How was church today?

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A good sermon today by Don McLeod. Theme was how religious folks can sometimes be too serious and lacking in joy. The idea that being more playful in our approach to spirituality would be good for us and for those we interact with.
 
BetteTheRed said:
Today's theme, based loosely on the Mark passage where Jesus asks his disciples who people think he is, was about names. Ways we describe ourselves. Ways which we include and exclude others.

Fun things going on in the life of the church right now in which I'm involved:

A final celebration of Presbytery at Camp Big Canoe next Saturday; we're doing a tent with a discussion circle called "Conversations that Matter" based on modern/progressive theology.

A submission for a nice big grant chunk (from a dissolved congregation) to mount two plays (youth actors, local/Ontario written playrights) to a rotation of churches next summer, social justice themes, rehearsed and billeted by and supported by our congregation.

Harvest dinner in October. I'm co-chair of the pie sub-committee.

Two candidates meetings prior to the October municipal elections, one for Ward 1 councillor candidates, the other more general free-for-all, "what is your vision for Barrie from a social justice perspective"?

My slightly older than I (about a decade) next door neighbour belongs to a more orthodox evangelical church. They do a LOT of street outreach downtown. She invited me for a swim this afternoon where we horrified her adult daughter (who owns the house) and her rather straight boyfriend by having a loud and cheerful argument about whether the downtown city addict is less worthy of aid than a Syrian refugee. I like having friends/neighbours who like to talk about real things.
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Progressive Theology ... hints at forbidden change ... thus the same old suits ...

That's enough to cause loud discussions ... with some humus tossed in from the Canan or Mithra ... a light yet unseen ... some say related to Kali ... that's something else again to burn holes in time ...
 
We visited a small church in Kelowna area. It was nice, though had an odd vibe. The minister spoke on wisdom. He also referred to Terry Fox, and used Terry's story for the children's story.

During the sermon he addressed the division in the congregation concerning his leadership. Seems many feel his theology is new age. He calls it present age. It was interesting and probably well suited for a contemplative introvert. We're in this area until the end of the month so may go back again next week.
 
Northwind said:
Seems many feel his theology is new age. He calls it present age.
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Interesting. I would be curious to know what they think constitutes a New Age theology. I can think of a number of modern and post-modern theological ideas, like process theology, that could fit with a New Age outlook, but none that are "New Age" per se.
 
Yeah, "new age" always feels like it has to incorporate crystals, runes and angels, and possibly card-reading, not necessarily in that order, lol. "Non-theistic" may be more what the "many" mean.
 
BetteTheRed said:
"new age" always feels like it has to incorporate crystals, runes and angels, and possibly card-reading
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One characteristic of New Age is that it is hard to characterize. A lot of ideas and philosophies all getting conflated under one banner from spiritualism to westernized Eastern mysticism to various older schools like the Rosicrucians. Saying you are "New Age" often doesn't really mean much beyond being open to some of these ideas. And many of them aren't really all that new, just being packaged differently. The commonality seems to be a general rejection of traditional theology and "church" in favour of more mystical, individual experiences. Unity Church, at least here in London, seems the closest I've come across to a "New Age church" but I only know them from passing contacts. Never actually gone.
 
Well the service was different from many I've attended. There were several places in the service for reflection. It was slow paced and somewhat wishy washy (for lack of a better description) There was a lot of emphasis on being loving and we got hugs instead of handshakes by the greeters. (I found that a little over familiar) They borrowed from First Nations spirituality in a way that felt a little like using something that wasn't their's. It was clear that not everyone liked this new approach. I suppose because the minister was a bit defensive
 
Northwind said:
Well the service was different from many I've attended. There were several places in the service for reflection. It was slow paced and somewhat wishy washy (for lack of a better description) There was a lot of emphasis on being loving and we got hugs instead of handshakes by the greeters. (I found that a little over familiar) They borrowed from First Nations spirituality in a way that felt a little like using something that wasn't their's. It was clear that not everyone liked this new approach. I suppose because the minister was a bit defensive
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Sounds not so much "New Age" as "I don't like or understand this so I'll tag it with some non-Christian term". The indigenous spirituality bit could, I suppose, fit in with some New Age beliefs. They do tend to practice cultural appropriation a lot.
 
