How was church today?

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Our service yesterday was led and planned (with a bit of input from me at their request) by our Mission & Service Committee, and they arranged for a guest speaker from the Scott Mission in downtown Toronto. He spoke to the children and preached. Interesting account of the history and evolution of the Scott Mission and a good related reflection on the parable of the Good Samaritan - a familiar story but an important one. Basically it was a reminder that need exists everywhere and that we should always be looking to meet those needs and not assuming that someone else somewhere else will do the work. I was asked only to do the offertory and the closing blessing.
 
In addition to our usual Remembrance Day trumpeter, we also had a bagpiping duo share music yesterday - Amazing Grace and Maple Leaf Forever. It was lovely to have the church filled with the sound of pipes.
 
I notice that there was an interesting divergence this year in when Remembrance Sunday has been marked. Traditionally, it's the last Sunday before Remembrance Day - which was November 5 this year - but some congregations chose yesterday, the Sunday closest to November 11. At one time I was padre to a local Legion branch, and I've known Legion officials that are sticklers about not wearing the poppy after November 11 (except at a memorial service for a veteran) so that November 5 would have been the only possible date. For those of you who marked Remembrance Sunday yesterday I'm wondering if the Legion was involved in any way and if you had any questions raised about the choice of date.
 
Neither the Legion nor any veterans that I know of were involved in choosing the date or planning the service. I am unaware of any members of our congregation who have participated in armed conflict.
 
I've known Legion officials that are sticklers about not wearing the poppy after November 11
Years ago my husband & some fellow teachers were members of the local Army Navy Club - good place for a cheap beer on Friday after school. One year they all arrived after school, I guess it was Nov 11, still wearing their poppies. One of the women present "ripped a huge strip" off them for wearing their poppies after 11:00 on Nov 11. Apparently the custom is to remove them after the service of remembrance. He's always remembered this harsh lesson!
 
Our service was also on Nov 12. Choir & readers wore poppies. One of our Vets spoke, and recognized names of others from our congregation (still recently known) who also served. Didn't seem to be any discomfort re the date. Don't know if it was discussed at all by those planning the service.
 
I didn't know about that poppy tradition...to remove it after the November 11th service. All of our United Churches in town had our Remembrance Day services yesterday. But my husband said it wasn't even mentioned at his church (Roman Catholic), so maybe they are honouring the Legion tradition.
 
As far as I know all the churches in this area held their Remembrance services on the 5th.
This past Sunday was my second Sunday of leading worship at a 2 point pastoral charge. The fact that it was two points resulted in a challange for me. The larger point was having a memorial hymn sing as a large part of their service. The smaller point would have it's regular service. So I had to prepare for a full service. The scripture readings were from Joshua "Choose now which way ..." and Matthew's parable of the ten bridesmaids 'be prepared'. I based my message on choosing to follow the Way and being prepared for coming of the kingdom (entering our hearts at any time). And I decided that, since the larger church probably paid the most of my stripend, they deserved to hear the message as well. I struggled all week to prepare this message, and then the two separate bulletins. For the larger church I shortened the children's time and cut out the prayer of confession and the usual hymns, letting the ten hymns chosen as memorials take their place. So the service looked something like this: Call to worship and short opening prayer, memorial hymn as opening hymn, short time with children, announcements, offering, hymn sing, scripture, message, prayer, memorial hymn as closing hymn.
How was church?
Afterwards one person particularly thanked me for including the message saying that she always feels cheated if she attends a service with no message. I feel the same way. Someone at the smaller church asked for a copy of the message. I must have reached her in some way.
I felt good about the services but look forward to worshipping in the pews of my home church next week.
 
Well - if I live long enough I will have eventually learned a lot more. I have never heard that item about removing poppies after Remembrance Day. You live and learn. Nowadays though there is a problem with recalling the information learned!

I didn't go to church and didn't hear about when the various denominations had (or didn't have) a special service.
 
Just wanted to add a note to Crazy. You in no way need to apologise for being scared of guns and unexperienced with them. Between us we can talk about them and explain our own viewpoint- and hey - guess what - we don't need to insult each other or apply rude words or names.
Word
This advice can apply 2 so many different things
From politics to lifestyles
Being able to share in the common human experience without needing to resort to rude words or names that serve to stop the conversation (which even words like Racist, Homophobe, Islamophobe, cuck, libtard, sexist, etc can do)
It can be very difficult to get out of one's own way to be able 2 listen...truly listen and share...
 
Word
This advice can apply 2 so many different things
From politics to lifestyles
Being able to share in the common human experience without needing to resort to rude words or names that serve to stop the conversation (which even words like Racist, Homophobe, Islamophobe, cuck, libtard, sexist, etc can do)
It can be very difficult to get out of one's own way to be able 2 listen...truly listen and share...

In the chaos ... virtue is a still small voice ... echoing thro' nothing ... the void of great desire!
 
Literature skills are important ... although some say there is noting about literature in the word ... debatable to say least!
 
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