How was church today?

[Delightful Life]

Not as humid as yesterday (where it felt like i was eating the air...ick)

A lot of us looked like boiled beets at church
Sweaty palms. We laughed at the gross handshakes.

New visiting Rector...newfie or aussie i couldn't place the accent

A moment of sun shining through a skylight on a potted plant during Communion

Outside I got to commune with a cousin who didnt fly away just kept aware of me while moving around rooting thru the dirt

Now I'm somewhere. Air. Conditioning.

Somewhere ELSE in the world someone is breaking up some iceberg into their drink...

 

[Jaebius]

I went to the Lutheran Church I mentioned I wanted to check out awhile ago - at last. It was fine. A liturgical sermon about the "wheat and the weeds" - sounds like it was a week out of step with the UCCan? It was "familiar". Maybe a tad more conservative, especially than, the church UCCan church I attended for awhile. But overall not a huge difference. A sermon about not pulling up the weeds because then you pull the wheat with it and because we're all a bit weedy too. One thing they do in this congregation is sing The Lord's Prayer to the tune of Cohen's Hallelujah. And they had a rock out gospel song at the end that even the seniors were swaying and clapping to without hesitation or awkwardness. Good singers in this place - so I sort of mouthed the words and sang under my breath because I'm not a good singer - but they had good harmony going on (which wasn't happening at my old congregation.).

The communion, or Eucharist was slightly different. Bread, and choice of either drinking from a large common cup of wine or taking an individual thimble sized cup of either juice or wine. I chose the latter. I saw the pastor down a couple of big gulps at the end when he took his own turn. Lol! (Maybe I shouldn't have noticed). I guess the common cup isn't as popular and he didn't want to waste it.

It happened to be a day they were having a neighbourhood bbq - so that was a bonus. I met some nice people. One man who teaches a course on Critical Thinking to students from around the world. I asked if I could audit it, jokingly, and he actually said that likely would be okay. He said they discuss philosophy and social and political issues and since students come from vastly different backgrounds - how to build community/ society within a common framework where people who disagree get along peaceably. Yes. Ironic. I know. He said it's very hard for some students at the beginning given they do come from such different cultures but by the end everyone is like old friends.

Talked to a woman about community social justice projects and interfaith outreach.

They share the hall of their building with a non-denominational generally younger adult (but all ages) group. LGBT escaped Baptists, I got the impression many were. And a younger crowd. Hipsters. Their pastor has a philosophy degree and they have a philosophy/ theology Cafe on Sunday evenings starting in the fall.

I'm glad I went.

"escaped Baptists"?

 

[Delightful Life]

"escaped Baptists"?

Well yeah
put them in a sling
And with the right escape velocity...
No actual Baptists were harmed in the researching of this post
Tho some were savagely poodled

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

"escaped Baptists"?

Yup. Lol, that was the impression I got from a few people I talked to - although I'd have to attend a service or gathering or two to get a better idea.

 

[Jaebius]

Yup. Lol, that was the impression I got from a few people I talked to - although I'd have to attend a service or gathering or two to get a better idea.

What exactly is it you figure they 'escaped' from?

 

[BetteTheRed]

What do you think, Jae, given the description? Strange phenomenon, actually, in my experience. Our LGBTQ neighbours have been treated so badly by the Christian Church that those who are still committed to it tend to be a little on the orthodox side. So, if they leave the Baptist church, they move to the slightly LGBTQ-friendly Lutherans rather than all the way to the 'left' in the UCCan...

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

They're non-denominational (for now they say - maybe they're aiming to join the Lutheran church, not sure) but they share a building with the Lutherans. It sort of reminded me of the UCCan I went to that had a traditional liturgical service for those who took comfort in that, and a very loose, experimental service that was mainly attended by young adults - though, several very much "out" LGBT at both services. The alternative one was unfortunately a monthly one, though.

 

[Jaebius]

What do you think, Jae, given the description?

If I knew Bette, why would I ask? @Kimmio made the point of mentioning the "escaped Baptists" whatever she means by that. I'll wait for her response.

Strange phenomenon, actually, in my experience. Our LGBTQ neighbours have been treated so badly by the Christian Church that those who are still committed to it tend to be a little on the orthodox side. So, if they leave the Baptist church, they move to the slightly LGBTQ-friendly Lutherans rather than all the way to the 'left' in the UCCan...

If that's the kind of thing Kimmio is speaking of, I will just share that I have never seen any LGBTQ people treated badly by Baptists. Imho, there's no reason a person would 'escape' the average Baptist church. Leave, yes, if it wasn't their particular cup of tea.

 

[Nancy]

A major thunder and lightning storm kept some people away from church today. I spoke about "Sacred Spaces" and I'm guessing that rolling over in bed for another round of sleep on a gray, wet day might be sacred to some! So, there were about 30 people at church...down about 10 from a usual summer day.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

@Jae regardless, they seem to be a "church plant" idea - and you might be interested in how they do things - if you want I can PM you their website link.

