Anyone up for a chat thread?

[Paidiske]

No pressure!

In truth, the one I'm keen to read first is Praying Upside Down. One of the things I'm coming to grips with in this parish is that there are quite a few artists and creative folk, and a long history of artists associated with the parish. It's a key strand of their identity. So one of my questions becomes how do I build links between that, and their spirituality and sense of mission as a church?

And since I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, any sort of artist, I'm having to work hard to get my head around that. I think that book might give me some helpful things to think about.

 

[BelleC]

No pressure!

In truth, the one I'm keen to read first is Praying Upside Down. One of the things I'm coming to grips with in this parish is that there are quite a few artists and creative folk, and a long history of artists associated with the parish. It's a key strand of their identity. So one of my questions becomes how do I build links between that, and their spirituality and sense of mission as a church?

And since I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, any sort of artist, I'm having to work hard to get my head around that. I think that book might give me some helpful things to think about.

From the reviews it looks like an interesting read!

 

[Paidiske]

The new pews have arrived! And the old ones are gone, and the nave now just feels totally different. More spacious, more welcoming, and more warm!

So so pleased it has all worked out. Although I probably need to give the congregation a while to get used to it before I decide what needs to be done next...

 

[Tigger45]

The new pews have arrived! And the old ones are gone, and the nave now just feels totally different. More spacious, more welcoming, and more warm!

So so pleased it has all worked out. Although I probably need to give the congregation a while to get used to it before I decide what needs to be done next...

Before and after pics would be cool

 

[Arcangl86]

The new pews have arrived! And the old ones are gone, and the nave now just feels totally different. More spacious, more welcoming, and more warm!

So so pleased it has all worked out. Although I probably need to give the congregation a while to get used to it before I decide what needs to be done next...

New pews. My you like to live dangerously.

 

[Paidiske]

Old pews; four and a half metres long, too heavy for one person to move, very uncomfortable.



New pews, I don't have photos in situ in our church yet, but here is a photo of the church they came from (they are more red and less rose in real life). One and a half metres long, easily movable by one person, very comfortable.



And best of all, give me the option to rearrange the nave for special services etc, making it a much more flexible liturgical space. I'm thrilled to bits.

 

[Tigger45]

That's great. Glad it all worked out.

 

[Tigger45]

Do your old pews have a home yet? Sometimes situations like this cause a domino effect.

 

[Paidiske]

The old pews have been sold to someone who will shorten them and sell them on to restaurants and the like. Apparently he has quite a satisfactory little business doing that kind of refurbishing.

We were very fortunate; we bought the new ones from a church that had closed, and they were just glad to see them go to another place of worship. No way could we have afforded them new!

 

[Tigger45]

I've attended churches that have been on either end of these exchanges. One where we were getting new sanctuary items and were able to donate our old stuff to an up start congregation and later at an outreach church that was very active with the homeless, we were usually on the receiving end once the dominos landed where they may.

 

[Paidiske]

The key thing, I think, is to have a clear sense of the mission and vision of the community, and how the chosen furnishings serve that, rather than playing musical chairs for the sake of it.

 

[Catherineanne]

Hhmm... Maybe I should pray that God would raise up carpenters among us!

Or take an evening class ...

 

[Paidiske]

In my copious spare time...

 

[Catherineanne]

The old pews have been sold to someone who will shorten them and sell them on to restaurants and the like. Apparently he has quite a satisfactory little business doing that kind of refurbishing.

We were very fortunate; we bought the new ones from a church that had closed, and they were just glad to see them go to another place of worship. No way could we have afforded them new!

That all sounds good!

Some of the pews in our church (the ones at the back) are very old, others less so, but I don't see them changing any time soon. The older ones are very uncomfortable indeed, but at least it helps people to stay awake.

 

[Catherineanne]

In my copious spare time...

Of course!

 

[Catherineanne]

The key thing, I think, is to have a clear sense of the mission and vision of the community, and how the chosen furnishings serve that, rather than playing musical chairs for the sake of it.

That, or simple consideration for those doing the cleaning.

 

[Paidiske]

Yes, my parishioners have told me that I need to make sure my preaching is dynamic enough to keep them awake now!

 

[Catherineanne]

No pressure!

In truth, the one I'm keen to read first is Praying Upside Down. One of the things I'm coming to grips with in this parish is that there are quite a few artists and creative folk, and a long history of artists associated with the parish. It's a key strand of their identity. So one of my questions becomes how do I build links between that, and their spirituality and sense of mission as a church?

And since I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, any sort of artist, I'm having to work hard to get my head around that. I think that book might give me some helpful things to think about.

That all sounds good.

My Vicar has been saying since I joined his church 3 years ago that he would have an exhibition of my work.

He doesn't realise that saying it over and over isn't enough, and wonders why it has not happened. I think he considers me rather remiss in not just starting to stick pictures up.

 

[Catherineanne]

Yes, my parishioners have told me that I need to make sure my preaching is dynamic enough to keep them awake now!

I would go for quiet enough not to disturb them.

 

[Paidiske]

That all sounds good.

My Vicar has been saying since I joined his church 3 years ago that he would have an exhibition of my work.

He doesn't realise that saying it over and over isn't enough, and wonders why it has not happened. I think he considers me rather remiss in not just starting to stick pictures up.

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.

I would go for quiet enough not to disturb them.