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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Did the earth move for you?
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Autenrieth Road
Shipmate
# 10509
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Posted
To The Pain, I love what you say about the sermon. Our sermon yesterday said something similar to me, about allowing the body to lead the mind.
rexory, we ask so much of our priests. I'm glad you had that restful day.
Deep quiet joy yesterday in hearing our youngest acolyte chanting the Taize in his oh-so-quiet child's voice. In watching the second torchbearer confidently carry out unexpected impromptu duties with deep grace and connection and love.
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Truth
Posts: 9559 | From: starlight | Registered: Oct 2005
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Welease Woderwick
Sister Incubus Nightmare
# 10424
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Posted
Over a month ago now, when I was in Britain, I went to Meeting for Worship at the Quaker Meeting where I have my membership.
It was wonderful! A real Gathered Silence that spoke of the presence of God in our lives.
I came out spiritually rejuvenated and so glad that I went.
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I give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Fancy a break in South India?
Accessible Homestay Guesthouse in Central Kerala, contact me for details
What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?
Posts: 48139 | From: 1st on the right, straight on 'til morning | Registered: Sep 2005
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Clarence
Shipmate
# 9491
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Posted
Yesterday I was getting myself all worked up as usual about being LA1. It seems to freak me more and more each time I do this that I could completely wreak everyone else's worship if I stuff it up. But yesterday (during usual fevered prayers beforehand) the question came to me: 'what are you doing this for?'. My answer was 'for the congregation and for..oh' and I stopped short. The realisation came with 'well do it for me then'. There aren't too many times when I've had the bolt of lightning type conversation, but this was one of them. I don't say I was word perfect, but it was just different yesterday, and I wasn't freaked. To make it even better, we had the most marvellous guest preacher who spoke so intelligently about grace, God's love saving, working and keeping us.
[ 13. July 2008, 20:50: Message edited by: Clarence ]
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I scraped my knees while I was praying - Paramore
Posts: 793 | From: Over the rainbow | Registered: May 2005
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Uncle Pete
Loyaute me lie
# 10422
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Posted
Good for you Clarence! ![[Yipee]](graemlins/spin.gif) Wish I could say the same.
As for me, there's not too much else to say other than (silence). Not a place I'm used to being in. So excuse this rant.
Went to Mass this morning, expecting a transfer of the Feast of OL of Mount Carmel. Didn't happen. Instead we had electric guitar and a soloist (err, I mean Cantor). With amplifiers. For I while I thought she was going to sing the whole mass. All songs from the geetar masses of the late sixties and early seventies. None of which I knew. Nor from the silence behind me, did anyone else know. She sang the Kyrie solo! and would have launched into the Gloria, except Father stepped over to her, and we said it. Unaccompanied.
Mass of the People of God does not mean a rock concert, amplified beyond belief. I said a brief prayer at the finish, and left almost on the heels of the altar party. Everyone else was glued to their seats listening to the concert... I mean the closing hymn.
Thanks for listening. I hope that is not our new cantor.
[ 13. July 2008, 22:19: Message edited by: PeteC ]
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Even more so than I was before
Posts: 20466 | From: No longer where I was | Registered: Sep 2005
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Clarence
Shipmate
# 9491
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Posted
![[Votive]](graemlins/votive.gif) for next Sunday PeteC!
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I scraped my knees while I was praying - Paramore
Posts: 793 | From: Over the rainbow | Registered: May 2005
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cattyish
Wuss in Boots
# 7829
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Posted
Blessed, glorious worship yesterday in our wee kirk. All good, both the organ-based traditional and the band with their modern stuff (Yay the teenagers!)
God turned up in a very real feeling way for me right at the end, during the benediction. And He then gave me a good afternoon and evening with a Certain Person which was definitely beyond what I had asked or imagined ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Posts: 1794 | From: Scotland | Registered: Jul 2004
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Cottontail
Shipmate
# 12234
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Posted
A really beautiful, compassionate, and affirming sermon today. I'm still hurting from a sermon I heard in another church back in June, and this one healed a few of these wounds. Thank God for bringing some peace back to my worship.