 

[crazyheart]

Kimmio, I think they drink the left over wine and wipe the cup because

you are not to throw out holy Communion wine.so I was told.

I have seen in a UCCAN someone taking the left over grape from the little cups and goblet and

pouring them in the dirt outside.

 

[You just never know]

What exactly is it you figure they 'escaped' from?

We have a number of folks in our congregation who have escaped from abusive judgemental church experiences in the past. One woman grew up in a Baptist church in Texas and was treated very badly when they found out she was lesbian. Also, a nice couple of gay guys who escaped from judgemental abuse about their orientation from a Catholic church. Some churches are welcoming and some are judgemental that is just how it is. I thank Goddess I belong to a congregation that welcomes those who are rejected by the churches they grew up in.

 

[You just never know]

Today's sermon was on golf. A funny clip of Robin William's describing the origin of golf was played. I sure miss his humour and his unique way of seeing the world. I only played golf once. I was a teenager and with some pals and apparently we were not supposed to be chipping at the ball on the putting green as we were thrown out. Anyway, nice music, got to hear the amazing pipe organ which is seldom played and it was great with Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee, which was a hymn chosen by the minister's 6 year old daughter. Beethoven played on a pipe organ is like heaven for me. Also, had a nice bike ride after worship and saw some old things with new eyes. And did not go anywhere near any golf courses.

 

[Jaebius]

We have a number of folks in our congregation who have escaped from abusive judgemental church experiences in the past. One woman grew up in a Baptist church in Texas and was treated very badly when they found out she was lesbian. Also, a nice couple of gay guys who escaped from judgemental abuse about their orientation from a Catholic church. Some churches are welcoming and some are judgemental that is just how it is. I thank Goddess I belong to a congregation that welcomes those who are rejected by the churches they grew up in.

Abuse in churches is, of course, not limited to one faith tradition. There may even be some abusive churches in the UCCanada. The people who @Kimmio spoke of may have escaped abusive situations and if that's the case, that's great. However, to call them "escaped Baptists" is unfair. It suggests that there is something fundamentally wrong with the Baptist tradition.

 

[Jaebius]

@Jae regardless, they seem to be a "church plant" idea - and you might be interested in how they do things - if you want I can PM you their website link.

Yes please Kimmio, that would be great. I'm very interested in church planting.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

Abuse in churches is, of course, not limited to one faith tradition. There may even be some abusive churches in the UCCanada. The people who @Kimmio spoke of may have escaped abusive situations and if that's the case, that's great. However, to call them "escaped Baptists" is unfair. It suggests that there is something fundamentally wrong with the Baptist tradition.

I apologize, jae. It was wrong of me to assume that everyone would take that with a sense of humour, especially a Baptist... Oops did it again!

Seriously...ignore that too.

 

[You just never know]

Abuse in churches is, of course, not limited to one faith tradition. There may even be some abusive churches in the UCCanada. The people who @Kimmio spoke of may have escaped abusive situations and if that's the case, that's great. However, to call them "escaped Baptists" is unfair. It suggests that there is something fundamentally wrong with the Baptist tradition.

You are absolutely correct Jae it is the abuse that is wrong. As I mentioned in my post we have folks who have escaped from abuse in Baptist and Catholic churches. The problem is not accepting others as they have been created which is not limited to Baptists or Catholics, it occurs inside and outside the church. And the sense I have from the folks in our congregation is that they indeed did escape from an abusive church situation. And you are also correct there is a wide spectrum of congregations in the United Church and some are Affirming and some are not. There is one United Church in Calgary that is quite conservative and you never see a rainbow flag in the sanctuary when you worship there.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

I can't send you a PM @Jae maybe I'm blocked?

 

[Carolla]

I can't send you a PM @Jae maybe I'm blocked?

He's trying to escape your grasp Kimmio!

 

[Delightful Life]

Abuse in churches is, of course, not limited to one faith tradition. There may even be some abusive churches in the UCCanada. The people who @Kimmio It suggests that there is something fundamentally wrong with the Baptist tradition.

And what I have got from the Baptist tradition is that it is pretty loose?

Each individual Baptist is "allowed" to interpret the Bible as they see fit and are not credal and that every person is responsible for themselves and their actions.

That to me is quite an open and varied tradition*?

(That even given the problems of you not even getting Baptists of some sort on board here when you were given the opportunity to have their own forum...)


So that anytime someone disses a Baptist...it can never speak for the whole diverse congregation. A Westboro isn't a Southern Baptist isn't a...

Now aboot those scurrilious Seventh Day Adventists...mua ha ha

*thats why even Westboro are Baptists.