Northwind said:
Well the service was different from many I've attended. There were several places in the service for reflection. It was slow paced and somewhat wishy washy (for lack of a better description) There was a lot of emphasis on being loving and we got hugs instead of handshakes by the greeters. (I found that a little over familiar) They borrowed from First Nations spirituality in a way that felt a little like using something that wasn't their's. It was clear that not everyone liked this new approach. I suppose because the minister was a bit defensive
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hmm - hugs instead of handshakes of welcome seems intrusive to me ... permission to touch more intimately likely not sought first. Sounds like a congregation in flux ... it will be good to go back a few more times to see how it unfolds.
 
I sometimes bypass the hugs at the door. I too don't always wanted to be touched.

That said our minister is doing a series on looking back and stepping forward-my words to summarize. We were formed in 2018.

I was chairing a meeting after lunch . It was supposed to be a hard one as we were telling the congregation that we were literally running out of money and would have no savings in 3 years when our lease concludes.. BUT we received a $10,000 bequest-and the actual cheque 2 weeks ago. Givings are up and we have several fundraisers planned. and a prospective tenant-a group that meets 3x a week., and would pay us 970 a month.
So there is hope.
 
That is great news, Tab! (Partly due to good leadership, I am sure...)

Our congregation just calls it "greet your neighbour", and there are a variety of peace-passings, handshakes, fist bumps, and hugs between consenting friends.
 
BetteTheRed said:
Our congregation just calls it "greet your neighbour", and there are a variety of peace-passings, handshakes, fist bumps, and hugs between consenting friends.
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This tends to be the UU way as well. Whatever you're comfortable with.
 
Today's sermon by Rev. Dave Holmes was on the wheat and the chaff and how it is not a story of us and them, but rather the wheat and the chaff are part of who we each are. The way we work on spiritual practice in our lives is how we get to the wheat and blow off the chaff. One illustration in the sermon was that joining a health club doesn't make us more healthy. We can have a nice shiny health club card in our wallet, but if we don't go to the club and do the exercise it means nothing. Same with our spiritual lives; we need to practice, practice, practice if we want to see results and growth. Today the sermon was probably the shortest I have ever experienced, around 3 minutes long, but it was one of the best in recent memory really delivering the goods and giving me something to ponder in the week ahead.
 
We went back to the church we visited last week. The service was wonderful. It flowed more and the theme was awe. There was lots to think about. They had music during centering times. It was an oboe, guitar and piano and was very moving. Several people came up to us and welcomed us back. It was nice.
 
Some people have not awe for anything but powerful shell companies offshore ... Royal Deutch concerns!

If it doesn't go open the dikes ... flush that ...

It could be just simple satyr ... spontaneous commentary about how it flies ...
 
I am feeling tired. Our church is doing a number of fundraising events. We need to as we continue to spend more than we take in. I am organizing 2 events a Pint-nite (through Paint-nite-and a spiritual practice workshop-with the speaker donating her time.
Paint-nite is pretty easy and straightforward. The company really does it all -except extra promotion. We show up, make a spiel and then everybody paints. We will make between $300-$500 and it is earmarked for our Food Cupboard that serves the community. Deposit is in, blurb written, date and artist confirmed. Place confirmed. Just waiting for confirmation of the picture we have chosen. This fundraiser appeals to many outside the church -no spiritual component. I am working with 1 other board member.

I am hosting a Spiritual Practice Workshop. Our facilitator is donating her time. It is 1 full day and $100 dollar. We will donate 10% of the proceeds to the facilitator to use in her Yoga teaching for the Recovery community. I have 3 volunteers working with me. One is coming up with the brochure as we read this.

So as I was leaving another board member said -" I think you need to speak to everyone on your helper sign up list. They may have signed up by mistake" I felt she was interfering. She has 2 other fundraiser-maybe 3 -to manage. I was polite but basically said "I've got this. ". She responded back 'I hear you saying But Out, I have this". I think she was pissed but yes, I was gentler but that was my message.
We all can't do everything. We have to trust that others are competent. Now if I was calmer-and not hungry_ I probably could of just smiled and said "yes good idea" but but I didn't have those resources at the time. Anyhow thanks for letting me vent.
 
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