Thread: Did the earth move for you? Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
No, not a Shakey Isles or California earthquake report, but ...

Sunday by Sunday I come back from the old Big Gig, and want to post something somewhere about the presence, absence or otherwise of God at the morning's liturgy; not an MW, just a 'lousy hymns' or a 'wow because' or whatever. I sometimes do it on the OZ/NZ thread, but that's a bit exclusive. I think it's an All Saints' sort of thing ... if not I'm sure it'll be booted elsewhere. and I guess if others don't feel the need to debrief it'll die a natural death.

I happen to lead the liturgy, but this isn't about that. It's about whether the earth moved for you this day, and why or why not. I certainly don't want an ecclesiantical analysis. Even maybe it was lousy because the preacher had a squint or it was beautiful because we sang a new song.

And yes, although I felt tired and flat today, the earth did move for me this day. That was partly because of of a sermon that took me to the thin places where heaven touches earth (thanks, kuru!), and partly because an extended baptismal family (whanau, we say here) came. They came, tough and tattooed, with three children (tamariki) for baptism. They brought joy and openness and enthusiasm and so enlivened a liturgy that might otherwise have dwindled into ho hum territory. So the earth moved.

You? Did the earth move for you? Feel free to debrief, week by week. Or not.
 

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Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
A long abiding calm joy today at the consecration of our new bishop coadjutor. Gathered with our bishop, and our presiding bishop, and bishops of neighbouring and nearby states, and oodles of clergy (so wonderful to see our pastors, of whom we demand so much, gathered so joyfully together for celebration), and ecumenical visitors, and the people of the diocese, and warm conversations with my pewmates, and the deeply sober and joyful responses of the candidate, and the solemn examination of the candidate and the laying on of hands, including the declarations made, and feeling that at the core, in the midst of all the pageantry is an abiding continuity of bringing forth leaders and shepherds in the church...

the earth floated today.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
So it was alright, then?
 

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Posted by Dee. (# 5681) on :
 
Nope,

The last few weeks have not had liturgy in our wee service and I feel the lack of it, today we launched straight into the discussion (we have one of those rather than a sermon) and I missed the contemplation of the liturgy at the start of the service.

Our liturgist left at the end of last year and I miss her, she had a lovely way of putting liturgies together that gave direction, structure, depth, and reflection to our service.

Sniff..
 

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Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
Today was a relief as it was the first time in weeks that I haven't been LA/reader/prayer leader (which I find stressful!). It reminded me that there is joy in believing (which I'd forgotten over the last few Sundays).

The choir did a great job on the descants, which made singing Hyfrydol a treat, and our organist was in fine form, but today was one of those where the quiet reflection was the best part of the service. I am SO glad I went.
 

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Posted by Nicodemia (# 4756) on :
 
For reasons of disability and olsd age I go to said Communion every Wednesday, along with my fellow geriarics!

And yes, usually the earth shifts a little, or much. Usually when I hear the priest say the Eucharistic prayer, or when I listen to the murmurs of "This is my body", "This is my blood", as the bread and wine is taken round to each person. The words seem to echo through the ages, and God feels close to me at that time. No fuzzy feelings, just a warm glow, often of varying intensity!

(though I do miss a good "sing" )
 

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Posted by Gay Organ Grinder (# 11833) on :
 
Yes it did today. The first Sunday for at least two months where I have not been at the organ, piano or data projector.
We had a lay preacher as Il Pappa was elsewhere. Her sermon was very challenging and indeed enlightening on Ascension Day. Made all the more special by the not so public news that our elder has breast cancer, a woman in her mid 40's, and so precious to all in our group, she has a long road to recvery ahead of her.

On a brighter note the last hymn was Hyfrydol, too, sang with much gusto and feeling
 

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Posted by Sir Pellinore (ret'd) (# 12163) on :
 
Pray, the noun 'geriaric', is that a geriatric who is unable to spell?
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
As other Hosts have pointed out, in other times and places, snickering at mere typos or careless spelling has its place.

But not here in All Saints.

Don't carry on with this.

Don't do it.

PeteC

eta: This is a general warning. Let those who have ears, hear.

[ 04. May 2008, 09:30: Message edited by: PeteC ]
 

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Posted by Ags (# 204) on :
 
I was going to post no.

The service felt rushed and somehow crammed full with stuff (it was a Eucharist with Baptism.)

The Baptismal party plus entourage were probably not used to church and many were bored, resulting in talking, fidgeting, & chewing throughout the service.
A couple of men were bobbing up and down with video cameras.

I usually really enjoy leading the intercessions, but felt rushed and uncomfortable because of the noise and movement in front of me.

As I said, I was going to post no.

But as well as leading intercessions I was Lay Chalice Bearer. And somehow, in the midst of all the hubbub, God spoke to me through that. A still, small voice of calm.

And so, yes, the earth moved.

Gently.
 

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Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :
 
Sort of today, but mainly absolutely twice in the past couple of weeks.
1 The prayer meeting on a Tuesday morning, where I went in desperate for an inkling of the oh-so-distant presence of the Lord and came out with my Father's voice resting my heart and
2 In a Northern town on Sunday last week where my friend and I were made so welcome.

Thanks be to God for the Church.

Cat
 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
No, but I did hear a still, small voice.

------------------------------------------

I think the earth moved for the organist, though. At the end of the service, he played 'Transports de joie' by Messiaen, at full volume. He's a complete and utter lunatic.
 

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Posted by Desert Daughter (# 13635) on :
 
Unfortunately not. It might be me, but this morning in my habitual small-town church in France. Before I start ranting, I have to say that the homilies there are consistently good.

Now: I was irritated by

(a) late-middle-aged-ladies gossiping across aisles in very audible whisper... they just **want** to be seen socialising. OK, I meet some friends there, too, but we wait for after the service to have a chat.

(b) their husbands sniffing, coughing, and one of them later snoring.

(c) the shaking of hands as you're supposed to give peace to your neighbour: They either clasp your paw with both hands and give you a rapturous look, or they barely shake it, not looking you in the eyes. Several people who took it very seriously walked up and down the aisles, so there was lots of commotion... I hate this moment... all I want is to **pray**, not mock-socialise.

(d) the "hymns". France is not known for uplifting hymns, but today's selection was particularly sad. Printed on a motley collection of loose leaves, sappy texts and impossible melodies.

Give me a High Mass in a Bavarian Cathedral any time...

[ 04. May 2008, 14:51: Message edited by: Desert Daughter ]
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
Yes, gently. It was well-led service, with an intelligent sermon, well thought-out intercessions and a fine selection of hymns. In the silence after receiving communion I was aware of God's presence.
In other words, a normal Sunday morning
 

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Posted by JB (# 1776) on :
 
Actually, yesterday at Guardian Angel Cathedral on the Las Vegas strip - moving mass and spectacular singing. And the singing was a single cantor with a space-filling operatic voice that made ordinary music memorable.
 

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Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :
 
Hmm. Attendance was abysmal this morning, due to sickness, Bank Holiday, etc., etc. - but we sang the hymns and the Mass setting, listened to the Gospel read and proclaimed, and we received the Most Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. God was worshipped, sinners pardoned and strengthened, and I bet the hosts of heaven were there as well. Sometimes, these things are obvious to us - other times, we have to remind ourselves!

Ian J.
 

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Posted by Joyeux (# 3851) on :
 
Yes. I could provide a point-by-point, indicating what "worked" and what didn't, what I liked vs what was distracting. Despite all of that, I knew, absolutely & for certain, that God was present with us in service this morning.

The extra blessing was that this assurance came before the Eucharist, even before the sermon (which served as confirmation, btw)... but during offertory: piano-only arrangement of "It Is Well".
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
Funny you should ask that, today of all days.

I'd have to say YES. Despite the noise (from adults!) 50 (not 100 as I said previously) children were confirmed and received their first Holy Communion. Shy kids, confident kids, kids worried about little faux pas, kids who just let it roll of their backs, they're all now full members of Christ's Church. And for that I rejoice. They were ably supported by some of their schoolmates in a choir, and read the Epistles and led the Intercessions in a professional manner.

It was fun, and despite some parents not reading the bulletin notice about no cameras during the service, prayerful.

A lot of these children I see twice weekly in my school volunteer capacity. So I beamed a lot on their behalf too.

But how many of these kids will be in church next week? Just a handful. But when you're 7-8 years old you go where your parents want to go - or not go.



I hold all of them in my heart and prayers though and I thank their teachers who have worked hard this year to bring them along to this point.
 

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Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 
A very interesting and timely question for today.

We are missing half of the worship leaders that normally sing, play, read and pray. Many different events (weird ones) caused most of those leaders to be late for rehearsals. Our music director has had a long, hard month at her "real" job, and she is exhausted. Warm ups were lackluster and tired sounding.

Yet...

In spite of our inadequacies, in spite of our very human, very imperfect attempts at leading worship, God moved the earth! That to me is a miracle!

[ 05. May 2008, 00:19: Message edited by: jedijudy ]
 

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Posted by comet (# 10353) on :
 
C3's first Meeting for Worship.

I was afraid he wouldn't be able to stay quiet that long. He brought toys, and we had a little talk first.

He is already aware of why we remain silent; I just thought it would be impossible.

It wasn't. he was marvelous. played quietly, and even joined us spontaneously a few times.

After Meeting, he asked if God told me anything; then said, "God told me free fings! first, be respectful - that was when I almost called out to you.

"Second, to be patient, you'd be able to talk to me soon.

""Fird, to have com...compeez... compassion for people."

dang.

I think little Friends have very open ears.
 

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Posted by James the Confident (# 9678) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by comet:
C3's first Meeting for Worship.

I was afraid he wouldn't be able to stay quiet that long. He brought toys, and we had a little talk first.

He is already aware of why we remain silent; I just thought it would be impossible.

It wasn't. he was marvelous. played quietly, and even joined us spontaneously a few times.

After Meeting, he asked if God told me anything; then said, "God told me free fings! first, be respectful - that was when I almost called out to you.

"Second, to be patient, you'd be able to talk to me soon.

""Fird, to have com...compeez... compassion for people."

dang.

I think little Friends have very open ears.

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We had a lovely service of Praise, Prayer and Proclamation. There was a visiting group of young people from Fusion who are about to 1) go to Germany to run a youth camp for three months and 2) go to China for two weeks to run festivals for the Chinese Christians during the Olympics. For me though, the best bit was the small homilies that went along with the Bible readings, beautifully thought out and presented.
 

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Posted by Badger Lady (# 13453) on :
 
Earth stalled at the service at my church this morning. Hymns archaic and had little relevance to the service. Sermon rambling. To cap it all, my private post-communion prayer had to compete with the two ladies infront of me discussing their drains.

BL
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
I was distracted by a few technological and style points this week. But it was a family service and had a good, clear, salvation message.

So the earth didn't move for me but I know that was me - it's been moving plenty in the last few weeks.
 

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Posted by Penny Lane (# 3086) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Autenrieth Road:
A long abiding calm joy today at the consecration of our new bishop coadjutor. Gathered with our bishop, and our presiding bishop, and bishops of neighbouring and nearby states, and oodles of clergy (so wonderful to see our pastors, of whom we demand so much, gathered so joyfully together for celebration), and ecumenical visitors, and the people of the diocese, and warm conversations with my pewmates, and the deeply sober and joyful responses of the candidate, and the solemn examination of the candidate and the laying on of hands, including the declarations made, and feeling that at the core, in the midst of all the pageantry is an abiding continuity of bringing forth leaders and shepherds in the church...

the earth floated today.

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Good to know. The bishop for whom I work was there, but with his travel schedule I won't see him in the office until next week, so may forget to ask his thoughts. This thread will help me to remember to ask.
 

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Posted by Penny Lane (# 3086) on :
 
We open our building to various community groups to use, one of which is the [City] Gay Men's Chorus. They presented a concert in the nave not long ago, but were asked to present the Offertory anthem and one other piece during worship yesterday. The Offertory was Prayer of the Children, which brought tears to my eyes. Yes, the earth moved, and rent a thin place.

[ 06. May 2008, 02:26: Message edited by: Penny Lane ]
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
It was a non-communion service for me this week - and I sometimes find those the hardest of all because so much healing and wholeness happens in our lives at the eucharist. But God smiled, because my eldest daughter came to church with me, which was a huge thing for her to do. It was the church where she grew up, and there are some bad associations there for her. She enjoyed the music, the sermon resonated for her, an outreach opportunity was presented which sparked her interest, people were kind and welcoming during the passing of the peace....and then afterwards a man with many problems and few social skills tried to put his phone number into her hand.

She took it in her stride; but I don't know if she will ever darken the door of this church again. Sigh.
 

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Posted by Belle Ringer (# 13379) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Zappa:
You? Did the earth move for you? Feel free to debrief, week by week. Or not.

