very hard to see this as a test of faith. It just feels so unfair on a little kid, and the other children in the hospital. I am not sure quite how to deal with this. I’ve asked God and don’t feel that I am hearing Him at the moment. Has anyone had to deal with a situation like this where your faith is really tested?

There have been plenty of miracles along the way - the timing of the diagnosis, the fact that DD1 is a match should she need a bone marrow transplant, the care of the nurses etc. So I know God is working with us, and we pray for the doctors and nurses every day.

And then WHAM, out of nowhere comes a question so hard, so deep that you are utterly stumped . Welcome Jockey.
I don’t know, nobody knows and the Christian who does not struggle with the problem of ‘why suffering’ has not thought very deeply at all.

All I can say is that God knows, God suffered and He will be with you through the deepest vale. That’s all that anybody can offer and I offer it, with my prayers.