How was church today?

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I have found - never say goodbye to folk in the United church because you meet them again in

the strangest places.
 
I've been away for over a week and missed church two Sundays in a row - travelling days (11 hours in a car each Sunday), I usually attend church wherever I am.
I've been awhile reading and catching up on this thread. It's been my favourite thread, except for some recent comments where, instead of sharing and celebrating their experiences of worship, people seemed to be criticizing and swiping at other peoples. However today it seems to be back to sharing.
Youjustneverknow- I'm sorry about your mishap. I hope that you heal well.
 
I was at a clebration of life this afternoon. I find it a bit weird to be so non-religous. The speakers were great and spoke very well. K was a 55 year old teacher who based away after a long bout of breast cancer. I had met her but briefly. My connection is with her husband S, we've been in yoga together for several years. We had food going into the home for 6 months and I signed up to cook, and was the sub for delivery. We dropped it off at the next store neighbour's.

We signed one of 3 large rocks upon entering. We watched a PowerPoint. We heard from 4 speakers with a great MC. We went outside and blew bubbles. We had tea/coffee/juice and little sandwhiches, fruit and goodies. We visited and then we went home.
In a weird way it made me feel that I am connected to this community now after living here 6 years. There were many people from work at the funeral. S is a teacher as well.

It's sad when a life ends at 55 leaving 4 daughters with the oldest about to graduate high school.

Money is being collected for a scholarship in her name-very fitting.
 
I missed the morning service, but I went to a discussion at church tonight on faith and reality - discussing philosophy and faith. We talked about the real life implications/ applications/ intersections between equality, freedom, justice and mercy. Heard some words from Malcolm X, Arisototle and of course, Jesus - and it was a lively discussion. The pastor is fantastic. (I asked where the donation box was, with a bill in my hand and he said, with a smile and sense of humour - "I don't handle money - it's an ethics thing but maybe Mary can get the box from the office - and I don't drink and drive. Those are my two rules. But otherwise I'm a s**t." Lol. I like him. He's a good teacher. First he was making statements, like pronouncements (from social assumptions - maybe typical conservative evangelical Christian assumptions in some circles - the background he originally came from, but left) that I could feel myself getting hot under the collar about a couple of times ("he doesn't actually believe that? Maybe this is the wrong place for me.") - then he deconstructed it, challenged it, had us ask questions, analyzed it through different lenses - and turns out we were on the same page all along. He pronounced then deconstructed and challenged assumed attitudes. Well done.

Our recommended reading is Mortimer Adler's "The Six Great Ideas".
 
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Kimmio - hearing about your group makes me wish that we had something akin to it but under the umbrella of oour church - maybe an early meeting before our worship service on Sunday morning (when we used to hold our Wonder Cafe Live in the early days of WC). Interesting topics, lively discussion, recommended reading (sometimes), under the leadership of a very capable leader (in our case the Faith Formation Minister at a time when we had several clergy). My idea would be in addition to, rather than seperate from, regular 'church', but some people in our WC Live group considered it 'church' and went home afterwards rather than gathering with the regular congregation. To each their own. God speaks to us in many ways.
 
You just never know...Sorry about your accident. Sounds like the on-line version of church was worthwhile. Chansen--Don't get a swelled head, but you are my favourite atheist. Seeler-- lovely to 'see' you again. Elliot Lake was too far for me to drive for a coffee during this past week's lead up to the Gospel Concert.
I led worship at a 2-point charge: 7 people at one, 17 at the other; not counting the 4 that exited for Sunday School at each service. These churches are a 10 minute drive away from each other; a 40 minute drive from my house. I love both of them, and appreciate all of the great service they provide in their communities. But I also see 'tired' and 'worn out' when I look at some of them.
 
