Anyone up for a chat thread?

[Catherineanne]

I'm like a little child at Christmas when new books I've ordered arrive. Today I've received four:





There's a bit of a theme...

I bought this one a week ago; it is a little gem.

 

[Paidiske]

+Rowan is always brilliant. One of the great minds of (I was about to say our, but realised that doesn't quite work) his generation.

One of the guys who went through college with me is now doing his doctorate supervised by +Rowan. To say that I'm jealous is... inadequate!

 

[Catherineanne]

He may hope you will volunteer to organise it. If you have the time and energy, I say do it! It will be a buzz for you, and great for the parish to have something like that as part of its life.

Well, I would, except ...

My daughter is a historian, and in my first year at the church the Vicar asked her to research the history of the church for an open church event. She spent some weeks doing this, and put a lot of her own time and effort into research and preparing a presentation.

The week before this was to happen one of the Alpha Ladies (nothing to do with the course; the Ladies Who Own The Church) spoke to me before the service. She was not happy, nor polite. She said she understood my daughter was preparing some information for the open event, and complained that nobody had told her. Then lots of complaints about the Vicar never telling anyone anything, then more complaints. She had spent weeks preparing for the open day, she said. I stood there and just looked at her.

When she eventually ran out of complaints I said this; 'What exactly would you like from my daughter?'

She said that my daughter could put a pamphlet on the notice board on the OUTSIDE of the church, in the porch 'if she really wanted to.'

All of this is normal enough. What is not so good is that the Vicar shrugged his shoulders and did nothing at all about it. He allowed me and my daughter to be trampled by the Alpha Ladies, and they knew it.

My daughter of course did nothing at all for the open day, and has never been back to the church since then. I doubt if she ever will.

And I do not take permission from the Vicar to mean anything at all. The Alpha Ladies are in charge.

 

[Catherineanne]

+Rowan is always brilliant. One of the great minds of (I was about to say our, but realised that doesn't quite work) his generation.

One of the guys who went through college with me is now doing his doctorate supervised by +Rowan. To say that I'm jealous is... inadequate!

 

[Paidiske]

Sigh. Languishing out here in the colonial doldrums, I tell you.

As to the other thing, your vicar really can't handle conflict, can he?

 

[Catherineanne]

Sigh. Languishing out here in the colonial doldrums, I tell you.

As to the other thing, your vicar really can't handle conflict, can he?

No. I told him once that he wants peace, and he took that as a compliment.

It wasn't a compliment.

As soon as I work out an alternative I will be out of there. I am slowly working towards it. Kind of.

Meanwhile, I have 2 tickets for this festival, if you happen to be free. +R will be presiding at Mass. Do come!

http://www.london.anglican.org/event/2016/09/24/anglican-catholic-future-national-festival-2016/

 

[Paidiske]

Hrmph. Why is it that with all the other guff they make us learn, they can't insist on a bit of conflict management skills thrown in? Seriously, it's not rocket science, but it's something I see so many people struggle with!

 

[Arcangl86]

So this was right before my time, but apparently one of my old churches ended up having a heated hour long discussion around removing two pews so that the musicians could sit in chairs. The things people get worked up over. I will say, I love those new pews of yours.

 

[Church2u2]

It'd be nice to just chat about life, the universe, day-to-day life of faith with like-minded folk... doesn't feel right to gate crash someone else's chat thread.

Anyone?

As a light and fluffy starter topic, we could talk about pews. My parish council are busy arguing over whether to buy new ones or not. (I'm so hoping we do!) So what do you like in a pew? Or do you prefer a chair? Or do you even care?

We have a mixture of pews and chairs at my church.The chairs are padded and we set them up mostly when we have an overflow of visitors.I like them both about the same but some of the older people at my church like the pews better.

 

[Catherineanne]

Hrmph. Why is it that with all the other guff they make us learn, they can't insist on a bit of conflict management skills thrown in? Seriously, it's not rocket science, but it's something I see so many people struggle with!

I quietly mentioned this very point to the bishop; I suggested a reminder of win:win negotiating strategies as a subject for future clergy training.

(I used to write management training programmes.)

 

[Shane R]

I once suggested that a particular church which had dwindled to a small fraction of what it was built for remove the back three or four pews on each side. Then they still would have had three times the seating they needed but the minister could have seen his flock without needing binoculars. Their Sunday school program was so vibrant that they used one of the classrooms as a storage shed for the lawn equipment. It's my dad's little fundamentalist flock and they have dwindled from 70 when he first came to them to about 17 if everyone who is loosely affiliated has come out of the woodwork for a particular service.

 

[Paidiske]

So this was right before my time, but apparently one of my old churches ended up having a heated hour long discussion around removing two pews so that the musicians could sit in chairs. The things people get worked up over.

Yes, this is closer to what I'm used to in most churches, so I've been delighted with the openness in this congregation. We had one grumpy letter, but apart from that even the people who would have preferred we keep the old have been able to say, "Well, it wouldn't have been my choice, but I can see what you're trying to do and get behind it."

I told them (I may even have had a tear in my eye) that although they are a small congregation with little money, many of my colleagues would envy me working with such wonderful people!

Shane, 17 is tough. How long has your dad been there?

 

[Shane R]

Shane, 17 is tough. How long has your dad been there?

29 years.

 

[Paidiske]

I'd almost wonder if it was time for someone new to see whether they can shift things a bit... Or would they maybe look at partnering with a bigger congregation somewhere?

 

[Paidiske]

Catherineanne, I just bought a copy of Being Disciples. And one of Being Christian as well.

You know, over in TLT they're trying to get a little group to read and comment on a book together; if folks were interested in something like that here, I'd really enjoy that.

 

[Arcangl86]

Catherineanne, I just bought a copy of Being Disciples. And one of Being Christian as well.

You know, over in TLT they're trying to get a little group to read and comment on a book together; if folks were interested in something like that here, I'd really enjoy that.

I would be game,

 

[BelleC]

Catherineanne, I just bought a copy of Being Disciples. And one of Being Christian as well.

You know, over in TLT they're trying to get a little group to read and comment on a book together; if folks were interested in something like that here, I'd really enjoy that.

I think I have a copy of Being Christian! A book club sounds pretty fun.

 

[CanadianAnglican]

Today was my final Sunday at my "home" parish. I have been a regular member there for about 12 years, though my connection goes back about 24 years on my side (as long as the current rector has been there) and found out today that some members of the parish (through my grandmother) had been praying for me since my conception was announced.

It was an emotional day with a number of people expressing a great deal of support for me as the bishop sends me off to my new parish (I begin my first 14 month placement next Sunday). It was a neat experience, however I am very much going to miss my dear brothers and sisters in Christ from that parish. I am grateful to call many friends (including the rector), but I would very much appreciate some prayers over the next little transition period as I come to know my new parish.

 

[Paidiske]

Oh, that's a huge huge transition. Of course I'll keep you in prayer.

Do you know much about the new parish yet?

 

[CanadianAnglican]

I've met the rector a few times and seem to get along with him, but I don't know too much about the parish itself beyond its size (75-100 ASA, which is considerably smaller than my home parish).

They also lack a BCP service, so it's going to be a huge transition for me in that respect. I'm not really a fan of the theology of the Canadian Book of Alternative Services.

I am going to meet the rector again this Wednesday to sort out my assignment and get some clarification on things like the parish demographics, ministries, weekly services, etc. It should be a relatively interesting assignment. It seems like a growing parish and the priest is orthodox for the most part, though it seems as though the parish itself has mixed views. Rather different than my previous parish.