Not religious but love feeling at Church

Jackieboy

Primrose wrote: »

These days I'm a Christmas only attender. I'm not sure what I believe any more and I hate the way the Church of England has ditched the beautiful poetic wording of the Book of Common Prayer and adopted the current language of the day. Whatever your feelings are about worship, I believe that doing so in beautiful surroundings and the right environment is helpful. And I think the choral schools in our cathedrals are nurturing our lovely English choral music traditional which has developed through the ages. When I hear some of the well known anthems being sung it sends a real tingle down my spine. I fail to see how anybody could not be inspired by their beauty (but then I'm not a pop music lover !) Nut not everybody is fortunate enough to have the facilities of a cathedral on their doorstep.

I feel much the same and go to a service where the BCP is being used wherever possible.

Fortunately the churches I've been to in the last few years have had good (if small) choirs.

Jackieboy

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Well I consider the church as being the sanctuary, the hall and the other rooms used for activities such as creche, not forgetting the office. The hall is used for things just as important as the weekly service and is cared for to the same standard as the sanctuary. It certainly wasn't a case of throwing paint on, when the sanctuary needs decorated its done the same way.

I can't relate to any of that, I'm afraid. I don't see how anything such as a creche could possibly be as important as the services.

Torry_Quine

Jackieboy wrote: »

I can't relate to any of that, I'm afraid. I don't see how anything such as a creche could possibly be as important as the services.

I didn't say it was although I get why you'd think that. However having a creche is very important to allow parents to take part in the service. It doesn't take place in the hall though but in one of the other rooms.

Person_one

Jackieboy wrote: »

I can't relate to any of that, I'm afraid. I don't see how anything such as a creche could possibly be as important as the services.

It probably is to the people who need the creche to be able to go to the services!

Jackieboy

Person_one wrote: »

It probably is to the people who need the creche to be able to go to the services!

It can be a means to an end obviously but not essential.

Not all churches have creches, in most it's normal for the children to be in the service with their parents.

Torry_Quine

Jackieboy wrote: »

It can be a means to an end obviously but not essential.

Not all churches have creches, in most it's normal for the children to be in the service with their parents.

I've never known a church where children didn't go out after the first few songs for Sunday School although its not compulsory. It would be hard for children to stay for the hour or more and would mean some sermons would have to be changed due to childrens' level.of understanding. With creche aged children some parents may have them with them for at least part of the service, especially if feeding them but for others the chance to worship without worrying about their childs needs.

ALIBOBSY

Jackieboy wrote: »

It can be a means to an end obviously but not essential.

Not all churches have creches, in most it's normal for the children to be in the service with their parents.

Our church have bags hung up you can borrow with colouring books and reading books and other quiet things for children, or they can go to a small room at the back of the church, sort of a nice extension with a toilet and small kitchen, plus the boxes of toys the playgroup use and they are happy for parents to take advantage of the area if needed and the older children go to sunday school so not sure why a creche is really required. Also plenty of older ladies happy to have a little hold of babies/toddlers whilst mum/dad take communion.

I think I must be lucky in that I go to a local old fashioned c of e church in a village on the edge of a small town in the north and most services are well attended, even midweek services will get 20 or 30 and at Christmas its standing room only.

No pressure to join in here, but if you want to volunteer you would be welcomed with open arms.

Recently we lost my Dad and apart from the comfort and uplifting sense I get from the actual services and my belief, the people and community have been beyond supportive and caring. At the crematorium as we went out and I broke down our lovely vicar put his arms around me and was so lovely. His wife always has a hug when she sees us and has been so kind.

But back to the question in the thread, even putting aside religion the actual quiet, calmness of the service, the communal feeling and perhaps even the rhythum and cadence of the words of the service i would imagine would be very calming and uplifting to anyone.

Ali x

Rosemary7391

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I've never known a church where children didn't go out after the first few songs for Sunday School although its not compulsory. It would be hard for children to stay for the hour or more and would mean some sermons would have to be changed due to childrens' level.of understanding. With creche aged children some parents may have them with them for at least part of the service, especially if feeding them but for others the chance to worship without worrying about their childs needs.

We have a little fenced off area at the back of church, with lots of children's toys in, plus books/colouring for the slightly older ones. We simply don't have the people to run a creche or Sunday school, and we only have a couple of children currently. We didn't have any 2 years ago though! I agree it would be nice to do, but just not possible currently. During the week the sanctuary area is rearranged and used for mother and toddler groups, and a drop in centre/community cafe, along with many other things, so it is well used during the week. Churches come in all shapes and sizes, as do their buildings. I'm glad that they do!

Torry_Quine

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

We have a little fenced off area at the back of church, with lots of children's toys in, plus books/colouring for the slightly older ones. We simply don't have the people to run a creche or Sunday school, and we only have a couple of children currently. We didn't have any 2 years ago though! I agree it would be nice to do, but just not possible currently. During the week the sanctuary area is rearranged and used for mother and toddler groups, and a drop in centre/community cafe, along with many other things, so it is well used during the week. Churches come in all shapes and sizes, as do their buildings. I'm glad that they do!

You are obviously talking about a very small church which has its own different challenges to solve and it sounds like things are working well.

On any Sunday the creche alone is well into double figures at my church so very different.

I'm glad too that churches come in differing sizes !

Newly_retired

By and large the churches that are growing most, numerically, tend not to be the quiet ones using the Book of Common Prayer services. They tend to use contemporary worship, often led by a music group rather than an organ.
Each to their own, but looking round my church, which is fairly traditional, there are probably around 30 people who do various "jobs" to keep the building and the services running, and only two are under 65. Many are now getting too old to continue to do these jobs and there is nobody stepping up to take over. We don't see many new people, and have about a further 30 people who just come to worship and do not offer to help in any way. I am not sure what the way ahead is, but if things don't change, there will be nobody to help to run the church in 10 years time. This story could be repeated across the country.