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"I don't think you ought to read so much theology," said Lord Peter. "It has a brutalizing influence."
Posts: 2377 | From: Scotland | Registered: Jan 2007
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To The Pain
Shipmate
# 12235
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Posted
Amen Cottontail!
This weekend was lovely. My friend was preaching and I asked him beforehand if he was ready (sometimes he practices on us but hadn't this time) and he didn't think so because he only had one point. He preached a beautiful sermon on Psalm 8 and how the most important theological word to learn is 'wow!'. I needed reminding of that.
Was in some ways quite a hard service as a lot of us had been away at a youth festival and were very tired. That coupled with the fact that there were two deaths of people connected to the church in the past week was pretty tough. It was good to be able to stand with and pray for the bereaved we had with us.
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Now occasionally blogging.
Hire Bell Tents and camping equipment in Scotland
Posts: 1183 | From: The Granite City | Registered: Jan 2007
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Campbellite
Ut unum sint
# 1202
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Posted
I was asked to supply preach at a church in Martinsville, VA yesterday. I got to meet several old friends and meet some new ones. The text was Gen 32 (Jacob wrestling with the angel) One elderly (95 years old) gentleman afterwards told me that his brother had won the Olympic silver in wrestling. (1936, I think?)
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I upped mine. Up yours.
Suffering for Jesus since 1966.
WTFWED?
Posts: 12001 | From: between keyboard and chair | Registered: Aug 2001
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Zappa
Ship's Wake
# 8433
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Posted
Our 9.30 eucharist was a gentle breathing of God this week. Our Singer-Song Writer of Repute™ launched his first new congregational song (he's trialled it over the previous two weeks as a solo during communion, but today we sang it congregationally) in years, and it is, to use contemporary parlance, awesome. The UK Methodists are after it already!
The eucharistic sung setting (Chattaway) that we've introduced is now 'working' extraordinarily well, lifting spirits godward. The sermon? Hmmm ...: preacher not at his best after three late nights and early mornings (All Blacks game and loud rock concert included) but he wasn't driven out of town. Kuruman (piano) combined as ever with the aforementioned Singer-Song Writer of Repute™ and the organist, combining beautifully to lift spirits heavenward ... (the final Cwm Rhonda lifted the roof to the angels) and despite foul weather numbers continue to be up. Oh God is good.
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shameless self promotion - because I think it's worth it
and mayhap this too: http://broken-moments.blogspot.co.nz/
Posts: 18917 | From: "Central" is all they call it | Registered: Sep 2004
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To The Pain
Shipmate
# 12235
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Posted
God is indeed good, Zappa. Really good.
It's really edifying to hear of the earthmovings of other shipmates, whatever their locations.
I had a small private one the weekend before last as we moved into our new flat. I was gardening at the old house and as I was weeding around my herbs (and making the happy discovery that I hadn't killed the thyme after all) I had one of those God-moments. Lifting the leaves and moving the stems of my plants sent up the wonderful smells of thyme, lavender and rosemary and I had a sense of God saying that he wants to disturb us, just a little, ever so gently, to take away things that threaten our roots. And while being disturbed isn't comfortable it releases our fragrance.
A few years ago now, a friend and I once wondered about re-branding church 'a safe place for scary things to happen'.
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Now occasionally blogging.
Hire Bell Tents and camping equipment in Scotland
Posts: 1183 | From: The Granite City | Registered: Jan 2007
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Zappa
Ship's Wake
# 8433
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Posted
Look, I don't want to hog this thread all to myself, but there were some large slices of eschatological foretaste today, too. A few bugger-ups - but despite that there was good sense of Presence, and I'm told the sermon was okay, too.