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Inside church? Never. Maybe two or three times in my life, not that I can think of any specific instances right now, more like "surely there's been a time or two?" There was a lovely sung evensong a couple of years ago, that's one time. So it can happen.

Outside church, oh yes! Numerous times alone at home, weekly at least, often daily. Also at (some, not all) conferences.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Probably not so much so for me this week - those as small kids danced ecstatic through the church with streamed, accompanied by the sounds of rushing wind, faces a-beam, there was glimpse of eternity.

John Bell's "Enemy of Apathy" always works for me - today it was sung by Richard Gillard of "The Servant Song" fame, and worked powerfully well.

But there were one or two departures from good liturgical theology, which, though I permitted them in the first place, maybe just distracted (but no doubt no-one else!) a little.

And the sermon was a dull (but short) ramble, or so it seemed to me! I was the preacher
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
(methinks you're being a little tough on yourself, Zappa.)
 

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Posted by Nunc Dimittis (# 848) on :
 
Today I was too grumpy to get into the spirit of Pentecost. *grump grump grump* The fact that Liturgical (Lay) Assistants here do the deacon's role at mass, and I can only be deacon when I am rostered on as a LA pissed me off even more than usual...
 

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Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by comet:
<snip>
""Fird, to have com...compeez... compassion for people."

dang.

I think little Friends have very open ears.

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At the risk of repetition, from me too.
Off to my nephew's dedication today.
 

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Posted by Jenn. (# 5239) on :
 
Pentecost! Yay! Church touched me this morning, which was very suprising. I haven't felt anything in church (other than tired and bored) for a long time, and had given up expecting to. But today, the Holy Spirit... can't find the words, but He was there.
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
I went to our cathedral downtown today as it's the last day for viewing the gorgeous Keiskamma altarpiece. I had planned to do that before realizing it was Pentecost, so being there on a major feast day was a bonus. Baptism, red streamers in the processional, great music, but the kicker was during the cathedral dean's sermon. She's a great preacher, and towards the end, as she repeated "Come Holy Spirit" several times, I became aware of a sound. The choir was humming, then softly chanting, the beautiful Taize chant Veni Sancte Spiritus. It was, for a moment there, like the rushing of wind from the first Pentecost, and it was absolutely transporting.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Stunning, mamacita!
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Yes, earth and heaven moved together this week.

God showed up and we were treated to a sense of more... passion... glory... something.

Good good things.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Went to the church in the town where I was young ... rarely went there as a kid but have dropped in from time to time in the decades since. This time, for the first time, the liturgy was tolerable, even resembling something faintly anglican. Yes I could do without "let's all turn and face each other to say the grace", and I loathe "let's just all say the collect together[/i] and I'm not sure that I can ever accommodate this peculiar habit in some anglican circles of dropping from standing to kneeling after the Sanctus and Benedictus, and I find the directive to "please sit or kneel to pray" pretty bloody abhorrent - but apart from that it was a whole lot better than when I last went there a few years back!

In other words there were some god-breathed moments.

[ 19. May 2008, 04:30: Message edited by: Zappa ]
 

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Posted by James the Confident (# 9678) on :
 
Today's sermon* was on Matthew 6:22-34. It was preached with sensitivity and obvious deep thought. For the first time I think I have really caught the meaning of the "do not worry" sentences. The only "down" side to the service was Shine Jesus, Shine!

* I know, I know. Darned evangelicals, placing the word above the sacrament but...
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Church this Sunday was ACE!

Guy leading the band was off his stride and there were a few interesting stumbles and moments where the rest of the band weren't totally sure how to follow, I felt a bit rubbish so wasn't listening to the sermon but it was good.

You see, we have a guy in our congregation who has an aortic aneurysm and is awaiting surgery down in London (more details in his blog - link in my sig). One of our leaders felt that we should pray for healing for the sick and particularly this one guy, Dan. He got him to share a bit about what's going on and Dan spoke about the agony of waiting and getting dates and having them cancelled or remain unconfirmed and the despair of talking or thinking about it all. Then we moved a bunch of chairs out of the middle of the room, got Dan and his wife (and their younger child) in the middle and as a congregation laid hands on them and prayed for them. We really were community and family and we expressed that and cried out to God for them.

That was good. It was also good to have a bit of space in the middle of the room. I like space when I'm singing.
 

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Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
Sick Dissenters has a quiet and beautiful little chapel and this morning FD was on duty there, doing a good job tying all the readings together (arks, rainbows, mountains crashing into the sea and house foundations collapsing don't normally sit especially well together, but he managed it). We had a few patients' relatives in the service (including a bunch of Salvos in the front row who nodded enthusiastically throughout the message)and it just felt good to be there.
 

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Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by To The Pain:
Church this Sunday was ACE!
<snip>

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Of course it would have been even better with fire poi

No, seriously, good to know God's meeting with you lot where you are even as He is tapping me on the shoulder where I am. Love you all.

Cat
 

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Posted by geroff (# 3882) on :
 
It was "One more step along the .... slippery slope down the candle".
While the vicar's away.... the readers shall forget their robes, make it up as they go along and descend into repetitive songs - although that didn't work as I saw a distinct glare across the church from the pianist!
What I want to know is when we will bring out the tat and incense when the readers are away?
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
I was at my parents' church down south this weekend and yet again the earth moved. It was a youth service (lead by the youth group) so there was newspaper, dressing up and much other weirdness but there was also family and community and communion.

And the sermon was on Ephesians 6 and the armour and appealed to my slightly combative side. And this clip was shown which spoke to me and filled my heart with such... longing... hope... joy.

It sounds like the earth moved at my home church too - the chairs had been re-arranged and I'll have to go listen to the sermon, 'cos it sounds, from what I've had relayed to me, like a real wake-up call.

Then I totally had an earth-moving moment or two on the way to uni yesterday morning. As I wondered along in the rain pondering the weekend an image came to mind of Jesus (I don't think the precise image translates well outside my strange little brain) performing an action of complete triumph and defiance and derision of his enemy. So I spent a happy minute or so brimming with joy and laughing out loud in the rain as I trooped into the office.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Me again!

This weekend I was pretty churched out. We had a church weekend 'at home' this weekend and it just felt like we'd done church three times within about 28 hours. Mostly it was good, just tiring. We annointed new church leaders and all the teaching was good stirring stuff from Joshua.

But our household had a total blast on Sunday night. We were watching the Florida Healing Outpouring, as is our wont, and the worship leader, Roy, was getting (as my sister would say) seriously wasted on God. He got so bad that he 'forgot how to play piano' and ended up spinning around on a stool and dancing around the stage and we had such a case of God-hysterics going on in our living room as a result.
 

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Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :
 
Saturday: YFriday, Leeland, David Crowder band, Chris Tomlin, Rebecca St James and Delirious? all leading worship (and it was worship, not just a show). They were obviously not in control of the thing because the crowd were singing / chanting in their own style and outdoing the bands!

Sunday: Morning service at Wester Hailes Baptist Church, Edinburgh good solid teaching and genuine praise sung to God. And God's presence was there in that real way that is so difficult to explain.

Got home at 9ish to join Mr C in watching Good Omens
[edit for speeling]

[ 09. June 2008, 15:22: Message edited by: cattyish ]
 

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Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
Saturday:

Memorial service at my 25th college reunion -- ridiculously impressed by the faith and spirituality of the members of my class who designed the service. Deeply grateful for the lives of my dead classmates, departed too soon. (I say "ridiculously" because why should I be surprised? But somehow faith and comfort and grieving at that level was never part of my college conversations, even in overtly religious contexts. This says more about me than about my classmates. Although I suspect I would find many of us have been on a spiritual walk similar to mine.)

What contributed? The music, the readings, the candle lighting, the full church, the graciousness of the surroundings, the chaplain's remarks.
 

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Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
Sunday:

Communion with the monks, in their extraordinary chapel -- stone, narrow, tall, arched, incense. Ah, incense.

Brilliantly shining stained glass, every one a complex mystery for hours of meditation.

I'd been going to sleep in -- more time to pack, more time to catch up with classmates -- but woke up early even without an alarm, and... couldn't not go. Was drawn. Not despite myself: I realized the draw and wanted to go. Like Mole on the shining river rather than like a captured fish on a line.

When I got there there were texts in the hymns that spoke of that drawing. It would give too strong a picture to say I was struck down. Stunned, though, yes I was. My mind struggles with faith. But there I was, drawn, and couldn't not be there.
 

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Posted by Callanish (# 13735) on :
 
The honest answer this weekend was yes - God was indeed up to some pretty earth-moving stuff, in my little world at the very least. We had a whole weekend of general God-stuff, which I think was very much needed and I am very grateful for. I may even have found myself laughing in Church for no apparent reason.
Also had a very nice moment, possibly not quite earth-moving but spiritual, when standing on top of a big hill in the wind and the sunshine on Sunday. Thank You Lord

Callanish
 

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Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
"Presence, absence, or otherwise of God at the morning's liturgy."

The earth doesn't always move, not in that oh-my-gosh I'm at the edge of everything. Today, quiet continued practice -- I was home, I was connected, glimmers floated through.

The first service I was in a terrible grouchy mood, (altar guild all a mess, bits overlooked here and there, trying to do last minute things on no breakfast and not enough sleep and missed my morning prayers), yet by the end things were OK and especially as I moved into altar guild-ing cleanup afterwards things became calm. I had managed the essential task (in my view, maybe in no-one else's) of getting the extra-thin wafers for the LEM kits onto the altar for consecration, and despite far more mess with the consecrated wine afterwards than there should be (which underlines for me just why it is we normally prepare kits in advance) I coped with it instead of being frustrated.

Gospel study between services the rector was there, which he seldom is and I welcome the chance to hear from him (not that I always agree with him, but I am learning to listen to him better and find wisdom in what he says); plus what seemed like a disjointed gospel when we started, came to reveal its depth and meaning as we went along.

Second service passed without being boring; I was a bit disconnected but contented enough, and it was great joy to thank the acolytes (with ice-cream cone coupons), past and present, at mid-service.

Afterwards some bright acolyte had the idea to go en masse on an ice cream run, and I got asked by the kids if I'd come to be the designated adult for the group, and it was great fun -- not running around fun, but just fun to see this group of kids getting on with each other, and talk with them, and eat ice cream together, and did I mention to see them getting on with each other and being friends?

Is this post terribly bloggy? Just a bit bloggy? It's not supposed to be. It's supposed to be trying to illustrate how God creeps in through long practice, quiet but not rigid attention, unexpected moments that may not have been meaningful the week before or the week after but are meaningful this week.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Me again

Did the Earth move? Heck yeah!

This week, toward the end of the singing I found myself flat on my face. Just seemed to be where I needed to be. I can be so proud and God's so big.

And the sermon was about faith and getting out of the boat and 'if everything we're doing/being makes sense to the casual observer then that's not living by faith'. There are a couple of things that I've been mulling over lately and the sermon spoke directly to them. One in a very strong way, the other more gently.

There was more singing later and when they closed the service I didn't want it to stop. Tried to start a couple of conversations but realised I just wanted to stay in that place of chilling out with God, so I did until two people had come and asked me if I was OK or wanted prayer!

God is so good.
 

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Posted by rexory (# 4708) on :
 
Last Sunday of my holidays. Went to Eucharist in the parish of a great friend. His welcoming smile and hug was one of those God-presenting moments. And more so was his quiet inquiry as to whether Mrs R & I were wishing to be incognito. That he even thought to ask was wonderful. And to be "just an ordinary Christian" for the morning was superb. To listen to a sermon, to sing and to receive the Sacrament as just me, rather than being "outed" as a priest (as happened a couple of weeks ago in another parish ) was for me a bit of heaven!
 

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Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
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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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
AR, that's beautiful.

Brings tears to my eyes to hear such lovely things are going on.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Sounds absolutely heavenly, an eschatological foretaste.
 

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Posted by Wiff Waff (# 10424) on :
 
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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Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
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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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
Good for you Clarence! 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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Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
for next Sunday PeteC!
 

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Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :
 
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
 

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Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
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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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
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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Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :
 
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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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
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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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
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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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Lots of god-glimpses in the liturgy today. Our resident singer song-writer was away today but we sang his newest song, and that was god-breathed, with the congregation feeling au fait with it now. The hymns were all uplifting, piano and organ sung together wondrously, the sung (Chattaway) setting pulsed Godbreath too. God was there. Can't comment on the sermon!
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
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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Posted by Littorina (# 12153) on :
 
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 !
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Littorina:
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 !

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Ah ... the power of unprayer
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
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.
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
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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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Mamacita, that's beautiful.

And Zappa - I'm back from my hols, we can share the thread

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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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
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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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 

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.

[ 08. September 2008, 16:33: Message edited by: PeteC ]
 

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Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :
 
I might just have found a small Bible study group. Possibly. And they're using materials I quite like.
Cat
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
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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Posted by Curious (# 93) on :
 
Ooops - thought this might be about the CERN experiment! No movement here in London.

