General Chat

Cynthia, it was a regular RC church goer who told me. Who told them I know not.

Sorry, meant to say......enjoy your pancakes - those who are going to indulge. Mine are on the way from the kitchen as we speak...................drooooool...... :-D

Thanks Island, if I find anything out, I'll post it on here.


4 pancakes later and I am FLUP.


Must put my mind to thinking what I am going to read for Lent........... :-S

Saw an interview with Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor last night and he said he would be there and contributing but non-voting as he was 80. Yet one of the favourites to succeed is 80 and another 75. Hmmmmm!

There are a couple of outside contenders in late 50's (which is apparently young). There is a Filipino who is very much in favour. But, if I was a gambling man, I think I would go Oullet. Only 6 more weeks and we should know. Tony Blair looking after things pro tem (a frivolous and non-factual comment). :-)

Off for pancakes. Happy Shrove Tuesday, everyone. Nothing now except sackcloth and ashes till Easter Sunday :-S :-S ;-)

Didn't make it to the Ash Wednesday service. OH was concerned about the weather and the last thing we need is for him to go base over apex :-(


Seems as though we weren't the only ones to be cautious as there was a very low turnout. :-(


This morning, whilst he was waiting for his meds to kick in, I found him laying back, listening to Stainers Crucifixion......what a magnificent piece of music that is. :-D

A glorious sunny morning so no probs about getting to church today :-D :-D


The Rainbows, Brownies and Guides were celebrating World Thinking Day and they did a presentation in place of a sermon.

They walked down the aisles, each of them wearing different headgear to represent different countries and sang "He's got the whole world in His hands". Their little faces were a picture :-D

Then they lit candles whilst their leader spoke about how everyone is different in different ways but that how, in Guiding, they are all united.

Most enjoyable.

We also welcomed back the babies who had been baptised last week and presented them with their Baptism Certificates.

All in all.....................a good morning... :-D

yet the Scout movement in the US still refuses to allow gays to be either scouts or leaders, or even chaperones :-(


it's been all over the news here over the last week, as a result of news that a lesbian mother troop leader was thrown out .

How can that be??????


don't know whether it applies also to the guiding movement there.


That's not inclusive ...................


............... and, yes, I am aware of abuse problems. But this is blackening everyone by virtue of orientation.

How sad that is, Sylvia :-( Feel so sorry for lady troop leader who has been thrown out.

Cynthia. It is lovely to hear of your Sundays, but must admit they make me a bit jealous. So much life and happiness and nothing like babies to make a service real.

Was a twicer today, and a thricer next week. Two small services today.

First was a congregation of 10 this afternoon. Singing was excellent (what else in Wales) and two young lads and a couple in middle age (about 50) meant it was lively. One of the boys is so enthusiastic - arms waving everywhere and he really gets into the Spirit.

Second I have just come back from this evening. About 20, but only a couple under 60. The lady who runs the chapel must be almost 90, but she still has the energy of a young woman. Very uplifting and finished with "Bread of Heaven" and Williams Pantycelyn would have been proud of us.

Chose that hymn "Sing we the King who is coming to reign" at one of the services. Lovely hymn by Charles Horne, an Anglican Rector who died in 1914 aged about 50. As you probably know, his son was Kenneth Horne of "Round the Horne" fame.

Sylvia......really don't know what happens over here but I haven't heard of anyone being excluded because of their orientation.


John, I have to admit we are very blessed to belong to such a church with all its happenings. It's interesting really, as it would be described as being 'middle of the road' Anglican - no arm waving or pentecostal type worship...... but there's just 'something'. :-D

I watched the programme on BBC this morning 'The Big Question' , they were talking at one point about RC priests being celibate and there was a woman from 'Catholic Voices' who was married to a former Anglican minister who had converted to RC and she said that there was exemption for converts as they were married before they entered the RC priesthood. From the discussion I understood it to be that they didn't have to be celibate in that situation.

I do like to watch the programme most weeks but do wish that the people wouldn't talk over one another as the point they are trying to make gets lost.

Thank you JG. I had a feeling that was the case. I hope to remember to ask our friendly RC priest next time he pops in.........'remember' being the operative word of course..... ;-)


I have only seen that programme a couple of times - when we couldn't make it to church last year because OH wasn't well enough to go. I know exactly what you mean about people talking over each other and think that, not only is it rude, but the 'chairperson' should keep things in hand more.


Going back to the Guiding issue, it appears that the organisation is considering a revision of it's Promise ... and I quote

"The Promise is guiding’s beating heart – it’s the core expression of our values and the common standard that brings us all together. But over the past few years we have heard from more and more girls and Leaders who struggle with the wording, particularly interpreting what it really means to girls today."


The Promise as it stands today is :

I promise that I will do my best,
To love my God,
To serve the Queen and my country,
To help other people,
And to keep the Guide Law.



As the Guiding /Scouting movement were founded by the Baden Powell's on the basis that character building came from loyalty to God and Country, one wonders what changes will be made.

I imagine some of the earliest members would have struggled with the meaning too.....but they just got on with things and learned as they went..... I know I did :-D

During Lent, our church is holding a weekly service......Compline......prayers at the end of the day. It lasts about 30 mins.


