General Chat

Not to worry Lily.......I'm like you......happy to talk about my beliefs when the time is appropriate but do not want to come over as pious......it tends to put people 'off' rather than interest them. :-)

I'm sorry Cynthia, I shouldn't have posted that! particularly as I am a practising Anglican, warts and all! but I do try and keep my religeous beliefs to myself unless somebody particularly asks me, and 'not go on about it'. I just find certain comments santimonious and frankly yuk! Incidentally my favorite service is Evensong, a restful and beautiful service - no preaching!!!

All Anglican clergy work with a lectionary.

A lectionary is a table of psalms and readings from Holy Scripture authorized for use in public worship of the Church of England. It gives guidance as to which readings, psalms etc., are authorised for use within the seasons of the church's year and for festivals, holy days etc.



This is the link for the official C. of E. lectionary.

http://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/lectionaries.aspx

I find this interesting:

http://www.lectionarypage.net/CalndrsIndexes/Calendar2013.html

and

http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Calendar/Info/Calendar2013.pdf

Good afternoon Cynthia. I would like to say how much I enjoy reading your posts, your church sounds wonderful. Personally I do not like the way so many threads turn nasty, and I am often left bewildered by some of the comments. I would never choose to get drawn into some of the arguments, but at the same time, I think there are a number of people who seem to deliberately set out to create friction and confrontation. The Christan thread has mixed reviews, however, mainly due to your contribution will continue to read.

John,

The problem lies in the fact that members see you as one person on here and as a completely different person on other threads, which is very confusing. Which one do we believe is really you? It's as though you have a dual personality and, personally, I find that very unsettling as it leads me to doubt your sincerity on here.



Lyndi.....yes, I love my church - it isn't perfect of course, no church is, but it's the place where we feel 'at home' and where we can be of service.

When we retired, we moved home and looked around for a new place of worship. We went to several anglican churches in the area but it was really difficult to find one where we felt 'right' - if that makes sense.

We realised that, after going back to this church quite a few times, that is where we would stay. :-)


Kitty, thank you. If there is anymore unpleasantness after this latest episode then I will start a fresh one.


Lily.........hope you feel better soon ;-) :-D

Cynthia your choice if you stay on this thread or start
one of your own, I will still read your input whatever
you decide.

Emma

Forgive me, but 'sick bucket' comes to mind!

Cynthia and Kitty.

I would not be in the least offended if you started another Christian thread and I would then delete mine.

I would be disappointed but this thread has gone through some rocky waters since December. My hope was that people from several denominations would contribute freely. That we could learn a bit about Anglicanism, Roman Catholicism, Methodism, Baptist, Pentecostal, Unitarianism and so on. All committed Christians today tend to do quite a lot of work on Sundays and through the week within their own denomination. We see some churches prosper, others close. There are still millions who attend a place of worship (church, chapel, synagogue, mosque etc) every week.

Within my own denomination (Methodism) there are currently 270,000 members in the UK. Usually the congregations include members most weeks and about 50% extra who have not yet committed to membership (lot today don't seem to want to be committed unfortunately). Pentecostal churches now approach 300,000, and Anglican and RC membership is much higher.

I was and am quite happy to take challenging questions like "what is a false prophet?", "what is a hypocrite?" and try and explain things from a Bible perspective. I would just pray that answers are accepted in the spirit (and hopefully Holy Spirit) they are given.

Cynthia I think it might be better to start your own thread, you are well respected on the boards and I'm sure there would be less friction on a thread in your name.

xx

Most posters feel this is your thread anyway, Cynthia. You bring a calm repose and your posts are always so inspiring and interesting.

I began this thread to be exactly that - an area on these boards to get away from petty squabbles and point scoring - a place for thinking about religious things. Christianity specifically, but quite happy to discuss other religions if I know anything about them.

I think it would be better if I only rarely posted now, as there seem to be a few posters who would follow me if I posted a thread about macro economic policies in Indonesia.

I do believe some have been blessed by posts on this thread, and with God's help that good work will continue :-)

Your church sounds lovely Cynthia, a friendly hub of the community that has moved with the times while retaining core values :-)

Sorry this thread has been tarnished with unpleasantness, didn't see the posts so like you no idea what it is all about :-( :-S

No idea what is going on here......but am wondering if it would be less contentious if I were to start a gentle thread of my own but then, as anyone would be welcome, we would still get unpleasantness :-S :(


It's good to know that some folk enjoy hearing about my Sundays.......and I'm happy to continue sharing things with you.


We have two services on a Sunday, the first is at 9 am and the second at 11 am.

In between these two services 'breakfast' is served for those who would like it.

By breakfast, I mean more of a continental style rather than Full English! We have all the facilities for cooking a full English, but the time is a bit short. I can imagine someone galloping down the aisle forgetting they are still holding a frying pan :-D

Mind you, wouldn't the bacon smell wonderful?

We offer cereals, toast, crumpets, waffles with all accompaniments etc. Tea and coffee of course.

It's a good way of catching up with folks, especially for those on their own.

We have a 'meeting' room attached to the back of the church (blends in beautifully from outside and in) where this all takes place and there is always a cup of tea on offer, whatever the occasion!!

We are also very child friendly and have full baby changing facilities etc. :-D

Missed last post before it was whooshed, Errol. But am quite happy to try to answer any questions you have. :-)

Edit (Monday morning). Simply because it would be a very long answer and might be better via pm that a public forum, Errol. Glad post has been reinstated and I can reply. :-)

Why would any sane person be pleased that you do not give a full reply - a most bizarre and irrational respnse

Errol. You will be pleased that I will not give a very full reply.

Your text is Matt Chapter 7 verse 15: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

I have a very simple approach to false prophesy. I believe the last verses of the Bible - "For I (St John) testify unto every person that hears the words of the prophesy of this book, If any person shall add unto these things, God shall add unto them the plagues that are written in this book. And if any person take away from the words of the book of this prophesy, God shall take away their part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things that are written in this book."

So anyone who has added prophesy since end of first century AD or has taken away any truths from the Bible is a false prophet. That is my interpretation of what it means.

Luke 24 verse 25, Errol.

Am delivering sermons that look at the proofs of the resurrection of Jesus last week, today and next two weeks. It is uplifting just thinking about these proofs and preparing what to say.

We do have a lectionary (set passages that are read and preached about in all chapels in UK each week) but we also have freedom to go slightly off the lectionary if we feel drawn to certain passages of scripture.

Thanks for question.

It is lovely to hear about your church and your activities, Cynthia.

I was out today about an hour away on edge of Brecon Beacons. Beautiful sunny drive over the mountains and had a lovely congregation welcoming me.

I love this time of the Christian year leading up to Pentecost. So many interesting Bible passages to open up. So many great hymns to choose.

Congregation was "average" size today - about 20. Next week it is likely to be about 6, and in a fortnight over a hundred (largest chapel on circuit). All of the chapels (even the sparsely attended ones) have mid weeks and a good social life. My own chapel offers tea and biscuits after service and that is a lovely opportunity to chat.

In general, it seems to have been an excellent Lord's Day and I hope we all have a lovely and fulfilling week ahead of us. God bless you all.

And isn't it lovely to read about a thriving church? :-)

Thanks for sharing Cynthia, busy indeed :-)

Enjoy reading about your Sunday, makes me
feel I'm there.

Emma :-)