Curious
 

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Posted by Wiff Waff (# 10424) on :
 
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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Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
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.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Clarence:
And I could hear FD, who was LA2, from the chancel singing the descant.

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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
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Megaloads of God today - helped in no small part by a delightful bunch of Habitat for Humanity volunteers from the US Midwest to swell numbers and enthusiasm. Hymns were good, other music was good ... it's all subjective I know, but many others commented, too. A hallelujah Sunday.
 

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Posted by Ags (# 204) on :
 
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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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
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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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
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 (until next time)
 

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Posted by Ethne Alba (# 5804) on :
 
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!
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
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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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
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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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
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

There are disturbing signs that God might be dropping in at our church. Long may they continue (it makes my job more fun).
 

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Posted by Chelley (# 11322) on :
 

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).

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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).

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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.

So ... yeah ... lots of hints of God, and for that I thank God.
 

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Posted by Gay Organ Grinder (# 11833) on :
 
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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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
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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Posted by rebekah (# 2748) on :
 
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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Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 

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.
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
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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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
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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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
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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Posted by Apothecary (# 3886) on :
 
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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Posted by Flausa (# 3466) on :
 
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).
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 

quote:

---

"look, sheep, that's my church!"

---

That makes this mother's heart leap.
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
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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Posted by Emma Louise (# 3571) on :
 
We visited a nearby(ish) church last night for their carol service. It had some normal carols but the whole service was quite different with children bringing food up to the altar, and decorating it at various points in the service. Communion took place as part of a "family meal" (ie people invited to a glass of wine, bread and whatever other nibbles they wanted afterwards). The theme was about finding God in busy life and there were regular reflections with some video bits.

It was very well put together and such a welcoming service. The "choir" pieces were a folky iona-style one and something more traditional but all together it felt something put together by the church community with all the "normal" formal bits of recogniseable carols and readings with some really thoughtful moments.

We're hoping to go back Christmas eve for "jazz beer and carols" before the midnight service. (I think a take on "beer n hymns from greenbelt")
 

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Posted by Penny Lane (# 3086) on :
 
I hadn't really planned on going to church this morning - I went Christmas Eve, Communion was brought to my convalescing husband (and hence, me) Christmas Day (by my wonderful boss), I went to a wedding last night that included Communion - so I really didn't feel the need. Upon returning from said wedding, however, my husband told me a fellow parishioner had called and needed me to fill in for him as chalicist. The service was Christmas Lessons & Carols with Eucharist. I got to sing/hear all my favorite carols, but what brought tears was the choir singing the First Noel while violin and harp played Pachelbel's Canon (M. Clawson arrangement). I'm so glad I went.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Oooh baby, did it what. Even the 'that time of the month' 1662 moved when our magnificent organist leapt into 'Dear Lord and Father'. And the more contemporary eucharist was by the book (hallelujah) and therefore sans electronic gadgetry, and it rocked. 'There's a Wideness in God's Mercy' was an eschatological foretaste.

Well attended, too.

Ah God is good. Sometimes !
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I rode to church feeling a bit negative about God, the Universe and Everything and rode home with a spark of hope.

I'm not quite sure which bit of the Service did it, but the Minister has a God given gift with words and they broke through my negativity

Huia
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
I too set out this morning with a load of negativity weighing me down. I went to Christ Church St Laurence to meet some Shipmates.

It's been some years since I was there, I have been attending its slightly lower sister in the city, St James, King Street.

It was very full despite the holiday period and very hot. However I'd forgotten its amazing acoustics. As the kyrie soared forth, something snapped and the weight was gone. Yes the earth did move for me today.

As was remarked later, the sermon was fairly ordinary. Yes it was, but I heard several things in it which I needed to have reinforced, so God can use the ordinary as well as the spectacular.

All followed by a good pub lunch and good conversation at the pub down the road.

[check]

[ 04. January 2009, 17:10: Message edited by: PeteC ]
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
Well the earth always moves a little bit for me, but this day was special. The Mass was offered for the repose of the soul of my brother David, but I was very pleased to discover a little baby was at church with his parents to be baptised just at the end of the Mass.

I was reminded of the cycle of life. This is important for me as I grow older, because it sometimes seems that death is predominant.

Prayers for little AJ as he enters the Christian life.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Had two earth-movey church services yesterday.

Was away for the weeekend so went to the parish church in the morning. Was far more traditional than I'm generally used to but I got an impression of a minister who genuinely loved God and his congregation and the 'sermon' was just choc-full of scripture and reminders of all the things God has given us as our True Love (based on the Twelve Days of Christmas).

Then in the evening a friend and I went to my sister's church (ours doesn't often have an evening service) and got some belting songs and some testimonies of 2008 that hadn't fitted into their watchnight service. Does a body good to hear of the goodness of God. Was particularly poignant as I'm facing a couple of quite big things right now.
 

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Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
I don't know why exactly, but yet again, Sick Dissenters was one of those little slice of heaven Sundays. It may be because there are so few of us (FD leading, me and, in yesterday's case, one patient visitor) and the chapel is small. It may be because it is a quiet, said service. It might even be that FD's short 'thoughts for the morning' are good (and no, I'm not a biased wife - I'm rough on him sometimes). It might be that this Sunday was my favourite Psalm 139. It may even be because it is a hospital and there is life and death ever present.

But the earth moved.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Had a fun weekend away with a friend and visited the church she grew up in.

They had a guest preaching because of the week of prayer for Christian Unity and it was a good service. It was good to see a place where a good friend grew up and be introduced to some of the characters there. Good to see another side of my friend. Good to let out another side of me.

I also find myself looking forward to having a normal weekend next weekend - last time I was in my own church I was down in the creche while the baptisms were going on upstairs so I missed out a bit. I love baptisms.
 

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Posted by Penny Lane (# 3086) on :
 
The scripture appointed and the hymns chosen each had a message direct for me. I heard in a way I haven't for some time. It led to a somewhat sleepless night wrestling with God and myself.
 

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Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
Today was probably the last Sunday I'll be at St Five Irons 'officially' (assuming we can sort out the roster). It was the AGM, so the two morning services were rolled into one. Our Rector apologised, half jokingly, that it was a service that probably no-one would like, because it was a mixture of the formal and the informal services.

I was LA, and even though I muffed it at one point, it was one of those services where it nonetheless 'worked'. Wonderful to wrap up on a high, feeling that the time was right to go.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Was away visiting again.

A minister just returned from illness and readying for retirement gave a lovely address about being prepared to be astounded by God. The Earth swayed gently.
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
Another gentle swaying here yesterday. I went to the afternoon service, the first time I have been to a church service this year. It was a lovely service and, rather to my surprise, I was able to concentrate fully on the worship. After the service I was warmly greeted by the vicar and had a chat with another friend.

Over the last couple of years I have drawn comfort from the knowledge that the church will be there when I feel ready to return and it was good to have that confirmed.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Serious rocking, ici. It's been an exhausting week, so it was mind-blowing to be caught up in a liturgical journey from Taizé solemnity and invocation of the Spirit, through sermon (though I preached it I knda felt it, felt almost "used" by it) and "our"* sung-through eucharistic setting, to the magnificence of Wesley's "And Can it Be?", voices and organ roaring alike (and men doing the blokey bits). Thanks be to God, it simply rocked.

Ye gods that was a pauline sentence

And now I am apocalyptically buggered.

[*ETA: "the chattaway setting", actually written by an non-Shippie Adelaide priest: kuruman and I have taken it wherever we have been]

[ 28. February 2009, 21:36: Message edited by: Zappa ]
 

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Posted by Sir Pellinore (ret'd) (# 12163) on :
 
First Sunday in Lent.

Wonderful sermon given by a Melanesian priest on the Saints and Martyrs of Melanesia. Tres moving. Real stuff. No intellectualised tripe.

Also was L/A to Solomon Island Franciscan Brother who officiated at the Eucharist. Serving with him always rocks my socks off. He has a sense of the numinous: Holy Awe. What a wonderful time to be reminded of it!
 

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Posted by James the Confident (# 9678) on :
 
I had my first service at the hospital today. I had to preach and as of last night had had no inspiration or even Good Thoughts™. I went to bed early and got up early and it just flowed. I do find it hard to write a five minute sermon--and write it I must as it has to be reviewed.

The bit where the service was really moving was the communion. we had about sixteen people there, ten of whom were patients and the rest either staff or volunteers. When we were serving the communion we moved among the people and prayed for each of them as we offered them the sacrament. Just beautiful. I really like hospital chaplaincy!
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
It kinda rocked today ... palms, donkeys, combinations of traditional and vaguely contemporary, the Reading of the Passion in (good) voices, a large congregations (140ish) ... yup. I would have preferred the sung responses, but the spoken ones were spoken with gusto. Hymns ranged from Iona and Robin Mann to Isaac Watts, with our resident singer-songwriter contributing one of his best.

God was there.

I needed it (fighting a mini-migraine at the time, and suffering from something akin to exhaustion after the past few weeks).

God was there. Add H- (or "A-") word according to taste, but silently, for it is Holy Week
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
Palm Sunday in the near tropics! Yes it moved for me, and moved me too. The procession of the Palms was the solemn entrance. Out on the edge on the Church property and the public road. The crowd was moved a little bit too when a bus came roaring around the corner. We just scrunched up a little closer, as one does in India. The blessing of the palms and the first Gospel, then a procession in for the Liturgy, everyone, especially kids, waving their frond enthusiastically. A smallish crowd, about 400.

Because the singing and chanting is beyond me, I read the service in English, meditated, and watched for visual cues.

I love Holy Week in India!
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Oh yes!

We went to the Catholic church across the road for the blessing of the palms then came back for the rest of the service. Amongst the hymns was one I didn't know by Alan Gaunt 'The Love That Clothes Itself in Light' which was particularly moving.

On Good Friday the Catholics will join us for the service.

Huia
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Taking a staff position at my parish has changed Sundays for me. It's w*rk, but being with the kids has so many blessings! Today we did a children's stations of the cross. We set up stations in several classrooms with things like a crown fashioned out of branches; vinegar and sponges; a makeshift Gethsemane. And the beautiful thing was how much they *got* it, even the really little ones. I had a great talk with the 9-10-year-olds. Their questions get down to the essentials. "How could Judas do that? Even for all the money in the world?" Indeed. And the hymn at Communion (as my sig. will reveal) was the frosting on the cake.
 

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Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday.

I don't know how other congregations manage it, but for us it's always an adventure.

We did our mini-procession to the other door of the church this morning. The congregation dutifully stopped about 3 yards back from the door, leaving a big gap. I (herder of choristers) motioned them forward. Two of them bounded into the church instead of waiting for the crucifer (and the celebrant, who had a collect to read). We gathered them back and we had a suitably joyous entry into the church.

Just another day in the choir. Jane chanted the Passion Gospel brilliantly. That's all that anyone will remember.
 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
There was a huge feel-good factor at church on Palm Sunday morning. I loved the way the children -dressed up as biblical characters - were allowed to lead the donkey themselves, without adult help. People poured into church behind them - it felt as full as at Christmas. The children's play went off really well and the choir - we were told later - began to sing in just the right place (we were the Greek - or is that Palestinian - chorus). And the hymn singing was really rousing - I'm sure all the good singers of Creamtealand just decided to turn up in our congregation this week. It's great when you turn up on Sunday for the normal service, and leave feeling so encouraged.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Despite an equipment failure (not, alas, of the Janet Jackson variety ) things rocked again this morning. I am simply over the moon at the directions our faith community is taking at the moment, and the growth that is on-going. It's not an ego thing (though I'll spruik about it one day when I have to write a CV! ) but a real pride in what my musoes and liturgical contributors, in fact the whole faith community are doing to turn around a church that one resembled Titanic on Mogodon.

Praise be to God - these are heart-warming times.
 

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Posted by Foaming Draught (# 9134) on :
 
Having some familiarity with Zappa's community, I'm very happy , not surprised, and sad because I'm not there all at once.

A most strange earth-moving moment this morning when I took communion to a barrier nursing patient in isolation. She was intubated, and I was togged up in gown, mask and gloves. "Deddo Dissis Patiend, I'm Doamind, I'm a daplain." "Ah hello daplain, I daw you on de deledision. Can we ding the dong which you had in the chapel?" (Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side to Finlandia).

I take the morning's chapel Order of Service round to ward communions on Sunday, so that folk feel that they're sharing in the same worship as ambulatory patients and visitors, so we had the words in front of us. And to the astonishment of a consultant cardiologist and several nurses on the other side of the glass, we sang a duet. What they thought was perspiration caused by the mask, getting into my eyes, was really a Niagara of tears as we mumbled a capella

quote:

---

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Foaming Draught:
Having some familiarity with Zappa's community, I'm very happy , not surprised, and sad because I'm not there all at once.