Worshiped today with my sister at St. Andrew's Presbyterian. A good sermon by Rev. Jan Hazlet. She spoke of how giving thanks should not be something we think of for a few days in October, but rather should be a daily spiritual practice. The idea of Thanksliving rather than Thanksgiving. I have lots to be thankful for, life in general and the fact that I'm here. Ha ha took a look at my bike helmet and there is good chunk missing so thankful I have the smarts to always wear the helmet or the missing chunk would have been my forehead. Went for a short 5km ride yesterday and it is probably too soon as had a few aches after the ride, but still thankful the bike wasn't damaged and still rode fine up to 30 kmh anyway. :)
 
Church was good again. The sermon was about about God's immanence, the mustard seed, the cycles of life, death and rebirth, how the seeds we plant in this world far outlive us - thinking about old growth trees - about imagining 10 generations from now and about how, when there so much going on in the world that is overwhelming - we like to thing we know it all and are in control, but to try to trust that God has a plan, bigger than us, and it's all for the best - or else, in the pastor's words "there's no point in history". He meandered a bit (which he sometimes does, but it's entertaining - he's not reading off of anything) - and had us laughing several times. I don't remember what specifically (maybe it was about thinking about the lifespan of turtles?), but he has spontaneous one-liners.

And this is one of the 'hymns' we sang - with two singing guitarists and a drummer (the unplugged version), that's still stuck in my head:

 
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I was just inspired to check out Gungar - I guess they're a "praise band" but they're pretty darn talened! Israel Houghton is fantastic. So, church hasn't been quite this rockin, but pretty close - and I like it! United Church advice - start moving over to more of this and stay current if you want to keep younger people attending and awake. This music makes people feel alive and happy and grateful. Joyful noise. :)

 
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Church today was wonderful!
I have company - my sister and bil from Ontario. Her daughter, my niece, is traveling with them and staying with Seelergirl - cousins near the same age who grew up together but followed separate paths in their teens and adulthood. They hadn't seen each other for five years until this weekend.
We old folks went to church early in order to get a parking spot near the building. Sanctuary beautifully decorated with the fruits of the harvest - lovely to look at after greeting friends and making introductions. Then, just before the service started, into the pew immediately in front of us comes Seelergirl and niece - looking fresh and cheerful.
The worship service was somewhat as expected at this time of year - feeling gratitude. Two of my favourite hymns from More Voices: Deep in our Hearts, and You Have Called Me By Name. The second was sung after a renewal of baptism vows and officially joining our congregation by two couples and three other people for a total of seven new members. Good to see these adults - one just out of college, one retired, and the other aged in between choosing us to be 'their church'.
After church, and our usual 'meet and greet' time with friends old and new, we went to a mutual friend's place for dinner.
 
Thanksgiving service with the theme of gratitude and then 2 hours later most of us gathered again for a memorial for a 98 year old who passed away in June. It was in a nearby town where he had lived for many years before moving into a senior's apt. 300 plus people. He was still sharp as a tack but required a walker. His children and grand children were there. Excellent service and our church provided the refreshments.
 
We had a visit from the Moderator yesterday. She spoke about thankfulness from an angle of entitlement vs. humility.
The service was appropriately topped off by VU307: Touch the Earth Lightly which touches on themes of taking advantage of the Earth (entitlement) as well as mentions of burning and regrowth which is timely for us in this part of the country recovering from fire damage nearby.
 
A sad service today. Our wonderful minister Rev. Dr. Danielle Ayana James has left Hillhurst. I will miss her intelligent sermons as well as her delivery. You never fell asleep when Danielle was preaching. Life goes on, but still a sad time. :(
 
Really enjoyed our church service today. It was a happy time, with an older couple celebrating 58 years of marriage, and the announcement of a younger couple's new engagement. Our guest speaker was a man who, with his wife's help, plants café-churches. He shares the Good News of Jesus Christ in such settings. One of the key things he talked about was the importance of crossing boundaries (differences in financial status, gender, ability, etc.) to do so. He encouraged us to be more bold in our witness for the Lord.
 
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