But specialist of all was the cafe put on afterwards, as the young people served good tea and real coffee and fantabulous food
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shameless self promotion - because I think it's worth it
and mayhap this too: http://broken-moments.blogspot.co.nz/
Posts: 18917 | From: "Central" is all they call it | Registered: Sep 2004
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Littorina
Apprentice
# 12153
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Posted
Would have needed a mechanical excavator move the earth today – ok we learned all there is to know Bartholomew – well perhaps thats not saying much – and a little about service
True wee hardly ever burst at the seams – fifty would be a good day - but this morning was a definite low - Yes its summer time in the northern hemisphere and some are on holiday but it seemed more than that / one of those days when the mind starts to stray to luke 12 / do not be afraid little flock ... Yes it was good to catch up with those who had made it, and to talk to visitors but...
Fortunately not all bad – the previous week in my preoccupation with the cares of the church and the world i’d completely forgotten to mention in my prayers the one member of our flock who’s been unwell for weeks - Well she was in church this morning looking fitter than anyone !
Posts: 33 | From: City of London | Registered: Dec 2006
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Uncle Pete
Loyaute me lie
# 10422
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Posted
Electric guitars - with amplification and unsingable songs* - are to be the norm at the 9 am Mass from this time forth, but hopefully not for evermore
Christ, have mercy.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
*unsingable because no one knows the words or music except for the "cantor". Helllll-oooooo, do you see a problem here? I do.
So, in answer to the OP title: Yes, the earth moved... downwards. To Hell.
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Even more so than I was before
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Mamacita
Lakefront liberal
# 3659
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Posted
Today I served the chalice for the first time ever. It was much sweeter and more intimate than I had imagined. I am grateful.
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Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
Posts: 20761 | From: where the purple line ends | Registered: Dec 2002
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To The Pain
Shipmate
# 12235
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Posted
Mamacita, that's beautiful.
And Zappa - I'm back from my hols, we can share the thread ![[Biased]](wink.gif)
I'm not quite sure how to put the relative position of the world after this weekend. It was the first time my flatmate and I had been back to church after a week in Taizé and that threw up some interesting things.
It was a relief to be 'allowed' to stand and move in worship, but the lack of stillness was strange. I think the earth felt like it moved because I wasn't exactly where I had been before, I got that little jerk sideways that lets you really look at what you ordainarily consider 'normal'. I hope I can keep hold of both things and bring them together to make my christian experience richer.
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Now occasionally blogging.
Hire Bell Tents and camping equipment in Scotland
Posts: 1183 | From: The Granite City | Registered: Jan 2007
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Mamacita
Lakefront liberal
# 3659
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Posted
It always seemed to me that one would experience a sort of "re-entry shock" upon returning home from Taizé. I picture Taizé as being in a liminal space and time. Holding on to this while returning to the familiar ways of our worldly worship would be challenging. I wish you well, TTP.
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Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
Posts: 20761 | From: where the purple line ends | Registered: Dec 2002
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Uncle Pete
Loyaute me lie
# 10422
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by PeteC:
Electric guitars - with amplification and unsingable songs* - are to be the norm at the 9 am Mass from this time forth, but hopefully not for evermore
Christ, have mercy.
*unsingable because no one knows the words or music except for the "cantor". Helllll-oooooo, do you see a problem here? I do.
So, in answer to the OP title: Yes, the earth moved... downwards. To Hell.
Further to this, I had a nice talk with the church secretary this morning. The guitar will not be present at the 5:00 mass in anticipation, or (as I already knew) at the 11 am high mass. So one more week at 0900 to say goodbye to my friends in that crowd, and then I will move to the 11 am Mass*. Not ideal, but certainly a better option than moving to Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes where I would have known no-one and it has been a long time since I have worshipped in French on a regular basis.
*It will be nice to see my friends at the 11 am mass, too. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
[ 08. September 2008, 16:33: Message edited by: PeteC ]
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Even more so than I was before
Posts: 20466 | From: No longer where I was | Registered: Sep 2005
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cattyish
Wuss in Boots
# 7829
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Posted
I might just have found a small Bible study group. Possibly. And they're using materials I quite like.
Cat
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...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Posts: 1794 | From: Scotland | Registered: Jul 2004
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To The Pain
Shipmate
# 12235
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Posted
Yay for small groups!