A most strange earth-moving moment this morning when I took communion to a barrier nursing patient in isolation. She was intubated, and I was togged up in gown, mask and gloves. "Deddo Dissis Patiend, I'm Doamind, I'm a daplain." "Ah hello daplain, I daw you on de deledision. Can we ding the dong which you had in the chapel?" (Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side to Finlandia).

I take the morning's chapel Order of Service round to ward communions on Sunday, so that folk feel that they're sharing in the same worship as ambulatory patients and visitors, so we had the words in front of us. And to the astonishment of a consultant cardiologist and several nurses on the other side of the glass, we sang a duet. What they thought was perspiration caused by the mask, getting into my eyes, was really a Niagara of tears as we mumbled a capella

quote:

---

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

---

FD

---

FD, that is beautiful.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Man ... it rocked. It was the fifth Sunday tikanga rua bi-lingual, or more technically bi-cultural liturgy. The hymns, ranging from nineteenth century Māori to contemporary (ish) Bullock and Bell, were sung with gusto by a large and musical congregation. My concelebrant, who delivered the te reo Māori elements of the liturgy, did so with wondrous mana, and, while I can't speak of the sermon (though I enjoyed delivering it), it seemed to me as speaker that the gathered people were absorbing and mulling it over thoughtfully. I would never ask more.

'twas a God is Good™ gathering befitting the celebration of te Wairua Tapu (the Holy Spirit).
 

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Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :
 
Similar for me today as well, Zapps. But Pentecost is like that, isn't it?

I love Pentecost. It is actually my favorite Holy Day. Christmas is so commercialized, Easter is almost as bad with the wretched bunnies and eggs and overloaded "Easter baskets" (Who the hell thought kids needed more "stuff" to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord? )

But Pentecost! The world at large hasn't noticed it. Did you see any Pentecost Sales in the Sunday paper today? You did not. It is the one Christian holy day that is still ours.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Wow - I'm moving. I've nissed the Maori Eucharist lately.

Having said that, the service at the Presby church where I was made a connction between the numinous and everyday life that lifted me out of the cold glooms.

Huia
 

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Posted by Gay Organ Grinder (# 11833) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Campbellite:
But Pentecost! The world at large hasn't noticed it. Did you see any Pentecost Sales in the Sunday paper today? You did not. It is the one Christian holy day that is still ours.

---

We did some shopping after church and as we were dressed in red the check girl made comment to the 'nice clothes' we were wearing.(HWMBO said our clothes made a change from the trakky daks and ugg boots others wore)!! Our reply was we have just been to church and as it was Pentecost almost everyone had worn red. She didn't seem to understand the significance of Pentecost. I feel there is an opportunity to share the God's love next week.

We did however, draw a knowing grin from another shopper wearing a red scarf.
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
I love the "knowing glances," Gay Organ Grinder. I love, love, love Pentecost (liturgical details provided here) , but the best part was when I had all the children back at the font: there was a family of newcomers who bravely brought their daughter back to the font with the other children. And one of our little girls who had an extra red streamer went over and offered share one of hers with the new girl so she had something to wave too.
 

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Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I went to a wonderful Mass with an excellent homile by the rector. The outgoing associate who had just been ordained two years ago was the co-celebrant. He is moving to a new parish and the outpouring of love for him at the reception following was truly moving. I must visit his new parish at the end of the summer.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I was 600 kms from home for the weekend, in a heaven-breathed spot called Havelock North, there for a friend's 50th. After drinking the night away I dragged myself off to the early eucharist at the local church, a place I last attended for my then girlfriend's father's funeral 30 years ago.

The early service was simple by-the-book eucharist with hymns. Despite some what I would loftily consider liturgical aberrations (collect read by the congregation , gospel read from the lectern by a mere lay-person ) it was a sensitive liturgy with fine presidency, and an outstanding sermon playing with the incomprehensibility, metaphoricality, irrelevance and essentiality of the doctrine of the Trinity.

Unsurprisingly we sang "Holy Holy Holy".

A warm welcome, serendipitous discovery of links to the current whereabouts of the one-time fiancee/girlfriend, but no post-liturgy coffee Fortunately I had a massive latte of A+++ quality at a near-by cafe (and steak and blue-vein pie), while waiting for the liturgy to begin. I could see why the cafe had won NZ's top pie award ... phwawwww!

I would have like to have stayed for the later more contemporary-styled liturgy (though I feared a few cringeworthies), but had to head off for the 600 km drive home.
 

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Posted by Gay Organ Grinder (# 11833) on :
 
Didn't do it for me this week, unfortunately. We had a lay person whose sermon was very hard to make head or tail. Then a retired bloke took Communion and he waffled on about nothing in particular. HWMBO wanted yell out 'get on with it'!!!

We did, however, sing Holy Holy Holy...with gusto.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
The earth definitely moved this weekend. I was tired from staying up to watch the sunrise and walking to and from the beach and I was on creche so I felt like I wasn't going to get to church but I had fun with the kiddies and we all came upstairs in time for three out of the five baptisms. I love baptisms.

I was so aware of God's presence, and even better a friend's brother and another friend who had been at the beach with us came along. We shall see what comes of that.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Heh!
 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
Seeing my son get married.
Pretty darned special. I'll tell you when I descend from the clouds, but it won't be any time yet.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger (not related to Chorister's previous).

Just about everything that could go wrong did today. On the first day since we came 30 months ago that we cracked the 100 mark at the main service, everything went belly friggin' up.

Must be God's humour, kicking me in the gluteous maximus before I get too cocky. Bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Oh Zappa, I feel for you.

The earth were I was shifted gently. Aided by a really nice audio mix. And someone who spent some time with us a few years ago came along - brought a few people to mind who I should be more active in praying for and keeping up with.
 

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Posted by Chelley (# 11322) on :
 
What happened Zappa?
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
Did you spill the wine all over the visitors and drop the wafers on the floor? Tell all. Uncle Pete is listening

Actually, many s for you. Church has been doing that to me recently too.

[ 19. August 2009, 12:21: Message edited by: PeteC ]
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Sorry, I never got back here last week ... I was bitterly disappointed, because I have the 'when it sux I suck' relationship with worship. Basically last week was all about someone who had altered the microphone settings (we have a kind of 'set and leave' mixer), and then a prize jerk who decided that he knew all about levels who buggered them up even more so that my mike was so high you could hear my beard hair growing ....

Even the friggin' incense went out in disgust ...

But ah, this week the angels sang. In particular my singer-songwriter had reworked a verse to the 1980s classic "Hallelujah, My Father", a sort of syncopated harmonic a cappella delivery during the ablutions. I think I saw God weeping with delight.

Oh there is a God. (Sometimes )
 

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Posted by Wiff Waff (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
...Oh there is a God...

---

...and he has a sense of humour, even with worship!
 

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Posted by Gussie (# 12271) on :
 
Recently I've been going to Mass out of a sense of duty rather than anything else (all my local churches have drawbacks of one sort or another), but Mass in large church in Bruges with a small congregation on Saturday night reminded me why I go.
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
Our new deacon brought communion to my husband and me this afternoon. It was a truly beautiful little service and I felt the earth moving gently under the sofa.

God bless Deacon Jennifer and her ministry.
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
I dreaded this Sunday, as it was the 6th and it was the very day 28 years ago my life took a downspin.

Someone must have realised: The hymns were Gather us in, Be not afraid*,Blessed are they, and the Gospel was the bit about Jesus making the lame to walk and the deaf to hear.

I almost went out, but I stuck it out and managed not to cry.


*I first heard this on the 27th of September 1981. I had just been moved from intensive care to a ward, and a church group from my parish came to sing it to me.

God was saying something to me, I think.

V. Open thou mine ears
R. And my tongue shall sing forth your praise.


 

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Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :
 
((PeteC))

I once new a man who had suffered a spinal injury during WWII - at his funeral he chose to have the ongrgation sing Lord of the Dance. There was something wonderful about that.
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
I have planned that to be one of mine, also. People will hate me because I will make them sing all the verses
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
One of our newest members of the faith community, a new convert to Christianity (confirmed last week, with eight others, in a stunning ceremony), is a tetraplegic. I haven't yet quizzed him how he feels emotionally when he reads/hears the healing of spinal injury miracles. He has rapidly become a good mate of mine, so soon, after a single malt session, I may quiz him.

He wheels to and sits at the position mid church from where I read the gospel, so I am often only a metre away from him when I read.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Good on you Pete! We had the whole lot at Mum's funeral. She had promised to come back and haunt us if the funeral wasn't to her liking.

Huia
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
I had an earth-moving Saturday this week.

I got a bunch of errands out of the way in the morning, phoned my Mum after lunch and had a lovely chat then went out on my bicycle along a local disused railway line.

Just flying along with the wind in my hair and the sun on my face, without a care in the world, passing families, groups and individuals out walking, cycling, horseriding and brambling I got a little taste of joy.

Then I rode home through town and as I passed one of the gardens heard strains of 'Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen' drifting up over the parapet so I went down and sat and enjoyed half an hour or so of the gospel service that was going on. I was glad no-one came to talk to me - I was filled up with all the wonderfulness and would probably just have blubbered about how lovely everything was.

And I topped all that off with a sausage supper from the chipper and a lovely evening with my flatmate.

God is good.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I wanted to mention my return to my beloved High Mass at
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
bummer ... well that all went off to the ether

... St Peter's Eastern Hill, to which I sneak whenever I am in Melbourne. My experience was far more plesant that the linked-to reviewer's, however. The music (even though I only knew one hymn) was sublime, especially the postlude Widor Toccata, to which one lapsed Shippie (and parish warden no less) was bopping shamelesly in the organ loft!

The sermon was a magificent interweaving of faith and literature, exactly my cup of tea, delivered with a warmth and feeling and a laconic California twang. All good, as was the aftermatch in the hall, at which my brother and I were warmly welcomed.

[ 14. October 2009, 11:49: Message edited by: Zappa ]
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Rather an earth-moving Sunday this week.

Powerful worship that reminded me that this is where I belong and a sermon on Acts 16 that stirred up some good thinking (which will no doubt keep me going for a while) on what God laid on our hearts and following the vision.

And a small reminder that I'm not dangerous.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I'm not sure whether the earth moved for me or not at Laguna Hills, C.A. on Sunday. Creative family liturgy - it was I think a "family eucharist", but whether every Sunday follows that pattern I can't tell. It was all very warm, very polished ... yet in the end too polished?

And did anyone speak to me? Ooh,no! Which somehow left a sour note. The music, though, was delightful - unsurprising, I guess, since the parish priest is a maestro and has clearly made musical emphasis a hallmark of his faith and school communities.

A week earlier I was at a pentecostalish church in New Hampshire. The msuic was ghastly - no that's not fair. The music was very performed, and it was fascinating to notice that only about 10% of the congregation actually sang. We didn't need to: th band was tweaked up so loud that no-one else need make any sound at all - and the sound engineer really needed to go back to mixing school: the "hi hat" (percussionally speaking) drowned out the vocalist and all others. On the other hand, while I was ready to (to my shame) be alienated by the sermon, it was instead an extremely good 45 minute applied exegesis. Sure, culturally I don't relate to being yelled at, and I come from a tradition in which the sermon is 30% rather than than 85% of the worship experience, but given those differences it was very good content. Twenty minutes too long for my taste, but in a culture where the "message" is the key focus of gathering, yup, it was good. And there people did greet me and show interest in me as a human being.
So hats off (ha ha - especially hi hats!) to Bethany at Breakfast Hill, Greenland, N.H.

And week one of my US sojourn? Probably not a fair test of a faith community, (Wausau), as I went to the 7.30 a.m. chapel service, not the main worship, and as the regional missions director was speaking as visiting preacher. I was impressed that a service could be over in 40 minutes, though! A sort of sermon with intercessions and (ponderously slow) hymns format, inoffensive but uninspiring - but the people were extremely welcoming and friendly.

So: the pentecostals and the methodists strangely warmed the heart of this curmudgeonly anglican, while the episcopalians somehow chilled me. Go figure.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Despite the trauma later of being told off for taking photos without permission I was intensely moved last week when we visited the Hindu temple at Thirukadaiyur in Tamil Nadu, the other side of the country from here.

This temple specialises in celebrations of long-standing marriages with the couple re-dedicating themselves to one another often in the presence of family and friends. On our morning visit there were several such ceremonies going on at once in different parts of the temple and amidst the noise of the musicians and the smoke of the fires and the incense and the camphor there was much laughter and a palpable joy in it all as well. After the re-marriage the parents then individually gave blessings to their children and grandchildren and, I suspect in one case, great-grandchildren. It was intensely moving.

I doubt we'll ever go back but I am so glad we went once.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Major earth movements here this weekend.

We had baptisms. I love baptisms. Hearing the stories of four people who have decided to make a public declaration of their faith was so moving. God has really turned some lives around - of the four people baptised yesterday, three had done time in prison and are now experiencing God's freedom.

