BetteTheRed
Resident Heretic
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Your god sounds so limited, Jae. Mine is everywhere. Today in the garden, I marvelled at the sheer persistence and strength of Jerusalem artichokes.
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revsdd
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your advice. I don't jump at your behest though.
Regardless of whether Kay prefers quilt-making to church or finds it more inspirational than church (I've been to church services which have left me thinking that I could have found more inspiration in many things than I found while attending that particular church service), that's irrelevant to your suggestion that "it sounds to me like [she] did leave because [she] did not find church entertaining enough."
Your comment had to do with entertainment, and as I pointed out Kay specifically said that was not the case.
Again either you can't read or you're looking to cause trouble.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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Church, for me, has generally been a place to share my faith and my insights. Only rarely has it been the source of my faith or my insights. Those come most often when I am reading or out in the "church of the world" letting the beauty and wonder of the universe surround. Preparing services sometimes leads to inspiration or insight, but more often a moment of inspiration or insight leads me to prepare a service/sermon. Could quilting lead to a moment of insight or inspiration equal to or greater than what one could get in church? Definitely. Any creative act can because creativity is a spiritual thing; a gift from God if you like. And churches are, alas, often sorely lacking in the creativity department.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
Church for me feeds my soul, grounds me, and prepares me for the coming week.
That said, church for me yesterday wasn't special.
It was church picnic day, when we traditionally have a worship service under the trees in a large city park; followed by games and a barbeque.
It rained the previous 24 hours, and we woke Sunday morning to fog, and threatening drizzle. Checking our facebook page, I discovered a notice that the service would be held at the church.
Small turn-out - maybe half our usual for this time of year.
We used the plans for the outdoor service, hymn sing beginning with 'Morning Has Broken' and 'This is God's Wonderous World', prayers and scripture. There was no 'sermon' but a message for the 'young and young at heart' about loving and caring for God's world and all the creatures in it - including the young beluga whale separated from its pod and swimming in a NB river. (I am of two minds about the rescue of this whale; it is not an endangered species, it cost a lot of money, time and effort to catch it, transport it by truck and airplane, treat it for health problems and release it, knowing that it may not survive after the ordeal. One of God's creatures; nature taking its course; and people interfering to 'save' the animal. Think of the refugees that could have been saved by that same effort. Yet how could we let it die without doing our best. And the message was about 'caring'.
Music was by guitar as planned for the park - no piano or pipe organ.
And after the short service we went down to the gym to watch the teens organize games, including playing with a large, colourful parachute and the little kids running around. Hotdogs, chips, fruit tray, sweets finished the gathering.
Fellowship was great with people pitching in during worship to greet, usher, take up the offering. Seelerman helped a friend set up tables and chairs for those who might have had trouble managing their lunch standing up.
I love this church; and I look forward to one more service before the summer.
That said, church for me yesterday wasn't special.
It was church picnic day, when we traditionally have a worship service under the trees in a large city park; followed by games and a barbeque.
It rained the previous 24 hours, and we woke Sunday morning to fog, and threatening drizzle. Checking our facebook page, I discovered a notice that the service would be held at the church.
Small turn-out - maybe half our usual for this time of year.
We used the plans for the outdoor service, hymn sing beginning with 'Morning Has Broken' and 'This is God's Wonderous World', prayers and scripture. There was no 'sermon' but a message for the 'young and young at heart' about loving and caring for God's world and all the creatures in it - including the young beluga whale separated from its pod and swimming in a NB river. (I am of two minds about the rescue of this whale; it is not an endangered species, it cost a lot of money, time and effort to catch it, transport it by truck and airplane, treat it for health problems and release it, knowing that it may not survive after the ordeal. One of God's creatures; nature taking its course; and people interfering to 'save' the animal. Think of the refugees that could have been saved by that same effort. Yet how could we let it die without doing our best. And the message was about 'caring'.
Music was by guitar as planned for the park - no piano or pipe organ.
And after the short service we went down to the gym to watch the teens organize games, including playing with a large, colourful parachute and the little kids running around. Hotdogs, chips, fruit tray, sweets finished the gathering.
Fellowship was great with people pitching in during worship to greet, usher, take up the offering. Seelerman helped a friend set up tables and chairs for those who might have had trouble managing their lunch standing up.
I love this church; and I look forward to one more service before the summer.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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My family church used to have a similar "year end" service in June but at the time, we had space for it on the church grounds (a huge yard between the church and the manse). There was a big rock erected at one end called the "Stone of Promise", a gift from a departing minister IIRC, and we had the service more or less with it as the "chancel". After the service, there was a potluck picnic and then games for the kids (and adults, too). We usually got blessed with good weather, but if not, we could easily pack up and go inside since we were already on the property.
I know they have built a labyrinth garden for meditation on that side of the property now so not sure if they still have space to do it there or not.
I know they have built a labyrinth garden for meditation on that side of the property now so not sure if they still have space to do it there or not.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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- He/Him/His
They have their challenges. I remember that even on nice days, wind could wreak havoc with hearing the sound and blowing stuff around. And once the food came out ... wasps (sometimes even before the food came out if they were nesting on the property). I am wasp-phobic even though I've only been stung once with no ill effects beyond a sore thumb.
Worst church service ever for me was an outdoor one at scout camp. We duly filed into the outdoor chapel at Camp Everton (outside Guelph) only to have someone find out the hard way that there was a wasp nest under a "pew" (really just benches). We fled in a bit of a panic. Someone folks got stung but not me (my sting did happen at Everton but a different year and at an outdoor cookout).
PilgrimsProgress
Well-Known Member
The sermon at church was on discipleship........
It was both brief and to the point.
Discipleship is God's job description for us.