We did Revelation 4&5 last night and it was ace! We managed to avoid getting too caught up in what creatures with eyes all over them would actually look like and how you fit 7 horns on a single slain lamb and had a really good discussion about worship in heaven and on earth.
Then we somehow started a session of spontaneous sung worship that was so beautiful. Nine of us worshipping together (and, I think, really together) in song and silence.
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Now occasionally blogging.
Hire Bell Tents and camping equipment in Scotland
Posts: 1183 | From: The Granite City | Registered: Jan 2007
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Curious
Shipmate
# 93
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Posted
Ooops - thought this might be about the CERN experiment! No movement here in London. ![[Snigger]](graemlins/snigger.gif)
Curious
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Erin - you are missed more than you could know. Rest in peace and rise in glory - to provide unrest in the heavenly realms.
Posts: 1372 | From: Betwixt and between | Registered: May 2001
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Welease Woderwick
Sister Incubus Nightmare
# 10424
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Posted
Tonight I went to the local Hindu temple, all of 150 metres from the house, and was made very welcome. I have only been in there once before. It has a lovely small community peaceful atmosphere and I felt very, erm, something there. The main shrine is to Lord Siva and there is a Ganapati [Ganesh] shrine away to one side.
I think I shall be worshipping there at times in the future.
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I give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Fancy a break in South India?
Accessible Homestay Guesthouse in Central Kerala, contact me for details
What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?
Posts: 48139 | From: 1st on the right, straight on 'til morning | Registered: Sep 2005
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Clarence
Shipmate
# 9491
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Posted
The opening hymn did it for me:
quote:
O the deep, deep love of Jesus! Spread His praise from shore to shore,
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore;
How He watches o'er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth watches over them from the throne.
The tune was Ebenezer, of course.
And I could hear FD, who was LA2, from the chancel singing the descant.
Wonderful.
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I scraped my knees while I was praying - Paramore
Posts: 793 | From: Over the rainbow | Registered: May 2005
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Foaming Draught
The Low in Low Church
# 9134
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Clarence:
And I could hear FD, who was LA2, from the chancel singing the descant.
Wonderful words, wonderful tune, as are all Welsh hymn tunes in a minor key. But FD is a tenor, not a sop or castrato, so he was singing (from memory) the tenor line. Sorry to contradict you, dear
FD
Posts: 8661 | From: Et in Australia Ego | Registered: Feb 2005
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Ags
Knocked up
# 204
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Posted
Did the earth move for me today?
Yes!
Husband & I worshipped at Southwark Cathedral this morning.
Canon Bruce Saunders preached on loving God wholeheartedly (Matt 22: 34-46.) One of the most challenging sermons I've heard for a long time. The choir were heavenly, the smoke was wonderful and the building was packed. Glorious!
After the service we wandered into Borough Market to celebrate 'Apple Day.' We tucked into ciabatta stuffed with freshly roasted pork, rocket & apple sauce, while watching a performance of 2 Canterbury Tales. It was pouring with rain but nobody seemed to mind much & people were chatting happily in the long queues.
Fab day!
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I think that we are most ourselves at our best, because that is what God intended us to be. The us we really like, the us that others love to be with. Moth
Posts: 2707 | From: London | Registered: May 2001
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To The Pain
Shipmate
# 12235
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Posted
Even after an extra hour in bed, I was still 5 minutes late for church yesterday. Ended up having to sit in the gallery because downstairs were full.
Being able to look down on everyone and see all that worship going on was beautiful. Gives a different perspective on things and a new understanding of praises rising to God.
Follwed by part one of a series on being passionate about the Holy Spirit. All adding up to a sense of... something... welling up. So yes, the earth moved. And it looks like it will keep on moving.
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Now occasionally blogging.