The whole place was filled with joy and a sense of how amazing a thing this was. The church leader, among others, was briefly in tears.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
More movement again this weekend.

We've gone to two services to avoid bursting out of the building so I went to both. It was surprisingly edifying to hear the same sermon twice. We had time to listen to God as a congregation in the morning too - good stuff.
 

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Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :
 
Had a moving moment yesterday. I was invited to preach at a church I had served back in the mid-eighties. Got to see lots of old friends. But there were far more people I did not know, which was wonderful, as that means the church is not only thriving but growing. There were oodles of kids (which were rather scarce there 25 years ago) and young families.

The worship service went well. Lots of involvement by the members (special music - very talented, too!). After worship we had a huge supper provided by one member who is a professional caterer. One of the congregation's mission efforts is to provide leftovers (of which there was a great deal) to a local homeless shelter.

I offer prayers of thanksgiving for Park Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Charlottesville. "The Happy Church on the Hill".

[tiny typo fixed]

[ 23. November 2009, 12:58: Message edited by: Campbellite ]
 

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Posted by Eleanorjane (# 15308) on :
 
Oh how the earth stood still this last Sunday! It maybe even receeded a bit!

I normally attend a fairly traditional 8 am but due to being Vicar's Warden I felt I had to attend the combined Thanksgiving service. (A once a year, let's say thanks for the year type event).

Ooh... Firstly it's in a school hall. Secondly, there were tacky bits and pieces like fake flowers, tinsel etc. scattered randomly about. Thirdly, it was largely about the new Church building which just doesn't excite me... Fourthly, there were icky personal issues with folk floating around.. and...no liturgy and...

It left me feeling slightly grubby and like I really don't belong at the Church. I'm stepping down from my position as Vicar's warden due to this mismatch of values and the fact that I might well be travelling next year.

I hope this post isn't too 'Hellish'.

On the plus side, my husband and I went to Evensong at the Cathedral that night and had a lovely peaceful experience.

EJ
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
I confess that I felt unmoved during Sunday's mass too... it is so hard to be in a parish where both priests seem to just go through the motions and the Deacon does most of the sermons.

More and more people are transferring their memberships to another parish. I would too, if I could bring myself to move and get to know people all over again.

I am going to grit my teeth, however, and stay . God is still there, and it should be all about Him, not anyone else or lousy politics.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Last Saturday night we were invited to a neighbour's house for a sort of Hindu pooja of dedication before a group headed off on pilgrimage to Sabarimala, it was intensely moving with the chanting and the preparation of bundles for the pilgrims to take to the shrine. This group have since returned tired but moved by their experience.

We have been invited to another such celebration in a couple of weeks for a group that will be walking from a drop off point 2 days away from the shrine.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Wow!!!

Did it ever! An Advent service full of hope, a new Shirley Murray* hymn and 'Panis Angelicus' played on the organ and trumpet I was totally overwhelmed, and still am really. I have never experiences being surrounded by music in that way before.

*Shirley Murray is a contemporary NZ hymnwriter.

Huia
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
The earth did not move - it was far too stable for that.
I have known throughout my illness that All Saints would still be there when I felt ready to go back, and it was. Not unchanged, some familiar faces were missing and there were several new ones, also the choir has grown - and they were in fine voice. The worship felt the same as before with an interesting and thought-provoking sermon. All in all a good return. Now to keep it up.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
It rocked. Even if the organist screwed up "There’s a light upon the mountain". There were lots of little hiccups along the way, but it was one of those liturgies that pulsed Godness from go to whoa. Thanks be to God.

[ 20. December 2009, 03:09: Message edited by: Zappa ]
 

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Posted by Gay Organ Grinder (# 11833) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
It rocked. Even if the organist screwed up "There’s a light upon the mountain". There were lots of little hiccups along the way, but it was one of those liturgies that pulsed Godness from go to whoa. Thanks be to God.

---

Zappa, must be something with that hymn. Our organist stuffed it up today too. She decided it should be in a lower key ( "waaay too high for the 'oldies'" etc) and only told the pianist so as she was playing the intro. Pianist couldn't transpose at sight so went off in a huff, with both complaining to me after the service about the other!!! They are both very talented musos but with very different intrepretations of tempo and rhythm.
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
I recently switched parishes, as at my former parish, changes and politics and my increasing irritation were getting in the way of my worship of God. I went off to the next parish in the eastend (some twenty minutes further than my former parish), attended a weekday mass and signed up. Today will be my first Sunday. I am sure it will be fine. Because God is back in view.



[ 20. December 2009, 09:27: Message edited by: PeteC ]
 

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Posted by Penny Lane (# 3086) on :
 
Today the choir sang one of my favorite anthems - it always brings both tears and chillbumps - Robert Leaf's "Rise up, you heirs of glory". I want it sung at my funeral.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
I'm finding all the carol singing curiously earth-moving at the moment.

For some reason, the atrium/cafeteria of the fairly modern (can't be ten years old yet) lab and office building next door to us has fabulous acoustics for singing so they have carols on the last day of term each year. The lines in In The Bleak Midwinter about 'heaven cannot hold Him, nor Earth sustain' had me welling up on Friday.

I skipped half of the family service on Sunday (overslept then had last minute Christmas presents to prepare) but the very end of their 'Light of the World' service and a few carols was lovely. Following that with great fellowship and celebrating a marriage that was solemnised on another continent made for a wonderful Sunday.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Bloody hell. First Sunday of the month, BCP (1662 with hints of 1928). Miserable sinners. Even my sermon was a convoluted blogwash. Grrr. No, the earth stayed still and flat. (maybe 9.30 will be better)
 

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Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :
 
Zappa, I sympathize. We all have days like that now and then.

Oddly, I have been surprised by worshipers coming up to me afterward, telling me that something I had said in the sermon had spoken directly to what was going on in their life, and was helpful to them. Funny how God can make silk purses of blessings out of our homiletical sow's ears.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Ta! The 9.30 was better, too - in fact it rocked, Better hymns, better musicians, better liturgy ... 'twas good.
 

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Posted by Gay Organ Grinder (# 11833) on :
 
Alas it was a flat experience for me today. We had a lay person as Revdrfather was on holidays. Whilst the preacher had some good points, his delivery tends to put me to sleep along with his off beat sense of humour.

I am ashamed to say my mind wandered a tad during the sermon.
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
I am not sure that the earth moved - perhaps it swayed gently. But it was a good service: the congo and choir, tho' both smaller than usual, were in good voice (partially due to a good choice of hymns); the sermon was intelligent and thought-provoking and I was distracted by this poor man who was trying to worship God while keeping an eye on 2 junior school aged boys.
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
I've been hesitating to post this, afraid it might sound arrogant or self-serving. But I think perhaps those of you who have more preaching experience than I might understand. While giving the homily at the Family Service on Christmas Eve (my third time in the pulpit) there was a moment. I was sort of leaning in to my most important sentence, trying to say something comprehensible about "the Word was made flesh" and then something happened where my voice almost broke and tears almost came. It passed, but for a second I felt like I wasn't alone up there.
 

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Posted by Foaming Draught (# 9134) on :
 
Clarence & I are on hol in New Zealand in Zappa's & kuruman's lovely little town. We recommend it highly as a recuperative resort. This morning's service at St Triangle's exceeded even Fr Zappa's & Rev kuru's customary co-operation with the Holy Spirit. It included O for a thousand tongues to sing to Lyngham, sung, I could have sworn, by many thousands. Talk about a "Wow" moment.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
"O For a Thousand Tongues" helped in no small part by the minor detail that I thought the tune was Lingham.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
A bit flat cos the audiologist used a slightly different setting on my replacement hearing aid and I couldn't hear the spoken bits very well, although the music was Ok.

Off to the audiologist so I don't have a repeat experience.

Huia
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
I am on a course this week and have to travel this afternoon, so went to the 8 o'clock communion. It was a beautiful service - the only distraction being my inability to place our curate's accent. Even the cooing of the wood pigeons on the roof added to the atmosphere. Despite being a congo of 3, we had an interesting sermon-ette, linking both readings, and very thoughtful, comprehensive intercessions (which is not always the case at the main service, as one of the rota seems to have stopped praying for the world). Definitely worth getting up for
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
After meeting, about 20 of us sang from the Quaker song book - who knew?
It was most uplifting.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
This Sunday was the Annual Review, which could easily have been a bit dry but turned out to be a wonderful ennumeration of the ways in which God has been moving us over the past year.

Ably assisted by a rendition of In Christ Alone that had me on my own little God high and followed by an afternoon with a dear friend who is coming into her own as a new Street Pastor. Good Stuff.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
The earth moved quietly but definitely and most unexpectedly for me this morning.

As the sign of the cross was being made during the benediction, i suddenly found myself on the point of tears. Quite out of the blue and no reason that I could see. The almost tears were as quickly replaced by a feeling of a deep and pervading peace and calmness.

Part of the sermon had been about allowing the Spirit to do what God wanted to do in us. I don't really know but wonder if that was the trigger. However, I've decided not to be analytical but to enjoy what was given
 

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Posted by Clarence (# 9491) on :
 
The music was average (though the Fijian choir were great), communion was not the way I feel comfortable, there was only one reading and no formal liturgy except around communion, but I was in tears for at least half the service.

But there was such heartfelt sincerity in the worship and such a strong focus on the Gospel that there was no doubt that the Spirit was in that place this morning.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
You betcha! well, the later liturgy did. Great hymns, kuru playing organ and piano, our resident singer songwriter playing beautiful, (recorded!) input from Billy Joel, and just a powerful, penitential yet joy-filled feeling to it all. Two possible heart attacks just added to the solemnity of it, I'm sure (both recovering)!

Not to mention a plethora (well small, but more than none!) of children, as new people test the waters, and many seem to be staying or returning, the impact largely of the input of our newly commissioned children and families co-ordinator.

God is goos, methinks.
 

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Posted by Gay Organ Grinder (# 11833) on :
 
Yes it did for me too. However, the feeling was shortlived as our resident 'misery' complained at great lengths to both the pianist and myself as to the choice of the tune for the last hymn. He wouldn't listen when I pointed out the set tune was unknown. Even when the pianist pointed out that his son, who is pastor of a happy clappy church in Perth and a very capable musician, would have used the tune we did, he would not listen. During coffee hour he badgered all his cronies with his opinion on the hymn as well. This same 'misery' has walked out of sermons when he didn't agree with what the preacher had to say.

On a brighter note, we were highly complimented on the music selections by others. But I find it disheartening when just one unwarranted comment ruins the feeling for the day..

Haing said all that, I now feel a whole lot better.

GOG
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Yes, an earth-moving this week for us. God used that to keep working on a few things with me. I need to let them go, I know I do so I'll keep bringing them to the cross and hoping that the casual things people say without thinking about them (sometimes from the front of church) won't keep bringing them up in my mind.

God is so good and continues to be good to us.
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
The earth certainly rocked at the Women's World Day of Prayer service I attended yesterday afternoon. The local junior school was there and they led some of the singing, accompanied by shakers they had made. They also did a dramatic version of the reading from Acts. It added an extra dimension to what was an excellent and moving service.
 

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Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Woohoo! Don't often get to say it about Sundays at the moment, but have just come back from a mid-week thing that I really wasn't sure would work and it chuffin' rocked! Well, I think it did, at any rate, so I'm taking that moment
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gay Organ Grinder:
Yes it did for me too. However, the feeling was shortlived as our resident 'misery' complained at great lengths to both the pianist and myself as to the choice of the tune for the last hymn. He wouldn't listen when I pointed out the set tune was unknown. Even when the pianist pointed out that his son, who is pastor of a happy clappy church in Perth and a very capable musician, would have used the tune we did, he would not listen. During coffee hour he badgered all his cronies with his opinion on the hymn as well. This same 'misery' has walked out of sermons when he didn't agree with what the preacher had to say.

---

...sometimes I think a punch to the jaw (in pacific and Christian lurve) is a fine lenten discipline. His, no yours.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
The service was great, very thought-provoking, with some lovely new NZ music. Afterwards a group of us went for a reflective wander in the small suburban remnant of bush that was preserved by some of the early settlers here and now provides a creche for handraised kiwi, so that they can later be freed back into the bush.

Huia
 

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Posted by geroff (# 3882) on :
 
Alleluia Alleluia Christ Has Risen

..... and yet the preacher decides that it is time to speak about .. well I'm not sure what. We had ringing of hands about how terrible life is and what will happen to humanity with a long dramatic reading of a parable according to Max Locado and on and on....
most strange!
At least the Easter Vigil in the Cathedral was jolly and dramtic!

Happy Easter!
 

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Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :
 
Yes, in the prayer thread. God's confirming presence.

Cattyish.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Really great service this morning. A good sermon from the woman from the Australian Board of Mission which tied the gospel reading in very well with ABM and the congregation without stretching the text and without being heavy on the promotion.

