Anyone up for a chat thread?

[Shane R]

Meet Dolores: born October 15th, 2017.

Today her mother returned to church and Dolores attended for the first time. "The Churching of Women" was prayed. Her baptism is being planned, as the Archbishop himself may be available to do it and the parish has people to be received and confirmed.

 

[PloverWing]

Meet Dolores: born October 15th, 2017.

Congratulations!

 

[Paidiske]

Aww, congratulations!

 

[Paidiske]

If Luther had been in the C of E...

 

[Naomi4Christ]

Thankfully, the faculty process for a notice board has relaxed in recent years. You still need one but can basically self-certify. It's all good fun.

Happy Reformation 500!

 

[Paidiske]

The parish I'm in now has a heritage status with the government. If I thought dealing with faculties was bad, it's a walk in the park compared to dealing with heritage issues!

 

[Naomi4Christ]

We have to deal with a different heritage body for each century of the church's life. You'd think it would be just the one the church was built in, but no, because of subsequent extensions and reordering so everyone wants to say no. The local authority and Diocesan Chancellor are much more positive.

 

[Paidiske]

You have different heritage bodies for different centuries? My head hurts just thinking about that!

 

[Naomi4Christ]

You have different heritage bodies for different centuries? My head hurts just thinking about that!

Yes - they are secular organisations with a view to stop you doing anything - so the Victorian Society, Georgian Society etc. On top of that, there is English Heritage, and the local planners. And the Diocese, of course. And the Congregation.

Being a Church Warden is such fun!

 

[Paidiske]

But the Victorian society etc, they're not government bodies?

 

[Naomi4Christ]

They are charities/QANGOs who are statutorily consulted in planning applications. The local council will take their views on board when making planning judgments.

 

[Paidiske]

Ugh. What a mess!

Meanwhile, it's All Souls' day, and it seems my pastoral challenge for the day is to comfort an old man who is terrified his niece (who committed suicide this year) is in hell...

Some days the heartbreak of the world is quite overwhelming.

 

[gordonhooker]

Ugh. What a mess!

Meanwhile, it's All Souls' day, and it seems my pastoral challenge for the day is to comfort an old man who is terrified his niece (who committed suicide this year) is in hell...

Some days the heartbreak of the world is quite overwhelming.

Yikes you poor soul that is one heck of a pastoral duty one could do without. Prayers heading your way.

 

[gordonhooker]

I quite enjoyed what Fr. Scott preached on today’s Gospel, always tricky that one.

 

[Paidiske]

I preached on Micah...

What did Fr. Scott have to say about the gospel?

 

[gordonhooker]

He used the Gospel to do a deep dive of the rationale behind the Pharisee sect and their protection of the Jewish Torah in Greco-Roman world of Jesus and his disciples.

 

[Paidiske]

I've got a Bible study group looking at the same issue just at the moment. I had someone in the parish request it, as he wanted to really understand what was at issue in the disputes between the Pharisees and Jesus. It's sparked some very useful conversations!

 

[everbecoming2007]

So I discovered that some people from our 1928 BCP service make comments in the narthex on the way out if the candles are not put out in a certain order. One of the priests taught me the symbolism and how we light and extinguish the candles and that the gospel candle is never burning alone. I never realized there was any significance to it, but I will be paying attention now.

 

[gordonhooker]

So I discovered that some people from our 1928 BCP service make comments in the narthex on the way out if the candles are not put out in a certain order. One of the priests taught me the symbolism and how we light and extinguish the candles and that the gospel candle is never burning alone. I never realized there was any significance to it, but I will be paying attention now.

I was taught that the Gospel never stands alone it is supported by the Epistles in the NT.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

I am always fascinated by the range of Anglican practices. We don't have candles in our fellowship except during our Carol Service and Midnight Communion at Christmas.

What is the symbolism of candles at your church?

As a warden, I get twitchy about naked flames.