Hire Bell Tents and camping equipment in Scotland
Posts: 1183 | From: The Granite City | Registered: Jan 2007
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Huia
Shipmate
# 3473
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Posted
![[Hot and Hormonal]](icon_redface.gif) In a moment of silence before the Lord's Prayer this morning I realised that something I had been planning to do this week was actually an act of un-love towards a group of people who have been important to me, and not merely neutral as I had been thinking. Also I realised that it was part of a pattern of behaviour and felt quite wretched.
Later in the service came the lines; "For our lack of love for God and our neighbour we are sorry." Followed by a silence, then "We give thanks for the forgivness offered in Christ, in whose name we can say; The peace of God is with you."
After that I knew something had shifted and that I have some 'Putting right' to do - or as the old Anglican service says, "time for ammendment of life".
Huia ![[Angel]](graemlins/angel.gif) (until next time)
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Charity gives food from the table, Justice gives a place at the table.
Posts: 10382 | From: Te Wai Pounamu | Registered: Oct 2002
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Ethne Alba
Shipmate
# 5804
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Posted
Sunday is a trap waiting to happen in our home
& yesterday i fell into it.
And oh how very easy not to go anywhere at all after that.
Morning at our home-for-now, the earth only moved ( for me)outside of the room allocated for official earth moving. Where is God to be found? Indeed in strange and unusual places. I came home bemused + warmed & cheered.
We found ourselves on the other side of the city in the evening so God Bless places that have services with later start times. Space to move around and no one batting an eyelid at any responses made during worship. Came home settled and at peace.
This thread makes me think- thank you for starting it!
Posts: 3126 | Registered: Apr 2004
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JoannaP
Shipmate
# 4493
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Posted
The Earth moved for me yesterday morning. My first main Sunday morning service for some months, it was the team celebration of our Patronal Festival, so the church was packed with the congregations from 3 churches and the combined choir was excellent. It was good to be back.
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"Freedom for the pike is death for the minnow." R. H. Tawney (quoted by Isaiah Berlin)
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin
Posts: 1877 | From: England | Registered: May 2003
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To The Pain
Shipmate
# 12235
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Posted
After some intial technical difficulties, the earth did indeed move this weekend. It was somehow joyful.
And we got a potted-history-of the-holy-spirit and a reminder that there is nothing that disqualifies us from being continually filled with the Holy Spirit, since Christ has been glorified. I, as always, needed reminding.
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Now occasionally blogging.
Hire Bell Tents and camping equipment in Scotland
Posts: 1183 | From: The Granite City | Registered: Jan 2007
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Zappa
Ship's Wake
# 8433
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Posted
Lots of God today and last week. Last week so much so that I had to come home, have a beer and listen to Saint Dominic's Preview (let the reader understand) to complete the eschatological experience. This week I can't afford the beer ![[Waterworks]](graemlins/bawling.gif)
There are disturbing signs that God might be dropping in at our church. ![[Paranoid]](graemlins/paranoid.gif) Long may they continue (it makes my job more fun).
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shameless self promotion - because I think it's worth it
and mayhap this too: http://broken-moments.blogspot.co.nz/
Posts: 18917 | From: "Central" is all they call it | Registered: Sep 2004
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Chelley
Ship's Old Boot
# 11322
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Zappa:
There are disturbing signs that God might be dropping in at our church. Long may they continue (it makes my job more fun).
That sounds exciting and intriguing - what kind of signs (if you can say while avoiding specifics if necessary?)
I hope the people in the church where I minister have a sense of meeting with God at our place - I still often wonder why He got me in this job - these great people deserve someone good to lead them - and they got ordinary, average me! (And I don't say that as a putdown just as an observation!). Good job God can use anything - I just hope he is!
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"I love old things, they make me feel sad."
"What's good about sad?"
"It's happy for deep people!"
Sally Sparrow to Kathy - Doctor Who
Posts: 2870 | From: Wonderland, UK | Registered: Apr 2006
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To The Pain
Shipmate
# 12235
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Posted
I got reminded this weekend that my perceptions are not always cirrect and my prejudices always need to be re-examined.