A contemplative service which leaves you feeling peaceful and 'at one' with each other.


It's good to sit quietly........to think.......to listen.......to pray.......to reflect......and to leave feeling uplifted.


'The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.'

A normal Sunday service today ie no special event being celebrated, but we had loads of mums, dads and tiddlers in the creche.

Good congregation and everyone seemed to be in good spirits which certainly helps things along.

Mothering Sunday is just a fortnight away...... :-D

Mothering Sunday .............. last year was the first year my granddaughters had to survive this day without their mother. As their maternal grandmother I too felt the pain of their loss as well as my own on the death of my daughter.
My cousin lost her mother in her late teens and has told me that only after many years when she was a mother herself could she really enjoy the day.
My only wish is that my three granddaughters will be able to get through the day peacefully.

Jo

Oh Joeva....that is so sad. I know it can be a difficult day for so many people and for all kinds of reasons. I do so hope and pray that you will all get through the day without too much anguish. <3


I have led many Mothering Sunday services and will be doing so again this year. Each time, whilst I am aware of those for whom this day is a painful reminder of happier times, I also think of those who have never experienced a mother's love and those who are sad because they have been unable to have children.


A very emotive day indeed but one I hope, that gives us an opportunity to be grateful for all our blessings - past, present and future. <3

Joeva. How sad. Hope Mothering Sunday is ok for them.

Well, I am pretty exhausted :-D :-D But in right way.

First service today was in a large English Methodist chapel 20 miles away. I opened with a Welsh hymn (Calon Lan - Pure and Happy Heart) and printed off 50 copies of words and it was nowhere near enough. Chose 2 Fanny Crosby hymns as I absolutely love her work. And finsished with Williams Pantycelyn's "Bread of Heaven". Singing and organ playing were fantastic. Sermon went really exceptionally well and as I took 1 Corinthians 7 verses 8-9 - "stay single, but if you burn with lust, get married" it was not the easiest text.

Second one was in my own chapel. I could sit quietly at the back and there was a visiting preacher who came from Cardiff. To us valleys folk, Cardiff can seem like a distant and exotic metropolis. He concentrated on the theology of hymns written by Charles Wesley. Lot of what he said was new to us - and about 30 in attendance. One memorable sentence was that Anglicans carry a prayer book to church, Baptists a Bible and Methodists a hymn book :-D :-D

Third one was a Welsh language service in a large Independent chapel 15 miles away. It is not well attended and only 8 were there (usually about 20 but illness, weather etc). Hymns chosen by Deacon and not very familiar ones, but knew tunes well. And one of congregation did the readings in Welsh. I did sermon (Matt 5 verse 5 - blessed are the meek) in a mixture of Welsh and English and the service went quite well in the circumstances.

So a very special day with a lot of interest and variety :-D :-D

I think the anglicans and baptists probably have it correct then - a prayer book and bible should come before any hymn book.
Methodism in some ways I suppose is still enshrined in Wesley and the industrial revolution - just look at Mow Cop and primitive mothodism

Errol. Methodism until 1790 was purely a society within the Anglican Church. The Wesleys were Anglican priests all their long lives. John felt it was his job to preach outside churches to the masses who often could not afford pew rent. Charles was just a brilliant hymnwriter.

By 1820, Methodism had split into 3 main strands:
1. Original Wesleyans, who were fairly well to do and respectable.
2. Primitives who were a working class movement mainly, tried to go back to the ideals of John Wesley. They were in industrial towns often and preachers were called ranters. Yes, it was started on Mow Cop in 1807.
3. Kirkhamites or New Connexion. They again tried to be true to Wesley and were quite strong in his old stomping grounds of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

All 3 main strands came back together in about 1930. All Bible based. As far as I know, prayer books and set prayers are not hugely popular in non-conformist churches. I have never read a prayer in my life - all mine are from the heart (which can be scary when sometimes over 200 people are listening to you)

Primitive Methodism was probably quite strict and certainly when the sermon was given at Mow Cop it appealed to many people who could not understand the rantings of more conformist sects
Sadly, the methodist church has taken a few backward steps in recent years

Errol. Like all things, the cup can be half empty or half full.

Methodism is still a very strong religion throughout the world. Amazingly influential and touching the lives of millions. Lot stronger that the whole church in 60AD when there were little pockets of believers here and there - with leaders like Paul and John being pursued and imprisoned, tortured, put to death.

Prims were fantastic. No real education, so no notes. Just shouted at people. The greatest preacher of 19th Century (Baptist Charles H Spurgeon) was converted at the age of just 15 in a Prim chapel in Colchester. Very snowy, couldn't get up the hill to his own chapel so sat in little Prim chapel at foot of hill. The sermon was delivered by a steward who had the text "Look unto me, and be ye saved". He could not really expound the text much and kept repeating it.. And then he turned to Spurgeon and said something like "Young man, you look miserable. Just obey this text. Look to Jesus. In all things, look to Jesus.

They were the words Spurgeon needed to set him off on his fantastically successfukl ministry. :-) :-)