Good tunes and hymns. A great looking back and yet forward in the Eucharist. Everything just fitted and flowed together really well, although there are generally no problems there. I felt transported.

I think that this was partly due to my new hearing aids which have made the music so much easier for me to hear and to sing to. No fiddling with volume etc as with the old aids.

I think I floated down the hill to home afterwards.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
A certain Canadian Shippie prought magnificently yesterday, and at the late eucharist all was wondrously tinged with glimpses of God ... kuru's niece is now playing the sung-through Chattaway in kuru's place, and 'tis good and godly ...
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Oh God be praised it rocked today - once again the music, aided by home-from-holidays 20% boost in numbers ... 20% of the congregation were kids, a sign, so much a sign of hope. There is a God.

Well today there is, anyway.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
The earth has been moving a lot in the last three Sundays - two at an island church we were visiting and one back home this weekend that all would have had me in tears. I am now tired and stressed out but upheld by someone I can really trust to hold me up.

God is good. And he gave me an evening on the middle of those three Sundays that included a walk with a friend who was trying to fathom how to take onboard the sermon. We talked a lot of things through and enjoyed a beautiful sunset (He sure knows how to show off) and danced like baby dinosaurs. She walked back into our caravan and said to the other friend we were holidaying with, 'Man it's tough being a theologically challenged baby dinosaur'. Made my night.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Bloody awful. The organist played one of my favourite hymns to some bloody boppy tune ("and when human hearts are breaking under sorrow's iron rod" does not sound great sung to somethin resembling "I wish I were a friggin' flutterby") and another hymn that no-one knew, and the vicar (me) buggered up his sermon.

Maybe at the 9.30?
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
Well, when I come to your church when I am visiting you, I will ask to read the text, and otherwise sit there with a beatific look on my face while you are expostulating.

I don't do music, and so long as I don't hear the strains of Shine , Jesus, , shine it will be fine by me.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Yup: better at the second service - and the Marty Haughen and John Bell hymns in particular lifted souls to heaven ... (well this soul, anyway).

Bloody preaching personage got his act together, too ...
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by PeteC:
so long as I don't hear the strains of Shine , Jesus, , shine it will be fine by me.

---

(writes note to organist/guitarist/praise band leader ... )

Note to self: what is a praise band?

Though I confess we have it each year at Pentecost, not least so I can send myself up!
 

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Posted by Belle Ringer (# 13379) on :
 
Fist time in church this summer, got lots of hugs from friends, the music was blah, sermon seemed pretty good until he made a comment that I guess was a joke? about of course no one likes mothers-in-law, how could anyone? Given that half the congregation are mothers-in-law, I thought that joke inappropriate.

But then, I dislike belittling statements (humor or not) about anyone, especially from the pulpit! But maybe he tells anti-mother-in-law jokes to his own mother-in-law in private as well as in public?

He also said single people have more time for God, which made me wonder why his target demographic for recruiting new members is young couples with children instead of singles who (by his own argument quoting Paul) would bring more God-awareness into the church community.

So, I guess the earth moved for me, in two ways, bad and good: the small destructive earthquake of the preacher's comments and inconsistencies, the love of friends.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Bloody hell. Can I give up my day job? Almost everything that could go wrong did.
 

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Posted by Gay Organ Grinder (# 11833) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
Bloody hell. Can I give up my day job? Almost everything that could go wrong did.

---

I second that.

We worshipped in our new space for the first time today which went very well as this had been in the planning for some 6 years only to be marred by yours truly crashing into one of the new plate glass doors on the way out. My specs were broken and I have an enormous bruise on one knee. The glass shattered from bottom to top and, Praise the lord, it is safety glass so it stayed intact. So embarrasing but could have been far worse.

Thankfully we have a doctor and several nurses in our midst, all who gave me the once over. Lots of phone calls since from concerned folk have been a great comfort.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
How nasty for you, GOG! Hope all heals quickly for you.

I thought today was a wonderful service at St Docs. St Michaels and All Angels, lots of good music and some ancient songs as well. It was the baptism of one adult and the confirmation of his mother and four other adults. The Surplis Singers sang before the service and during Communion and we sang the breastplate of St Patrick in all its fulness. The whole service was a big celebration and we had a wonderful lunch afterwards provided mainly by our Indian community

Unfortunately, the Bishop had to be well and truly prompted to give the absolution.

[ 26. September 2010, 04:20: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Gay Organ Grinder (# 11833) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
How nasty for you, GOG! Hope all heals quickly for you.

---

Thanks L. Feeling much clearer in the head now but my knee is aching more and more now as the night air comes in. It seems I wasn't the first to run into the doors, a LOL yestrday did the same thing yesterday but fortunatley for her she wasn't hurrying as I was. The Prpoerty Committee was/is aware of the poor design or lack of it in that area, two wide central fixed panels with two small opening doors on either side with no indication as to which is the opening doors doesn't seem to make sense to most of us. It would seem that I have brought attention to it sooner rather than later.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Ouch, and trans-Tasman sympathies
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Did the earth move for me? Well yes, but then it has every day, with varying degrees of intensity since Sept 4

More seriously though, I've been thinking about this thread, and my experience over the last few years in the church where I now worship has been a gentle 'coming home' that has taken place, almost imperceptably at times.

Of course it isn't all sweetness and light, we are dealing with Real Life after all, but for all the bumps in the road the general trend has been positive, and not only in a spiritual way. Becoming part of any community takes a while and while for their part they have been really welcoming, (without being invasive) I have been a bit more stand-offish due to previous experiences.

I think, looking back what surprises me is how ordinary and everday it has been for the most part. I've realised that love in action isn't necessarily the heroic, Mother Theresa thing, but can equally be shown through hospitality toward a stranger who turns up and sits awkwardly on the margins for a while. It's about giving a person the space to be how they are, so that they can grow through it to become more of what they are capable of being.

It's not some New Age "feel good" thing, it's more practical than that. I think of it as one one broken person reaching their hand out to another, and I am very thankful for it.

Huia

[ 27. September 2010, 03:05: Message edited by: Huia ]
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Thank you for that Huia. It is similar to my thoughts.

Hope all is well with people over there.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Oh Yes! Oh yes indeedy From the opening "Come Down Oh Love Divine" To the closing strains of "jerusalem" (with the "Great God, your Spirit, like the wind" words) it all just blew me away. Basically the A-Team musoes were back, my organist in particular celebrating life after some nasty cancer operations. Some twenty young people were there, new people are staying ... oh yes, it moved me to the depths

quote:

---

(from the post-communion prayer) Amen. Accept our thanks for all you have done. Our hands were empty, and you filled them.

---

I was so exhausted by the end I felt physically ill, but oh dear God it was worth it.

And now for two weeks holidays. Well ... soon.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Er ... Jerusalem, though with a slightly smaller number of singers, not Jerusalem (though the latter, too, has its attractions)!

[ 03. October 2010, 01:31: Message edited by: Zappa ]
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Both riding to and from church it did, not that I felt anything, but it was decidedly lacking as part of the service, even though the visiting Minister told a story about a black cat.

But the congregation are fantastic - which makes up for a lot

Huia
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I am a Quaker so I am used to silent worship and believe me a Syro-Malabar Catholic mass is anything but silent but there is something about Holy Cross Church that gets to me. I can't stand for long so I sit most of the way through mass, it is all in Malayalam so I haven't got the vaguest notion of what is being said at any particular time, or even what is being done as a lot of the time I have my eyes closed [nearly missed the Pax today ] but I find it all very moving. I have been to other Malayalam masses at other churches but the impact is not at all the same - perhaps the church being several hundred years old has accounts for it.

Anyway, it doesn't matter what it is I think I'll keep going back there. God certainly seems to hang out there, Sunday after Sunday.
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
Check out my English language crib, Wodders. It's not perfect, but the main bits are always in the right place. It doesn't help that the Pax is in a totally different place in Syro-Malabar. I keep my eyes open at that point.

And I do agree with you. Older churches have the sanctity of ages.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I think I'm quite happy not knowing what is going on - I know the basic structure and that's probably enough.
 

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Posted by Jemima the 9th (# 15106) on :
 
Yes.
I nipped off to town to join the Quakers for worship this morning. Usually I go to "my" local C/E and am quite heavily involved there. I've been wanting to attend Quaker meetings for a few years, but life has conspired against me rather. I managed to get to a couple last winter, but haven't been since then (the other half is a sailor, therefore I really on shocking weather so he will look after the kids!)

I'm not sure I could explain quite why it was so wonderful. I think being quiet for an hour is a very good discipline for my short-attention-spanned brain. I can only think of one other place where I've been made to feel so welcome. I felt encouraged, challenged and prompted to think about the greatness of God, and the place of worship in my own life. In short, it was fab.

[ 03. October 2010, 12:53: Message edited by: Jemima the 9th ]
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
I once went to a Quaker Meeting in a city where I didn't think I knew anyone and of the 8 people there I had met 6 before.

I love the 'gathered silence' of Quaker worship, but I miss the singing,

Huia
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Today being All Saints' Sunday, we had the reading of the necrology during communion. I was on chalice (an experience which never ceases to blow me away) so wasn't able to pay much attention to the reading of the names of the deceased. But somehow, I heard my mother's name being read just as I was putting the chalice up to someone's lips and saying "The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation." It was very comforting and somehow transporting at the same time.
 

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Posted by mrs whibley (# 4798) on :
 
I didn't fancy my usual place today, so I gatecrashed somewhere else. It was Remembrance Sunday (done very well), which might or might not have explained why they were towards the end of the first hymn when I turned up on time at 11:00, although the 2 minutes' silence didn't happen until about 10 past.
The rest of the service was played like a game of 'one hymn to the tune of another' - I only knew the words to 1 out of 4 of the hymns, but I knew all the tunes (which is the right way round, of course). I only thought that it would have made a good Mystery Worship when I noticed the tune to the final hymn was Sine Nomine, although not of course to the words For All the Saints!
 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
Singing 'Be still my soul' (Sibelius), during the administration, was pretty special.
 

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Posted by marmot (# 479) on :
 
Two things this Sunday in our tiny parish. A young lady, ll years old, read the lessons for the first time. She was nervous, but read clearly and slowly. She stumbled over words a few times, but the congregation was right with her and quietly called out assistance when it was necessary. When she stepped out from behind the lectern, it was to smiles and hugs from the whole congregation.

The second moment came during the sermon, when one of our elderly and well-loved kupuna took ill and had to be taken home by her family. They had to exit right in front of our vicar, who was giving the sermon. She stopped preaching and led the congregation in a prayer for Auntie Barbara, and then seeing the distress and distraction of the congregation, cut her sermon short with some comforting words and another prayer.

I can be as high church as the next gal, but I savor the moments when ceremony comes second to love.
 

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Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
Last Post played on a trumpet. Brought a tear to my eye. Seriously. Always very evocative.
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
Today, having not been to church for a couple of months, I went to the Advent Reflection. Fr P shared some insights gained from a lifetime in ministry and gave us quotations from a wide variety of sources to ponder prayerfully.
I found his wisdom, openness and honesty very refreshing.

Coupled with a very warm welcome from several others, it was a fabulous home-coming.
 

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Posted by Sir Pellinore (ret'd) (# 12163) on :
 
It should if 'you' have any grip on what it's really about, Sunday after Sunday, without benefit of 'special' hymns, music, occasions etc.

There is always something special about it. It is the Drama of the Universe and Its Salvation: Life, Death, Heaven, Hell, Time and Eternity.

Properly understood, it needs no zapping up.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Oh, so utterly agreed, Sir P.

My early eucharist was a struggle, to be honest. But somehow Eucharist # 2 found an energy that took me with it, from the Guitar and piano accompanied Introit ("Canticle of the Turning" , Rory Cooney's lyrics set to the Irish folk tune Star of the County Down), on through my singer song writer's "Sing! Sing! People of Faith" (Guitar) for the Lighting of the Third Candle, onward and upward, perhaps peaking at the Offertory "Of the Father's Love Begotten", when our consummate organist pulled out all the stops and the concrete and wood building trembled magnificently. Then back to the Chattaway sung-through eucharistic prayer (whereat Kuruman caressed the piano, and guitar and organ wove in and out at peak moments) and on to the finale "Tell Out My Soul". I felt the earth had moved indeed.

But(as ever)I was utterly drained afterwards, and went home to power nap.
 

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Posted by Sir Pellinore (ret'd) (# 12163) on :
 
I have a feeling that, if you can't have a feeling of Holy Awe when being involved, even in a seemingly 'minor way', like Mamacita on chalice, you are missing the point. Like her, you might then feel that interaction between the Particular and the Universal, the Living and the Dead, the Communion of Saints and get a glimpse of What It Is All About.

No one who has posted on this thread appears not to have gotten some inkling of 'the Message'. That sort of understanding is of considerable value.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Having experienced a real 7.1 quake I'd say church today was about an 8.