At the end of a weekend away with some wonderful friends we went up to one of those friends' girlfriends' church's evening service. Arrived to find about 20 chairs in a semi-circle in the church hall. And about 10 people all older than my parents. And a Church of Scotland minister in a pin-striped suit and a dog-collar with a slightly incongruous-looking guitar. And thought 'hopefully it won't be excruciating and God will have something to say to me'.
The place filled up and a short but beautiful service was held on the woman at the well. All a one-man show from the minister who did a brilliant job and lead stirring singing and had clearly planned it as a seamless whole. All rounded up with a turn of 'You're the Word of God the Father' that left me on quite the little God-high. This proceeded to amuse my friends as I stood about being sleepy and singing. And there was tea and fancy pieces and a friendly welcome.
And I eventually got home and my flatmates (my sister and a friend I've lived with for 3 years) and I had an amazing conversation about the stuff I'm struggling with. My personal little world may be moving in a direction I never thought it would, but I'm beginning to understand that my friends will be there for me in that and even though none of them seem able to talk directly to me about it, they will not abandon me.
The earth moved. I was reminded that I shouldn't make appraisals of people or situations based on my preconceptions. I was reminded that God will be where God will be. I was reminded that I am not superhuman and that people will come through for me whether I believe it of them or not. I was humbled.
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Now occasionally blogging.
Hire Bell Tents and camping equipment in Scotland
Posts: 1183 | From: The Granite City | Registered: Jan 2007
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Zappa
Ship's Wake
# 8433
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Chelley:
quote:
Originally posted by Zappa:
There are disturbing signs that God might be dropping in at our church. Long may they continue (it makes my job more fun).
That sounds exciting and intriguing - what kind of signs (if you can say while avoiding specifics if necessary?)
It's interesting - there's the growing sense of something slightly 'electric' in the worship, a sense that those present are being reawakened to a God who excites and challenges them. The combinations of trad and contemporary are becoming an increasingly happy marriage: today for example music ranged from St Patrick's Breastplate (7th century words) to (relatively) contemporary Iona and Kendrick. Numbers are growing, which is nice, but two significant sub-groups in that growth give me even greater encouragement:
there are growing numbers of, as it were non-cerebral worshippers Mental Health clients are dropping in, finding a haven in the worship and support in the fellowship, and
there is a slow trickle of young families, from 0 when we came, to three or four or so now - as well as a few teenagers and young adults, again an improvement from 0
But above all the worshippers are smiling, looking as though singing and praying is becoming once more an enjoyable and hope-filled and maybe awe-filled experience.
There were that many visitors this morning I was afraid we were being MWed, especially as one was in purple stock. As it turned out he is a bishop from the Ecumenical Catholic or Catholic Ecumenical or some such church - delightful but .... hmmmm. ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
So ... yeah ... lots of hints of God, and for that I thank God.
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shameless self promotion - because I think it's worth it
and mayhap this too: http://broken-moments.blogspot.co.nz/
Posts: 18917 | From: "Central" is all they call it | Registered: Sep 2004
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Dennis the Menace
Shipmate
# 11833
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Posted
Our numbers were down a little today. Possibly because Rev Xristos was away doing church thingys at a state level.
We had glimpses of God through some of the music, but unfortunately not my usual standard, the keyboard seemd to have a mind of its own regarding the registration!! One of the hymns was requested to be played and sung 'ppp' by the preacher. Well, it was 'p', try to get 100 people to sing softly is not easy. Several said thay had goose bumps so that is a positive. The sermon was on the parable of the talents and the preacher gave an interesting insight to them.
Coffee after was great too.
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"Till we cast our crowns before Him; Lost in wonder, love, and praise."
Posts: 853 | From: Newcastle NSW Australia | Registered: Sep 2006
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Huia
Shipmate
# 3473
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Posted
We must use the same lectionary - it was our reading too and the Minister talked about a "talent" as a whopping amount of money- but I drifted off as I tend to when money is discussed, and missed the point of the sermon So I brought a copy home to see if that made any more sense. I will harrass him by email if it doesn't, poor man is very patient at explaining things to the terminally thickwitted.
