seeler
How was church - March 28
Posted on: 03/28/2010 14:24
Church for me started at 8:45 when I picked up a university student who has not attended any church since her childhood (if then) and took her down to the church for a breakfast of eggs benedict. We took our plates into the parlor where about a dozen of us met with a guest of the facilitator to discuss Christianity and Atheist. It went well. Turns out he and the student knew each other - he's her professor in the English department. Also because he is from the Maritimes he found that he was related to one of the participants in the group. Good discussion, despite the fact that we all seemed to be moderates - no one at the extreme ends.
Then church. The actual service was good, but it was long - too long. We had a guest quartet that sang three pieces - good singers but that added time to an already busy service. We had the new elders inducted. There were a lot of announcements.
I enjoyed the palm parade at the beginning - loved seeing my grandson waving his palm branch and marching with the others - he tends to be shy. I enjoyed the sermon which moved from the palm parade to the question "who killed Jesus". The minister suggested that different theologians have read the various accounts in the four gospels and come up with several reconstructions of events in that final week. The one that he seemed to favour is that it began with the palm parade or triumphant entry into Jerusalem. People seemed determined to make Jesus a king. The Romans were interested in crowd control during this busy festival time. Jesus (or the people around him) was creating a disturbance. The Roman way to deal with that was to eliminate him. He concluded with the idea that the people had great expectations for Jesus but perhaps we should concentrate on the expectation Jesus required of us.
We were already running almost 1/2 hour late when the retired minister had his turn - he got up for the prayers of the people. He is experienced. I have no doubt he had put some effort into composing his closing prayer. He cut it to a couple of sentences.
Favourite hymn: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
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Alex
Church was full, and
Posted on: 03/28/2010 15:24
Church was full, and crowded. The sound system was turned up as a result so the general loudness, made it hard for me to focus. Our church is becoming so big, that it worries me, that soon we will have no more space for people to sit. Does anyone else have this problem?
However the minister talked about Harvey Milk. The youth group had watch the film about his life.
I was pleased to hear the minister say that Jesus preached breaking down barriers between people, and that Jesus did not reject anyone, even Judas
I was inspired by two quotes, from Harvey Milk that fit into the theme of Easter week.
I can not remember them exactly, put the following I found on wikiquote and I believe that they are the same ones that lifted me up.
The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give them hope. Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right. Without hope, not only gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the us'es, the us'es will give up
And from a recording that he had prepared in case he was killed, (he was shot and killed)
If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.
My fears about space were aleviated when it was announce that a second service is being started.
Alex
The Voice of Harvey Milk.
Posted on: 03/28/2010 15:16
The Voice of Harvey Milk. Speaking about hope.
GordW
graeme, do you folks have a
Posted on: 03/28/2010 15:28
graeme,
do you folks have a set time service is to end? If not then it is impossible to be a 1/2 hour "late". Longer than usual perhaps. Longer than comfortable perhaps but not late.
Mind you it is still gotta be better than when I was teaching SS years ago. At that point in the congregation's history Palm Sunday was Confirmation day., which alos meant it was communion and also there were often some baptisms.
When you combine this with the Palm Parade and a minister who never, under any circumstances, shortened his sermon it was not uncommon for Palm Sunday worship to be 1.75-2 hours. SInce we were never planned for that long it was an incredibly long service.
stoneeyeball
I no longer attend church
Posted on: 03/28/2010 16:13
I no longer attend church because I am a person with a disability (as opposed to the eroneous label 'a disabled person'.) I've been exposed to the spectrum of theologies, worshp styles, ministers/pastors (nuff said!!!), and the good, the bad and the ugly for preachers, music, etc. I gave up on television services of all stripes. Some are very professionally done as a production, and others are your usual 'scissors and paste' review with too many gaps. Worship, for me, is active, not passive. Part of worshipping God involves active discipleship and outreach to those who need to be fed - physically and spiritually. Some people need a church fellowship regardless of theological stripe. I have outgrown my need for the weekly 'holy show' and live drama called Sunday worship. One church I attended years ago reminded me of the Muppet Show. (Yes, we had a 'miss piggy' type who also reminded me of 'big bird'.) Even before I became disabled, I found most worship services from the cold, formal, 'average' United Church to the liveliest Pentecostal service frustrating and boring. I get more out of a quiet time with God than listening to some awful choir who think they're the answer to American Idol. Yes, and the offering is up to me how much and to whom I choose to support. I did go out for coffee with my son and daughter in law this morning. I got more fellowship out of that than most services I've attended. (What would happen if the had an Easter service, and nobody came?)