The people, the music, the reflection offered by the Minister and the intersessions all wove in together seamlessly. A slice of Heaven and a challenge.

Huia
 

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Posted by Evangeline (# 7002) on :
 
Finding myself increasingly angry and frustrated with the SydANg message of female inferiority and a recent online publication suggesting that Christian women must obey their husbands and that "violence" is mutual and I quote directly even if one partner uses words and another uses fists ....(ok I'll take it to hell if I want to go on)

Anyway this morning out Priest spoke about Gabriel visiting Mary and how one writer had said at that moment, the future of creation hinged on the decision of a girl.

I like that, now to the challenge of trying to subvert the scary, unchristian patriachy that is so dominant in these here parts
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Evangeline:
...ok I'll take it to hell if I want to go on...

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I wouldn't blame you if you did and you'd have me fighting alongside you!

What you say certainly needs to be said but I'd far rather the discussion of these [very valid] points didn't happen on this thread.

Thanks.

WW
All Saints Host.
 

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Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
Snowed in in Norfolk. Well, sufficient to keep my wife and me indoors for my birthday yesterday and from attempting the usual 10 mile journey to our church today.

We did have a lovely day yesterday, despite having to cancel the going-out treats. Other folks feature a lot in our lives so it was lovely to have some extended and good "us" time.

We nearly always finish the day listening to the Northumbria Community Compline. Helps bring peace at the end of the day. Yesterday we just spent some time in prayer. At the end, we were both reminded of some whispered words in the soliloquy which is a part of Brian Deoerksen's song "Creation Calls". Goes like this.

"Snowflakes gently falling, falling
Each one unique
Whispering
Remember the mercy of God
Covering the world in white
And then
The quiet, quiet, quiet
Of Creation at rest."

Of course snow, ice, and bitter cold are threatening and dangerous. But there is a strange beauty there too.

That was a Holy moment for both of us. The stillness moved.

[ 19. December 2010, 09:54: Message edited by: Barnabas62 ]
 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
Well, I've experienced earth tremors at varying points of the Richter scale at the church I belong to. However, thanks to a late night yesterday, I was so sleepy, that even the (thought-provoking) sermon on the annunciation failed to stir me. But it didn't matter. I was warm and cosy (the normally temperamental church heating system having had a recent overhaul), and best of all, thanks to some new loudspeakers, one of which was positioned about a foot away from my right earhole, I could hear...I could hear!

All of which combined to put me into such a stupor that even if the Archangel Gabriel himself had called me personally through the PA system, I'd have told him to come back after Christmas.
 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
Though if it's not cheating to mention stuff out of a church context; at a Julian meeting last week, a couple of quotes from William de Thierry's Meditations and St Bonaventure's treatise On the Perfection of Life registered so high on the Richter Scale that I'm still experiencing the aftershock.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
This "Carol of the Least Child" (Scroll down to the bottom of the page) was what made the worship so powerful for me on Sunday.

I'm not sure why the title in quotation marks isn't red, but it did take me to the page I wwas linking

Huia
 

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Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :
 
psst: Huia.

When you check a link in Preview post, as you obviously did (good girl!)it turns sort of purple, and remains purple in your view, but pristine red to all of us other puir souls.
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Thanks Pete I worked that out after I had posted (am hoping for a new brain for Christmas).
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Midnight Mass was magical! I didn't understand more than a few words as it is in the vernacular AND it was still very moving, though the fireworks were a bit loud!

Going back for another dose in the morning.
 

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Posted by Evangeline (# 7002) on :
 
A very low Sunday at our AngloCatholic shack this morning. Numbers were down but it felt very cosy and I felt at home, something it's taken me a long time to get back to feeling at church.

Hallelujah!
 

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Posted by Nunc Dimittis (# 848) on :
 
Christmas Eve made me feel glad to be a priest. There was a moment in the Thanksgiving Prayer when I felt tingles up and down my spine and a unifying sense of Presence.

Yesterday was a bit disappointing... very low numbers.

But today was lovely. Being Boxing Day we were lacking in numbers, so we organised chairs in a circle around the altar, and it was very relaxed and informal, meditative and lovely. The organist had the day off, so we sang unaccompanied, and the service was said. I did a discussion-type sermon about St Stephen. And afterwards there was a great energy, a real buzz amongst the 22 who were there. That tells me something's right... the Spirit is working in our midst! I feel glad today to be the priest here, and privileged to be with these dear people.
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
Today I went to the Christian Fellowship meeting at work. We had a discussion about recent events in various parts of the world and then a time of prayer. I felt a very strong awareness of God's presence during the prayer and it felt so incongruous in that bland little meeting room.

I know rationally that God is with me at work, and I believe that I am doing His will in my job, but I very rarely am aware of his presence (despite having a little icon of Christos Pantocrator on my desk to remind me).

So I left the meeting feeling really blessed and I definitely will continue going to the meetings, even if I am censoring myself a little at the moment.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I was at a(n Anglican) church south of Darwin this morning, and warmly moved by the liturgy. Famously a church without walls (well without walls on three sides) it was delightful to sit almost in nature, the fans just tickling the air about (reminiscent of my early childhood in west Africa), taking part in well shaped liturgy (albeit a little long, and no compensation was made for inclusion of a baptism). Hymns ranged from "How Great Thou Art", at which i was about to groan until they musicians began playing it a glorious rapid pace, to - gulp - "Shine Jesus Shine" which is in any case always good for a giggle.

So yeah, God is alive and well in the Northern Territory ...
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
I know I've posted this before, but the gift of being able to be a chalice-bearer is something that continues to amaze me. It is a moment so tender as to be almost unbearable. It reminds me of the words to "My song is love unknown."

I often have to push some mental cobwebs away before I begin -- these random thoughts that ask, What reasonable adults would actually say these things? How ludicrous is this? But then I see the first person come up, take the cup and smile at me, and the moment of blessed intimacy brings tears to my eyes.

[ 10. April 2011, 18:24: Message edited by: Mamacita ]
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
I'm not sure about the earth moving but this group brought a life and exuberance to worship that is so often missing in the UK. Go to "hear the music" to hear other snippets although these are too short to give a feel for the full impact of their singing.

"I am not forgotten" for instance is a psalm about whatever happened not being forgotten by God. Sung by orphan from Africa it is poignant which is totally belied by the verve they put into it.

Jengie

[ 10. April 2011, 20:08: Message edited by: Jengie Jon ]
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Jengie Jon, that group was in my town on tour a couple of years ago. If you want to put that up as an earth-mover, I think you're right.

Now, I hesitate to post this, because it seems I always come back here to comment on how I am moved by serving the chalice. But today, in the midst of communion, the choir began singing My song is love unknown and there was such pain and sweetness in offering the cup to my friends while those words hung in the air.

And yes, that's why I changed my sig.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Our entire Holy week and Easter has left me exhausted but buzzing. Our resident singer-songwriter excelled himself on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday as we descended to the depths. We footwash each year to Spiegel Im Spiegel, a devastatingly hauinting piece by Arvo Pärt, but the rest of the music was hauntingly beautiful, too. And on Good Friday likewise, downer and downer into the stillpoint of the turning world.

Then surprised by joy: at our easter pre-dawn kuruman sung the exsultet, the servers and thurifer were angelic, the (expensive and beautiful) paschal candle glowed with divine glory - and divine madness broke out as we reached the sharing of Peace to the accompaniments first of sparklers, then after the lights came on, poppers ... and the mad joy-filled music of Mango Groove. And incense all the while.

Even our 7.30 eucharist felt good, mainly becuae kuruman was playing and rather than drawing attention to the organist allowed the hymns to transport us in delight.

Then the riotous 9.30: sung eucharist with lots of mad excited children, post-charismatic-anglo-catholic fervour, banners, a full church singing that lifted the roof off (from 2nd Chaper of Acts' "Easter Song" to the trad anthems "Jesus Christ is Risen Today", "Thine be the Glory" and others) followed by chicken, champagne and sheer friggin' God-filled exhaustion ...

I doubt we'll be able to repeat that where we're going
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
An awesome Easter here as well. It was the first time I have been to an Easter vigil service but will not be the last! The only problem was that, after the Vigil, yesterday morning was a bit of an anti-climax.

The music was superb throughout; singing the traditional Good Friday hymns unaccompanied was spine-tinglingly beautiful and made the organist's obvious exuberance at the Vigil more meaningful.

Our deacon preached on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and at the Vigil, and that continuity and revisiting of themes really helped with the unity of the whole experience.
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
As I appear to have killed this thread, I will attempt to resurrect it.

This morning I led the intercessions for the first time at my current church. I was really touched by the number of people who told me I did well and I feel that this encouragement has confirmed that it is God (rather than my ego) that is calling me to be more active both in church and the Christian Fellowship at work.

To make things interesting, the first to thank me was one of the two old men who make me question my attendance at the church after every annual church meeting I attend.
 

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Posted by Ethne Alba (# 5804) on :
 
earth moving...?
a massive yes from me.

for the first time in over a year....as our little fellowship were praying, i really could hear/ feel/ understand/ work out music again.

i had a stroke-like-something-or-other last year and music has been problematic ever since...gradually getting there, but not able to feel/ hear it...until this weekend

the rest of the weekend passed in a blur of relief and thanksgiving, appropriately ending with a healing service
 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
Sunday morning's service took the theme of faith/doubt, tying in with the gospel reading for the day - the appearance of Jesus to 'Doubting,' Thomas. When it came to sermon time, an elderly and much-loved member of the congregation, who's been blind for many years, kindly agreed to be interviewed. He explained about how his blindness has affected both his everyday life and his faith, in so much as to do anything now involves a complete trust in and reliance on other people. Like Thomas, he has to stretch out his hands to meet those that are reaching out to help him.

One child was chosen to help him from his pew to the front of the church; another to guide him back to his seat, in itself a perfect illustration of the point.

Not earth-moving, maybe, but definitely caused a few tremors for me.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I was at one of my sattelite centres this morning, a centre that was much unloved by some of my predecessors. I undertook a sort of 'explained eucharist', with hymns and songs played in part by a visiting family who are trekking arond the country - young vibrant people with faith. I felt the whole simple eucharistic liturgy pulsed with signs of hope for the rebirthing of a small community church ... it fed my soul.
 

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Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
I snuck in at the back for the last few points of the sermon and a few final songs. And yes, the earth moved. Recently going to church has become like going home (that's what I get for having busy summers and being unable to attend) and last night was no different. I even got to pray for a dear friend afterwards and was reminded that that's something I do, something God has given me as a gift - a kind of intuitive, intercessory, prophetic somethingorother - and I need to keep using it.
 

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Posted by Ethne Alba (# 5804) on :
 
...visiting at the other end of our country...

lovely.
the music, the welcome, the silence, the liturgy, not having to juggle books and pieeces of paper during the service, musicians and folk who led in song and a preacher who kept it short and simple

...all amounted to rest with God.... and then lots to think about.......
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
To my amusement yesterday, we led a very quiet evening prayer, and prayed the prayer board (the boards in church where people can post their prayers in the open church during the week) with some very sad situations to pray for - and came out to see a rainbow behind the church.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
By contrast I was back at my main centre this week. Everything felt good, but my old charismatic discernment bells are ringing. It all feels somehow so cosy, so complacent. It's frightening.
 

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Posted by Gay Organ Grinder (# 11833) on :
 
Didn't do it for me today. The service started with a dvd of a song/hymn that one of our members had found 'uplifting'. The sound and picture were out of sync and the said piece did nothing for me. Also we had a fill in bloke who wandered off and around the text and I and others seem to loose interest. Fortunately he wasn't too long!! Also the singing, which we usually excell at, was rather flat. I found out later that today's organist had transposed three of them into lower keys and they lost their 'sparkle' methinks.
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
I lead the intercessions for the second time at my current church and afterwards about half a dozen people thanked me.
It is good to be so encouraged.

We also had a very thought-provoking sermon on our relationship with God and prayer, from our house-for-duty priest, who has acquired a lot of wisdom over the years and is a very good preacher.

Definitely a service that made me glad to be a Christian.
 

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Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
SO nice to be back at Church after weeks and weeks off due to various things!

1662 liturgy for the first of the month (we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness...), a best yet sermon from a preacher who gets on my tits (metaphorically speaking) and lots of love and care from the congregation after my recent bereavement. And a new person who came out to coffee with us after the service. Fingers crossed she'll stick around. (Or prayers,or whatever...)