Huia
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Charity gives food from the table, Justice gives a place at the table.
Posts: 10382 | From: Te Wai Pounamu | Registered: Oct 2002
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rebekah
Shipmate
# 2748
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Posted
Not much movement here today, I'm afraid, though we celebrated St Margaret of Scotland, who is our Patron (or should that be Matron?) Saint. Trouble is, her resistance to Celtic language and spirituality and pressure to make Scotland more Roman sit uneasily with me (Wonder if she would have been beatified if she'd become Celtic in her practice rather than Roman?) I guess her commitment to the poor balances it out.
Also, we sang one of my favourite newish hymns today (Let us Talents and Tongues Employ) but our faithful organist can't manage an appropriate speed for it, and it came out as a lament rather than a celebration. I just don't know what to do about music when loving and faithful musicians can only play slowly, or say that they can't play anything new. Music should add to worship, it doesn't often do so here.
Later in the morning, I presided at the Old People's Centre - only four today of the usual 10 or so, one slept all the way through, another mutteringly complained "get on with it" all the time, and I had to wipe her nose because the long drool of snot threatened to collapse on her clothes or the service sheet, one is just confused, and one seemed with it, though silent through all the responses. I read the Parable of the talents without any sense that any of them was really taking it in.
I play a CD of hymns that I think they will know, and found myself moved by listening to "Be Still My Soul" So maybe the earth moved despite (or because)of the sleep, confusion and snot.
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grow in grace
Posts: 117 | From: rural Western Australia | Registered: May 2002
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daisydaisy
Shipmate
# 12167
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Gay Organ Grinder:
The sermon was on the parable of the talents...
as it was where I went, and the angle to the teaching from that passage was very much that God not only gives us talents but he also equips us to be able to use them. Which made the earth wobble a little for me because over the last couple of days I've been feeling very daunted by how I serve him in the community where I live - I probably need to exercise more than a little "let go and let God", I think.
Posts: 3184 | From: southern uk | Registered: Dec 2006
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Mamacita
Lakefront liberal
# 3659
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Posted
We had a glorious Advent I service today, and I thought perhaps some of you might have had likewise. Ours (Episcopal) was one of our thrice-yearly, rotating services with the two ELCA parishes in town, and we were joined for the first time by the local Community Church, which is in the American Baptist tradition. The music was particularly moving this morning. When you take four smallish parishes and combine their small choirs, then throw in whatever parishioners are skilled on a musical instrument, you can make a truly joyful noise unto the Lord! The earth-moving moment occurred in the last verse of "Lo, He Comes" (Helmsley), when the violins kicked in, along with a soaring soprano descant. You know when you have those moments in worship that seem like a foretaste of Heaven? This was one of them. During the offertory, the Community Church choir did a song I had not heard before, "Give Me Jesus," which was more like a spiritual; the choir director, a mezzo, did the solo and was magnificent. It was a interesting moment -- here we have for the first time a non-liturgical church joining with three liturgical churches, and perhaps one could say, "Oh, that wasn't an Advent hymn!" but it was very moving and not at all inappropriate in my view. Finally, a bassoonist led the hymn during Communion, "Creator of the Stars of Night." Bassoon is a perfect match with that tune. Lovely.
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Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
Posts: 20761 | From: where the purple line ends | Registered: Dec 2002
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To The Pain
Shipmate
# 12235
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Posted
There is a sense that things are starting to be stirred up with us too. I am having a pretty heavy time personally and work-wise but I was able to focus back on God in a really good way - now to keep that up at home, day in and day out.
Someone responded to something I said last week by commenting that I'm prophetic, so that seems to be something to work on. I just hope that the stuff going on with me isn't part of an outworking of that calling - that would set me up to fight a heck of a lot of battles, many of which aren't really mine.
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Now occasionally blogging.
Hire Bell Tents and camping equipment in Scotland
Posts: 1183 | From: The Granite City | Registered: Jan 2007
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To The Pain
Shipmate
# 12235
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Posted
Me again!
