Christian prayer and chat thread Open to all

[Dutchoma]

The old thread was nearly full, so here is a new one. Oldies and newbies, chat or prayer, all welcome.

Praying especially for MHD and JanFeb’s daughter.
Also praying for all who are preparing Holy Week/Easter services.

[JanFebAnyMonth]

Thank you @Dutchoma, for the thread and the prayer.

[DreamingOfTheSouthOfFrance]

Thank you. I've been lurking on your old thread so I'll say hello to everyone on this one.

[JanFebAnyMonth]

Hi dreaming. Feel free to tell a little about yourself but only if you want to.

[Dutchoma]

Hi Dreaming, you are very welcome. As Jan says, it’s nice to get to know somebody, but you are of course also very welcome to just ‘lurk’ There are ‘icebreaker’ questions:
Organ or band? Screen or hymnbooks? Tea or coffee after church? What kind of snack? And what do you think of Graham Kendrick? I’m not sure I remember them all right, so if anybody is ‘old’ enough on these threads, please add or amend.

[JanFebAnyMonth]

The Graham Kendrick question ages posters rather, doesn't it?
Also the list of questions assumes posters are regular churchgoers (at least when/ if we could), which may not be the case. But I know it's in a friendly, all-embracing spirit!

[Dutchoma]

Good points, both of them Jan/Feb. What would you replace them with?

[ZenNudist]

Thanks for starting this Dutchoma. Off to Google Graham Kendrick!

Poor MHD. I hope it's not serious. Yes of course prayers she gets well soon.

Hello Dreaming, lovely to have you. Please do join in, or lurk anyway.

JanFeb praying for your DD. I think I should start God on mute. I rather gave up on how to pray and am wary about starting another one. I listen to loads of Pete Greig interviews and I felt a lot of it was too similar to the prayer course. I don't think there is any easy answer to why prayer goes unanswered or takes ages. Just spent time today dealing with that thorny question on another thread. It leaves me puzzled. Especially when I think of my friends who lost their son to cancer. They have strong faith still. For so many, unanswered prayer is the "gotcha" proof there is no God.

[ZenNudist]

Icebreaker:

Id love a cuppa tea thanks. Any decaf? If not I'll drink it anyway and be awake half the night (why do I do this?)
Love hymns, really miss them nowadays. I'm Catholic so never been to church with a
band (or a screen). Organ all the way. Or guitar. Or violin. Missing our church choir and the sung responses in mass.
A snack? Would usually say yes but its lent. Pink wafer is a favourite on the odd occasions we get post church refreshments.

Graham Kendrick: shine Jesus shine is ok.

[DreamingOfTheSouthOfFrance]

Thanks for your welcome everyone.

I used to be very traditional lowish CoE and thus a lover of 'proper' hymns and sung services. More recently life events and experiences have conspired to alter my style a bit so I'm much more open to modern worship songs and a band so long as there's no loud drums. Zoom church has allowed us to mix up our music style quite a bit which has been good. Always tea after church but only because the coffee is horrid and I don't usually eat the dull biscuits.

Prayers for those who need them.

[coffeecup88]

What were the religion bashing threads? I've missed all those.
I'm mostly a lurker but saying hi. I'm not currently church going (covid aside) previously c of e but felt I needed to move away a while ago. Take care all.🙏

[Dutchoma]

Lovely to see you coffeecup88. I wondered about the ‘religion bashing threads’ too

[lightand]

Just rechecking in at this point. Hi to everyone, old and new.

[ZenNudist]

There was an ask me me anything (there is now an AMA board) from a "born again christian single mum". Was a bit of a pile on. I think from a non religious point of view it's difficult to see that a new convert isn't going to have all the answers about life the universe and everything (who does!).

Then an AIBU about whether or not you made a choice to be religious or non-religious. Wish I'd stayed out of it. Got nasty.

I join in because I feel atheism is the dominant religion on MN and I should stand up and be counted. But I know people dont really want to hear. Its not a very level playing field as a Christian I'd be at pains not to be judgemental but the reverse is not so true. Equally I'd never start a personal attack (nor would I want to). If I did I'd already have lost the argument!

Anyway am not one for arguing on MN about anything. Prefer just dropping in and out, saying my bit.

I did think long and hard about the attitudes you encounter and what it means for the world. My bible in a year podcast today said about the coming book of Joshua how "everyone decided for themselves what is right" and it really resonated in that is where we are now. We put God on trial and we approach the bible/ religion from a place of distrust.

[JanFebAnyMonth]

Absolutely zen.

Have you heard (I saw it on Premier News) the government have indicated in a reply to the Evangelical Alliance that congregations might be able to sing outside at Easter!!! Tbc. (And small groups lead worship inside, although that seems a little pointless if we can't sing along.)

[JanFebAnyMonth]

But I'm betraying my low church-ness in saying that aren't I, apologies!

[Greybeardy]

Thought I’d say hi too. Am a bit of a new recruit since lockdown so only online church for me so far. I just googled Graham Kendrick and now my ears are bleeding (can I still stay though?!)

[JanFebAnyMonth]

Yup. Hi.

Stuart Townend anyone?

[coffeecup88]

Just catching up on the AMA thread lots to unpack there.

[coffeecup88]

@Greybeardy

Thought I’d say hi too. Am a bit of a new recruit since lockdown so only online church for me so far. I just googled Graham Kendrick and now my ears are bleeding (can I still stay though?!)

Ooh that sounds like a story.. please share if you'd like to ☺️

[Dutchoma]

Not keen on Stuart Townend at all if for that one line in: In Christ alone:
“And on that cross when Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied”. For me that puts the rockers on the whole idea that Jesus came to reconcile men with God, not to satisfy an angry God, who demanded a sacrifice.
If I could replace that line with “God’s arms of love were opened wide”, I would struggle less with that hymn, but still not be very keen on any of the modern worship songs. (Sorry MHD)

[coffeecup88]

In Christ Alone is going the same way in my head as Shine Jesus shine

That AMA thread is interesting. The reactions were extreme, it seems lots of people really want to talk about religion.

[applesandpears33]

Hi all, our church reopen its doors on Sunday. No singing though and limited numbers so I'll stay at home and join in via zoom until things are a bit more normal. It is a step in the right direction though and something to be grateful for as not everyone has got on with the zoom services.

I haven't read the AMA thread. I probably should, but am a little nervous about the responses.

Ouch, yes, the mention of Graham Kendrick does age us. I actually don't mind GK. I have very wide tastes in music.

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

Many thanks for the new thread.