Kinst
Your church sounds really
Posted on: 03/28/2010 16:16
Your church sounds really good Alex!
Today I showed up late, as everyone was doing the palm parade. I got one and joined in. There was a decent crowd. Umm the music was great, it always was. We did a bunch of songs and prayers and stuff, I remember they put palm leaves on the projector a bunch of times. The sermon was pretty serious, on the crucifiction. I grabbed some brownies and a finger sandwich.
Then I went to starbucks.
Alex
We are also going through a
Posted on: 03/28/2010 16:24
We are also going through a process to find a 2nd minister. I do not understand the process, but if anyone is interested in ministry in a church like mine you can contact First United in Ottawa to find out more information. I am not sure if they are going to be looking for a full time or a part time ministers, I think the process is looking at that question.
carolla
stoneeyeball wrote: (as
Posted on: 03/28/2010 16:28
(as edited by Carolla - deletions marked by ///)
I no longer attend church because I am a person with a disability (as opposed to the eroneous label 'a disabled person'.) /// Worship, for me, is active, not passive. Part of worshipping God involves active discipleship and outreach to those who need to be fed - physically and spiritually. /// I have outgrown my need for the weekly 'holy show' and live drama called Sunday worship. /// I get more out of a quiet time with God /// Yes, and the offering is up to me how much and to whom I choose to support. I did go out for coffee with my son and daughter in law this morning. I got /// fellowship out of that ///
Hi stoneeyball - I read your post, and at first saw alot of negativity ... but when I edited that out, I read the post of someone who, despite challenges of an acquired disability, is quite self-determining, and chooses connections for their positive value. I'm glad that you have your quiet moments with God, enjoy your Sunday family outings, and your personal commitments to action that demonstrate your faith. Be well.
carolla
Our service this morning was
Posted on: 03/28/2010 16:31
Our service this morning was great. The procession with palm fronds is always a treat & it's fun to see the kids' enthusiasm for something different. We heard great anthems from all three of our choirs. I helped to serve communion, and after the service caught up with a few friends I had not seen for some time. So it was a good start to my day.
Ariel
Church was AWESOME
Posted on: 03/28/2010 19:11
Church was AWESOME today!!!
Beautiful and meaningful songs, palm leaves to wave, friends to catch up with.
I'm so glad I took last Sunday off to rest. I felt so rejuvinated today! :)
Happy Palm Sunday, everyone. And, I hope your holy week is very blessed! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VtZjZOpIgU&feature=related
carolla
I can feel your energy Ariel!
Posted on: 03/28/2010 19:15
I can feel your energy Ariel!
GordW
Alex wrote: We are also
Posted on: 03/28/2010 20:17
We are also going through a process to find a 2nd minister. I do not understand the process, but if anyone is interested in ministry in a church like mine you can contact First United in Ottawa to find out more information. I am not sure if they are going to be looking for a full time or a part time ministers, I think the process is looking at that question.
It sounds like they are still in the Needs Assessment phase. The end of that phase will bring a recommendation to the congregation through the Board and then to PResbytery. At that point the active search begins.
seeler
GordW - I presum that you
Posted on: 03/28/2010 20:33
GordW - I presum that you were addressing me, not Graeme. There is no set time for church service - but generally it is out by noon or five or ten minutes later. I had been there since before 9:00 am remember. Also my daughter and grandson were with me. As it became obvious that we weren't going to be done until close to 12:30 I could tell that she was wondering if she should leave then, depriving her son of his cookie at fellowship time, or wait to the end. The thing is, people have commitments. She was expecting company that afternoon - she wanted to be home to welcome them. She also has taught Sunday School enough to know that teachers have a hard time when church runs too much over, the lesson is over, and the kids get hungry.
Also she likes to have a few minutes of fellowship time to touch base with people - something I think as an important part of congregational life.
Yes, church sometimes does run too long.
Beloved
Greetings! I enjoyed our
Posted on: 03/28/2010 21:10
Greetings!
I enjoyed our church service this morning. Instead of a regular sermon the message was delivered through story telling which involved 3 persons from our congregation talking about palm Sunday, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and the coming events of Holy Week. We had a palm parade where we marched around the sanctuary waving our palms and singing "We are marching in the light of God, we are marching in the light of God'.
Hope, peace, joy, love . . .