Went to college chapter service this lunchtime with the ministry candidates in the university chapel. Not my usual tradition but a lovely small gathering of friends who made me welcome. I was particularly struck by the prayers led by one of the girls I am beginning to get to know as we gathered around the altar for communion.
She had us pray in silence for the person on our left. Then for the person on our right. And then, in the part that brought tears to my eyes, rest for a moment in the knowledge that we had each just been prayed for by two friends. What I need right now is rest. I'd like there to be more rest in church.
And we got to sing 'Tell out my soul' to finish which was lovely.
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Now occasionally blogging.
Hire Bell Tents and camping equipment in Scotland
Posts: 1183 | From: The Granite City | Registered: Jan 2007
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Rosa Gallica officinalis
Shipmate
# 3886
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Posted
I arrived home from Holy Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays on Friday night to be greeted by the news that Frances, a dearly beloved member of our church had lost her all too brief battle with cancer, so we knew it was going to be a very subdued service. We arrived at church to find an ambulance outside the neighbouring house of Betty, another great stalwart of our congregation.
And so we gathered quietly to hear of a voice calling into our wilderness. We told our story of how He took bread and wine blessed them and gave them to us. We ate that bread, and drank that cup. We proclaimed His death while awaiting His coming in glory.
And afterwards at coffee, as the news that Betty too had died filtered around us, we knew, in the meagre comfort that we could offer one another, that indeed the Lord is here.
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Come for tea, come for tea, my people.
Posts: 874 | From: The Hemlock Hideout | Registered: Jan 2003
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Flausa
Mad Woman
# 3466
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Posted
We've been attending our current church for a couple of months now, and we've been enjoying the change. Apparently the wee wan is enjoying it as well. He appeared as a shepherd in the Nativity Play this morning and had brought a wooly sheep with him. As we drove up the road to the church, we heard his voice in the backseat, saying, "look, sheep, that's my church!" And while on stage as a shepherd, he stood in front of the manger, proclaiming (ad libbed), "it's the baby Jesus! it's the baby Jesus!" So the earth moved for me, not because of the sermon, but because the church and Christmas are having a positive impact on the wee man (which is a blessed change from having to drag him to church at the old place).
Posts: 4610 | From: bonny Scotland | Registered: Oct 2002
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Mamacita
Lakefront liberal
# 3659
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Posted
quote:
"look, sheep, that's my church!"
![[Tear]](graemlins/tear.gif) That makes this mother's heart leap.
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Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
Posts: 20761 | From: where the purple line ends | Registered: Dec 2002
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Jack the Lass
Ship's airhead
# 3415
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Posted
Flausa, that made me melt! How gorgeous.
The faint stirrings of a moving earth for me, after I don't know how long without. Yesterday we had a 3-in-1 Carol, Christingle and Baptism service (which still managed to take less time than the usual service). Firstly seeing those Christingles brought back very vivid memories of one of my earliest church experiences, going to a Christingle service with my nan (I must have been about 5 or 6) and walking back to nan's house so carefully trying to protect the candle flame from going out. I don't have any memories of the service or the significance of the Christingle or anything like that, but I do remember that right from that very young age I Just Knew that there was something in Christianity that Felt Right, although my parents weren't (and aren't) church-goers so my church visits were pretty minimal - apart from music concerts I think I could probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of actual services I'd attended until the age of 18. That reminder yesterday that God had been calling me right from the start, right from when I was a little kid, was just what I needed.
And then the readings. Once they got to Luke 2 (where the angels appear to the shepherds), I remembered 10 years ago hearing that read on the early morning Christmas Day God-slot on Radio London (might still have been GLR at that point) and the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end when I heard "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." I don't think the Christmas story had ever felt so real before. The same thing happened yesterday, it was like a little glimpse of the enormity of the event, which after months and months of pretty arid faith-life was like water in the desert.
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"My body is a temple - it's big and doesn't move." (Jo Brand)
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Posts: 5767 | From: the land of the deep-fried Mars Bar | Registered: Oct 2002
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