EJ
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Perhaps it's odd to write about a funeral on this thread, but today we said good-bye to one of the great matriarchs of our congregation. She was very musical, even founded a small G&S summer operetta company that ran in a nearby town for a couple of decades. So, as you can imagine, there was a lot of music at the funeral, and some of her friends came to sing with our tiny choir and turned it into a joyful noise indeed. But there was one moment that I found transcendent. I was part of the altar party, serving as lector and chalice bearer. One of the postcommunion hymns was Cwm Rhondda, and I was really belting out the "bread of Heaven" part because that's what you just have to do with that hymn, and while I was holding the descant on "evermoooooooore" I heard the Rector across the sanctuary doing the same, and she must have heard me, because she looked at me and her eyes were twinkling. It was a little moment of joy, shared love of a great hymn, fond memory of a dear departed lady, and abiding hope as that expressed in the hymn.
 

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Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 


We were a small, select gathering, but tonight's Churches Together in Japesville definitely had the Holy Spirit at work there.. as the priest said to me after I'd explained why I was sat with a huge grin on my face, along with a few tears at the end. "I was really disappointed by the numbers tonight, but it was worth it doing just for you!!!"

Thank you, God, and the Churches Together in Japesville!
 

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Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :
 
Wee Village Kirk was joyful and Spirit-filled as we welcomed four new members. God's presence was discernible as they went forward to the font and received a blessing.

Haddo Chapel this afternoon had the most beautiful call to arms from the lovely lady meenister in deliberate broad Doric. We sang Aa fowk fae bide upon the yird (The Old Hundredth Psalm in Doric) and said the Wir Faither together. Robbie Shepherd read Gordon Hay's Doric translation of the Bible. It wis awfy fine (very good indeed).

Cattyish.
 

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Posted by Ramarius (# 16551) on :
 
Well I'm in shock. At my Newfrontiers church today we had a talk about 'the essential Gospel' with no mention of penal substitution. But Mark 1 does lend itself more to Christus Victor.

Prayed for some not so well peopl at the end as part of our team of people who do that sort of thing. A couple of people were definitely not quite so unwell by the end of it.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
What's all this stuff? This my church and I have been coming here for years and I am not going to put up with that stuff in here and I am never coming back

Er ... Good morning. Nice to see you too. Christ is risen. I think.

In fact it was still quarter of an hour before the liturgy and I had come to check something. We were observing 'Hope for Creation Sunday' - I don't usually depart from the church calendar but there were good reasons to do so - and therefore we had put the liturgy into overhead projection instead of chopping down forests to photocopy orders of liturgy to juggle with Prayer Books and Hymn Books.

In the end the liturgy was okay, but I could feel the paroxysms of hatred emanating from some segments of the gathered people. After all was over most of the feedback - needless to say, though, especially from more evangelical members of the faith community - was very positive: we should have done this years ago, my children would still be here if we had et cetera (probably as fatuous as the opeing explosion, to be honest). I didn't want it to be an evo v. catholic thing - I'm more catholic than most there. But a rubicon has doubtless been crossed.

Did the earth move? I was in shock after the vitriol of that opening gambit, so I'm buggered if I noticed. I kinda wished it would swallow me up.

Can't I go and drive a truck, instead of this God-bothering business?
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
We had "For all the saints" today and a figure 8 full procession with thurifer working hard. Lovely. To conclude, another favourite, "Glorious things of thee are spoke..." True to form, I've just written "thee." Sang it all with thees and thou and thy because I didn't need to look at the words. Perhaps I should have. Enthusiastic bells to match the incense.
 

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Posted by Ethne Alba (# 5804) on :
 
Warden's Deanery Eucharist this week...in a building with no heating ( Lord have mercy on them)

Glorious!

Twenty four hours later the hymns are still in my heart and on my lips.
 

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Posted by shamwari (# 15556) on :
 
FWIW

We had a Wold Church service on Sunday.

A visiting American minister gave a word especially for the children.

5 Zimbabwean women sang Shona songs to the beat of a very loud drum, expertly played.

I preached an inflammatory sermon on mission and what it means to say that Jesus is "the Way, the Truth and the Life"

Certificates were given to 6 children who raised between them £759 for mission work.

Something moved. If not the eartth.
 

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Posted by Ethne Alba (# 5804) on :
 
It's midweek, but still a liturgical service.

Did the earth move?
Well my heart did and maybe that's the most important thing.

Why?
For me? Tonight? Because having caught my attention soundly through the music used, the ( not usual for me) liturgy just sewed up the gaps in my heart.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Our little tiny (30) congregation rocked this morning. We had the "a" key-boardist (we can't have an organ as the church has no walls) making sense of the music, kuruman presided, and I prought.

A mixture of hymns, from Kendrick and Bullock to "God is Love" (to Abbot's Leigh) and "John Brown's Body Lies a-Mouldin' in the grave" ... yup, there was a Big Dose of God.

For only the third time since I've been here, I think. It's been a struggle so far. Which may say far to much about the bastard that I am rather than about the faith community!
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Zappa -maybe some of the slog is paying off.

I went to church feeling fairly fragile (family stuff). Most of the service kind of passed me by, except Colin Gibson's "When the Road Runs Out", which seemed particularly apt as I was feeling fairly close to it.

The difference was a couple of my favourite people coming to sit by me and afterwards going into tea and finding that the same couple had left a huge bunch of flowers on the 'help yourself' table. I scored some 'Compassion' roses.

And being Chrischurch the earth did move - twice, but it was barely perceptible.

Huia
 

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Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Missed the Eucharist this morn as I was doped up on painkillers.

Like missed in the real sense of the word.

Walked to the church at about five pm and sat alone for a while.

It was good™

[ 08. January 2012, 14:23: Message edited by: Evensong ]
 

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Posted by Banner Lady (# 10505) on :
 
Grandchildren over this weekend, so TP takes Master Six along to church with him this morning. Lots of new families in church, as the school year has just begun, and the chapel is on the school grounds. Place was buzzing with kids. TP was vastly amused by one infant who had obviously just got the hang of crawling. New laminated mass cards had been distributed throughout the church, and one fell on the floor next to the baby, whose mother was rather pre-occupied. TP watched as the kid experimented with the new toy, then discovered that if he utilized the laminated card he could scoot along twice as fast. He was into the sanctuary in a flash, much to the amusement of the congregation and the embarrassment of the mum. Lord knows what he'll be like when he gets up to having wheels!

Best moment for Master Six was when the bells tinkled during the mass and a toddler's voice joyfully yelled out: "Ice cream!"


 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
Grandchorister smiling away at everyone during the anthem today - none of us took a blind bit of notice of the conductor, as we spent the whole anthem (fortunately not a complicated one today) smiling back.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I was in such a frenezzle by the beginning of the eucharist today that I mightily ****ed up a few things (some noticeable only to me). But by the Intercessions the Spirit had caught me up and was carrying me on her wings.

I needed that, though. This is still the most bewildering faith community I have ever stepped into. My boss (bishop) assures me its a Northern Territory thing, a corporate narrative of suspicion. But eight months in and its bloody wearisome.

I want to drive a truck.

But yeah, in the end the earth moved.
 

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Posted by Ethne Alba (# 5804) on :
 
I had a Church Wardenly Day Off today...so my colleague was the happy recipient of one little girls gift. As the communicants were ushered up to take communion, lil one crept up and held CW's hand, then slipped a gold star into her palm
"This is for you"

It's nice to know that what we do is appreciated!
It's also lovely to see the differing ages delighting in each other, while they delight in being in Gods presence.

So yes, the earth moved today.
 

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Posted by Eleanor Jane (# 13102) on :
 
The poor old Spirit only had half the time to make the earth move, 'cos we were *massively* late to the service. Moved into a new flat and didn't leave enough time to walk there...

However, what we did catch was lovely. I particularly like the bit about us all being part of the one body for we eat the same bread. And a beautiful choral piece during the communion with one soprano and one alto soldiering away. Then a swift half at the pub and a nice chat about choirs. This is an amazingly welcoming parish!
 

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Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :
 
It felt as if the Earth stood still rather than moved, but a Taize service was the perfect conclusion to a rather stressful day. Unfortunately, it was a one off.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
On 13th May I went to Quaker Meeting at the place where I am in Membership - it was a totally silent hour and it was BLISS!!

As soon as Meeting was over it stopped being silent for Quite A Long Time! Great to meet up with old Friends.
 

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Posted by Steve H (# 17102) on :
 
The earth occasionally moves a b it for me, usually during certain hymns, but emphatically not during 'worship songs', which leave me cold, even the better (or less awful) ones.
 

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Posted by Gay Organ Grinder (# 11833) on :
 
Not for me last Sunday. Couldn't concentrate on the service as there was a rather dishy guy sitting directly in front which I was focused on!!
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Today we had a baptism (always a great blessing). The young mother grew up in our parish, but it was apparent that, while the godparents and the dozen or so friends who attended were churchgoing people, they had never attended an Episcopal service. So, while serving the chalice, I had to do a little quiet coaching for many of them. That was kind of lovely. But the best part was the woman who drank from the chalice as I said the usual words "The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation" and then answered me: "Amen. Praise Jesus." Praise Jesus indeed.

[ 28. May 2012, 04:03: Message edited by: Mamacita ]
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Oh, gobsmacking wow, yes.

Joined by Foaming Draught (of blessed memory) and Clarence, I drove 230 kms into the rising sun, crossing a croc-infested river, for me to wear my archdiaconal hat and celebrate eucharist at the indigenous community church at Gunbalunya (out east of Kakadu NP), as the community priest has gone bush to recover from some high stress times.

There we three non-indigenous were joined by two of the most authentic women you could imagine, struggling to maintain faith and hope and resurrection rumour alive in a community in which substance-, domestic- and sexual abuse have decimated culture, alienated and destroyed maledom in particular, and at the same time (because of undenialble past missionary mistakes) marginalized Christian narratives. It's small wonder the regular priest feels burned out (she fights also against a pentecostal group who are attempting to take over with the 'real' gospel).

These women, with a young child, a slightly burnt-out man who has come home to die amongst his people and on the land of his ancestors, and two more withdrawn women gathered with FD, C and me at God's table; there we sang - mainly choruses, probably badly, some verses in 'language' while FD, C and I listened - and prayed, and made eucharist. Behind my back was some of the most God-briliiant ancient scenery on earth.

The earth moved so deeply I could barely stand. We - christians - have done so much harm to these ancient people, yet their grace and love was immeasurable. Ironically, after all the damage we Christians have done to them and their culture, it may yet be that as we discover respect for their more ancient and holy indigenous narratives, our voice of resurrection hope may be restorative still, and bring hope to a people who have largely lost all. But it will come from these brave women, not white-fella ring-in clergy.

An immense and holy priviledge.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Zappa, I find this account incredibly moving.
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Lothlorien:
Zappa, I find this account incredibly moving.

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Oh, dear God yes. Zappa, there's no way you sang "badly." The finest choirs in Heaven were, I'm sure, hushed at the sound of those voices.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Did the earth move? Holey moley, no, except with my apoplectic rage. That must be one of the worst mishmashes of Anglican banality I have ever seen in a church pretending to be liturgical. Ugh. My friends down in Eclesiantics would have shat pterodactyls in livid apoplexy.
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
File a MW report, Zappa. You know you want to.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
oh I was *so* tempted. I even took a photo of the mess left behind on the altar when the service finished. But I would be too identifiable, alas.
 

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Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :
 
I don't if the earth moved, but it did quiver a bit Sunday. Our pastor's 25th High School reunion was this past weekend, and about a dozen of his classmates, with their respective spouses and offspring were present (which at least doubled our regular attendance!) Their excitement and camaraderie spilled over to the regulars and made for a delightful service of worship.

(I suspect Pastor Brian was showing off just a little bit.)
 

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Posted by Ethne Alba (# 5804) on :
 
8am......BCP Holy Communion......five in congregation

Not so much moved as rocked then got up and danced.
A blessing, a real blessing.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
oooh yes ... I was preaching at Darwin's Anglican Cathedral today. I c an't comment on the sermon - it was okay I suppose - but it was exciting to see a gathered community of worshippers, predominately under 50 (the opposite to my faith community, where there are as yet few under 70) - and to witness strong liturgy, good hymnody, and enthusiasm for faith. All in a faith community my evangelical friends see as a cess pit of satan. A tribute to a dean who has worked phenomenally hard for some years now.
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Best baptism ever! I visited an Episcopal parish in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, near the University of Chicago. A very diverse, eclectic neighborhood, and so is the parish. And so the liturgy was on the one hand, pretty basic Episcopal Rite 2, but uses a variety of musical sources including but not limited to the H82.

The procession to the baptismal font was sung to a traditional American hymn (it's not in the H82 but might be in one of the supplementary approved hymnals -- I haven't checked.) The baptismal font is huge, about 3' wide and maybe 2' deep. During the Thanksgiving Over the Water, when the officiant pours water into the font, he had to pour it out of a very large urn! (A far cry from the little silver pitcher used in my shack.) And so the sound of rushing waters lasted throughout the first two-thirds of the prayer. I believe this prayer isn't common throughout the Anglican Communion, so I'll copy part of it here:

quote:

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We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son Jesus
received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.

We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

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© Ship of Fools 2016


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