Love God and love our neighbour (everyone). That's it!
Discipleship is not the church, not the building, not a belief, not a ritual.
Discipleship is love - and love in discipleship terms is a verb, not a noun.
IMO far too many sermons get lost in being clever with words - a sermon is best when it's message is crystal clear.
It was both brief and to the point.
Discipleship is God's job description for us.
Love God and love our neighbour (everyone). That's it!
Discipleship is not the church, not the building, not a belief, not a ritual.
Discipleship is love - and love in discipleship terms is a verb, not a noun.
IMO far too many sermons get lost in being clever with words - a sermon is best when it's message is crystal clear.
KayTheCurler
Well-Known Member
Isn't self-righteous the way to be ... to continue without weaves ...
Jae stands be side his mortal God ... self-contained ... nun for the alternate !
Goes with the in acceptance of a greater sense of god ... thus the word in-sensitive?
Can God be found in dark words laid out? Some swear by that alone as protocol ...
Tabitha
journeying
One stop on my recent journey was the town of Gibson's Landing. For those of you of a certain age it is where the Beachcombers was filmed.I even had supper at Molly"s Reach.
Gibson's United Church has an office upstairs at their community Market Building. They also use the medium size meeting room for Sunday worship.
The market building is new and used for a daily farmers/artisan market. Rooms are used for various community activities- like yoga. There is a cafe .for meals-usually shuts at 4. There was a lovely catered buffet for us for supper in the cafe space.
Imagine a church in a building heavily used by the community.
Gibson's United Church has an office upstairs at their community Market Building. They also use the medium size meeting room for Sunday worship.
The market building is new and used for a daily farmers/artisan market. Rooms are used for various community activities- like yoga. There is a cafe .for meals-usually shuts at 4. There was a lovely catered buffet for us for supper in the cafe space.
Imagine a church in a building heavily used by the community.
KayTheCurler
Well-Known Member
Sounds like a good idea. Church activities that occur in a 'special' building called a church have limited access to members of the wider community. Co-operating with other community groups gives greater contact. More opportunities to hear what ways the congregation could serve the wider community.
paradox3
Peanuts Fan
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Big day for you! I hope it goes well . . . will look forward to reading about your impressions.
Carolla
wondering & wandering
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Was thinking of you today GeoFee. Look forward to hearing your reflections, as I likely will also retire in the coming year.
GeoFee
I am who I am becoming...
Hi,
We had a fine morning at church. Full house and energy enough to raise the roof. Heard from various persons about how they had experienced our service among them. One mum remembered the death of their new born child. She expressed gratitude for the pastoral presence she and her husband experienced. There is a lot to this story and I am sure more elements will come forward as the years take us along. Lots of tears in lots of eyes.
During announcements a young woman invited folk to come and get the weeds out of our church garden. I assured the folk that we were not growing weed. Did add that such a crop could do well in helping us with our bottom line. Lots of laughter.
Over the past years we have become a happy and enthusiastic community of faith. This following a major crisis just prior to my arrival. The healing was evident and future prospects seem bright. The folk have decided to go forward without ordained clergy. They are also moving from being an attractional community to a community reaching into neighbourhood and world through all our relations. There are visionary and capable persons at the heart of this.
While worship will continue as an element of the community's future, the main emphasis will be on personal growth in the spirit and the overflowing of that personal growth into all of the diverse family and community relations.
Tears came to my eyes at several points. During the offering collection a young woman played John Lennon's "Imagine" while another woman narrated the text. Could not hold the feeling in when she changed the lyric just a bit. Where John said "you may think I'm a dreamer" she read "you may think George is a dreamer, but he's not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one." My vision in a nutshell.
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect consisted in several persons speaking of the relationship Barbara and I had with the kids and teens of the community. Being as we will never be grandparents, this filled our hearts to overflowing. While we very much appreciate the history of our faith, it is the future of that faith which is front and centre in all of our saying and doing.
Bit weary from the expenditure of lots of creative energy in the mix. Will get my last words to the folk posted soon. Now I am going for forty winks. Maybe eighty.
Cheers.
We had a fine morning at church. Full house and energy enough to raise the roof. Heard from various persons about how they had experienced our service among them. One mum remembered the death of their new born child. She expressed gratitude for the pastoral presence she and her husband experienced. There is a lot to this story and I am sure more elements will come forward as the years take us along. Lots of tears in lots of eyes.
During announcements a young woman invited folk to come and get the weeds out of our church garden. I assured the folk that we were not growing weed. Did add that such a crop could do well in helping us with our bottom line. Lots of laughter.
Over the past years we have become a happy and enthusiastic community of faith. This following a major crisis just prior to my arrival. The healing was evident and future prospects seem bright. The folk have decided to go forward without ordained clergy. They are also moving from being an attractional community to a community reaching into neighbourhood and world through all our relations. There are visionary and capable persons at the heart of this.
While worship will continue as an element of the community's future, the main emphasis will be on personal growth in the spirit and the overflowing of that personal growth into all of the diverse family and community relations.
Tears came to my eyes at several points. During the offering collection a young woman played John Lennon's "Imagine" while another woman narrated the text. Could not hold the feeling in when she changed the lyric just a bit. Where John said "you may think I'm a dreamer" she read "you may think George is a dreamer, but he's not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one." My vision in a nutshell.
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect consisted in several persons speaking of the relationship Barbara and I had with the kids and teens of the community. Being as we will never be grandparents, this filled our hearts to overflowing. While we very much appreciate the history of our faith, it is the future of that faith which is front and centre in all of our saying and doing.
Bit weary from the expenditure of lots of creative energy in the mix. Will get my last words to the folk posted soon. Now I am going for forty winks. Maybe eighty.
Cheers.