Not religious but love feeling at Church

Gloomendoom

margaretclare wrote: »

But you do need to learn how to speak in public! Not everyone can do it, consequently some can only be heard from the front pews, not further back.

Good point, but we have a microphone and a PA system.

As long a it's turned on, everybody can hear.

margaretclare

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Good point, but we have a microphone and a PA system.

As long a it's turned on, everybody can hear.

So have we, but still it happens that some people read or speak looking downwards, not lifting their heads and speaking outwards to the audience/congregation. There is a knack to it. I was taught it at teacher training college, DH learned it in management seminars. We can both be heard at the back of the church, but not everyone can. It means projecting your voice, speaking outwards not downwards, rather like actors on a stage used to have to do before modern audio.

Gloomendoom

margaretclare wrote: »

So have we, but still it happens that some people read or speak looking downwards, not lifting their heads and speaking outwards to the audience/congregation. There is a knack to it. I was taught it at teacher training college, DH learned it in management seminars. We can both be heard at the back of the church, but not everyone can. It means projecting your voice, speaking outwards not downwards, rather like actors on a stage used to have to do before modern audio.

It can't be a hard knack to learn though. Even with the wide variety of readers we have, I've never noticed a problem wherever I am in the church.

I'd agree that you might need help if you aren't using a PA (or a poorly set up PA).

tea_lover

We have a new AV system (installed last year, massive improvement on the old one) and you can still really tell the difference between those that have had mic training and the ones that haven't.

Rosemary7391

Gloomendoom wrote: »

It can't be a hard knack to learn though. Even with the wide variety of readers we have, I've never noticed a problem wherever I am in the church.

I'd agree that you might need help if you aren't using a PA (or a poorly set up PA).

I recall being taught it as a child in church - when we children were in for family services they'd often chop up the readings and give several kids a bit to read, with an adult helper for the younger/more nervous ones. I think we learnt quite a lot at church really!

Having been to churches in both Scotland and England, I think the differences being described are more to do with different traditions and needs/abilities of the congregation than the location. Someone mentioned that church members don't maintain the building in one church - I can only assume that that church has no building of its own, or a lot of money to pay someone to do everything... Swings and roundabouts, what suits one church may be impossible in another. 'Twould be boring if we as individuals were all the same, and that scales up to groups as well

I'd quite like the 40 minute sermons, but it's more 20 minutes here. I've heard the "hymn sandwich" descriptor too that's our usual service mode.

Torry_Quine

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

I recall being taught it as a child in church - when we children were in for family services they'd often chop up the readings and give several kids a bit to read, with an adult helper for the younger/more nervous ones. I think we learnt quite a lot at church really!

Having been to churches in both Scotland and England, I think the differences being described are more to do with different traditions and needs/abilities of the congregation than the location. Someone mentioned that church members don't maintain the building in one church - I can only assume that that church has no building of its own, or a lot of money to pay someone to do everything... Swings and roundabouts, what suits one church may be impossible in another. 'Twould be boring if we as individuals were all the same, and that scales up to groups as well

I'd quite like the 40 minute sermons, but it's more 20 minutes here. I've heard the "hymn sandwich" descriptor too that's our usual service mode.

We do own our building.

Brighton_belle

Interesting discussion - Torry's church sounds exactly like any church service I have been to in the last 30 years. I live in the south of England.

teddysmum

Someone mentioned the spiritual feeling in a church.


The most spiritual experience, I had, was wandering alone along the Pentire headland near Newquay, Cornwall. I felt as though there were protecting souls about and couldn't get the O Fortuna music out of my head. (It never occurred to me how vulnerable I was as a lone female.)


It was only on consulting the internet, that I found I had been walking the path past some barrows (burial mounds).

Margaret52129

Just found this thread and read it all! It's lovely that a discussion about churches/sermons can be talked about so freely.

My church is a Methodist, we rarely have the same person (Minister/lay preacher/visiting preacher) on consecutive weeks. Each person brings their own slant on the sermon, some are brilliant, some are dour and a lot are inbetween. Our's is a modern (50yo) building in need of much repair work, but we have many volunteers that help out in whatever way they can.

There are various groups which organise different things (Property/Worship/Stewards etc) and the only person who is present at all of them is the Minister. We also have rotas for Readers/Coffee Bar/Door Stewards/Church Stewards. All are people who volunteer, some of these are on one or more of the rotas, but that is their choice!

The general cleaning of the church is done by outdoor cleaners (we used to have a caretaker but after the last one left, cleaners were hired).

No one is made to feel they are pressurised to join in any of the said groups, and lots decide to leave immediately after the service and not have coffee all of which is fine.

I enjoy my church and I feel that I am part of a large family and I know that I have many friends there. I am the only one in my own family that goes to church, both my children attended when young, but neither do so now, my husband has never been, but no-one amongst the members ask why that is, they just accept it and if they see them, they talk to them as they would to anyone.

We are all part of one body, even though it is made up of many parts and so if we accept this, we should accept everyone.