This Easter I was invited to an act of worship on Good Friday. I never saw the person, but they took the effort to got round all the houses in the area inviting everyone to a gathering.
It wasn't the parish church.
It was the local Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall.
I didn't hear anything from the parish church, and while I may have missed it, I didn't see a poster in the local shop for forthcoming services either.
And now that I think about it, the Gospel Hall is pretty good at sending round flyers inviting you to services (although for a period, they forgot to actually say where there hall was) and the JW's will appear every couple of months. After one of these visits, when Mrs G was in a particularly theological frame of mind, they were on the doorstep for 45 minutes. Afterwards they quietly slipped an A4 sized, point by point refutation of Mrs G's position through our letterbox. After this incident I thought the local kingdom hall had blacklisted us.
Now, having lived in this house for over ten years, I am yet to hear anything from the parish church. My placement church is in the next presbytery, so I never see the Minister. I know every church has its own pressures, but surely we must get in touch with the community we serve, at least once a year. Can we afford not to hand round an Easter of Christmas card once a year, inviting people to hear the real message of Christmas or Easter?
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
Wednesday, 31 December 2014
Thoughts On the subject of Christmas.
It's been and gone. Sort of sorry to see it past. But what happened...
Well there was the children's Christmas party to start with. A couple of hours of feeding the wee folk sugar and artificial colouring, while the parents looked on. It was a good fun gathering, and was surprisingly popular. The kids had a good time, and I was impressed at the amount of Christmas jumpers that were on display.
Then, immediately after the party we had the Christingle service. Now I had never been to one of these before, so my first time being at one was in giving the Christingle talk. I had read up on them beforehand, and I will have to admit that I didn't like the idea of the whole service. I know that we use illustrations and other visual clues to explain the message through the year, but there was something about the idea of the orange and the candle that felt a little forced to me. Also, when we have a collecting basket for the foodbank in the hallway, I'm reluctant to use foodstuffs in a service if there's a chance it will go to waste. I am in two minds about whether I would agree to be part of such a service again, although if it is something that brings people a little closer to the Christmas message, in a new and refreshing way, then it is a good thing. Although for a couple of the children present, they would have been happy if we had just given them the candles and flames to play with.
Sunday there was a nativity play during the service. Away in a manger is always cute when the children sing it. Children were a little hyper, but they were enjoying the message, and the older folk liked seeing the younger members enjoying playing an active part in the service. It's not a day for heavy theology, just simple messages in bite sized chunks that the children can enjoy.
At this point in the proceedings, both Mrs G and myself were nursing a pretty bad cold, so we were relying on cough sweets to get us through. Watch Night was struggled through, and I mimed most of my singing, in order to preserve my voice. Turnout was good, and there was a genuine Christmassy,feeling of expectation for Christmas morning. It wasn't a large gathering, but it was a friendly, spiritual one.
After a token visit to my house to sleep, it was back out for Christmas morning. Toys everywhere, and children running around was a sharp contrast to the slightly more formal service that this church is used to. It made being heard a bit more challenging, but my voice survived. Again, not a time for heavy weight theology in the message, but instead, a need to keep everyone interested. Halfway through the lords prayer, my supervisor was interupted by "To infinity and beyond!" from the cheap seats. Someone had brought their Buzz lightyear toy. Awesome!
Then it was back to the house to flop. Christmas made for a tiring couple of days, but at least it happened away from the weekend, where, had Christmas fallen on a Saturday, I would have had three days of worship to undertake. This season has been an easy introduction to Christmas worship.
In theory, the next time I encounter Christmas, I may be a real minister...
Well there was the children's Christmas party to start with. A couple of hours of feeding the wee folk sugar and artificial colouring, while the parents looked on. It was a good fun gathering, and was surprisingly popular. The kids had a good time, and I was impressed at the amount of Christmas jumpers that were on display.
Then, immediately after the party we had the Christingle service. Now I had never been to one of these before, so my first time being at one was in giving the Christingle talk. I had read up on them beforehand, and I will have to admit that I didn't like the idea of the whole service. I know that we use illustrations and other visual clues to explain the message through the year, but there was something about the idea of the orange and the candle that felt a little forced to me. Also, when we have a collecting basket for the foodbank in the hallway, I'm reluctant to use foodstuffs in a service if there's a chance it will go to waste. I am in two minds about whether I would agree to be part of such a service again, although if it is something that brings people a little closer to the Christmas message, in a new and refreshing way, then it is a good thing. Although for a couple of the children present, they would have been happy if we had just given them the candles and flames to play with.
Sunday there was a nativity play during the service. Away in a manger is always cute when the children sing it. Children were a little hyper, but they were enjoying the message, and the older folk liked seeing the younger members enjoying playing an active part in the service. It's not a day for heavy theology, just simple messages in bite sized chunks that the children can enjoy.
At this point in the proceedings, both Mrs G and myself were nursing a pretty bad cold, so we were relying on cough sweets to get us through. Watch Night was struggled through, and I mimed most of my singing, in order to preserve my voice. Turnout was good, and there was a genuine Christmassy,feeling of expectation for Christmas morning. It wasn't a large gathering, but it was a friendly, spiritual one.
After a token visit to my house to sleep, it was back out for Christmas morning. Toys everywhere, and children running around was a sharp contrast to the slightly more formal service that this church is used to. It made being heard a bit more challenging, but my voice survived. Again, not a time for heavy weight theology in the message, but instead, a need to keep everyone interested. Halfway through the lords prayer, my supervisor was interupted by "To infinity and beyond!" from the cheap seats. Someone had brought their Buzz lightyear toy. Awesome!
Then it was back to the house to flop. Christmas made for a tiring couple of days, but at least it happened away from the weekend, where, had Christmas fallen on a Saturday, I would have had three days of worship to undertake. This season has been an easy introduction to Christmas worship.
In theory, the next time I encounter Christmas, I may be a real minister...
Wednesday, 24 December 2014
Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Monday, 22 December 2014
Sunday, 21 December 2014
Saturday, 20 December 2014
Thursday, 18 December 2014
Essential skills.
Today I discovered that, while not an essential requirement for Ministry, the knowledge of how to repair a trumpet valve is exceptionally useful.
This is why school assemblies and children's music recitals are so stressful. A girl got up on stage to perform her trumpet recital. We were willing her on to each note, but when her instrument failed her about four notes in, we just didn't want her to lose confidence, after all, it's a brave person that will stand up in front of the entire school plus parents and perform. It wasn't the children that were stressed, but the adults on their behalf.
So, the music teacher (violinist), girl and myself (didgeridoo-ist) retreated to the music room, to pool our shared trumpet knowledge to work out exactly what was going wrong.
I don't play trumpet, nor have I ever played trumpet. But I have done plumbing, and, at the end of the day, it's all just pipes.
So when the girl's trumpet had a valve that appeared to have rotated round in its body, it was a simple matter of applying plumbing principles to realign the airflow.
To the relief of everyone present, the girl got back up on stage, and gave us a note perfect performance.
And of course, it was worth going to hear the nursery sing "Away in a Manger."
This is why school assemblies and children's music recitals are so stressful. A girl got up on stage to perform her trumpet recital. We were willing her on to each note, but when her instrument failed her about four notes in, we just didn't want her to lose confidence, after all, it's a brave person that will stand up in front of the entire school plus parents and perform. It wasn't the children that were stressed, but the adults on their behalf.
So, the music teacher (violinist), girl and myself (didgeridoo-ist) retreated to the music room, to pool our shared trumpet knowledge to work out exactly what was going wrong.
I don't play trumpet, nor have I ever played trumpet. But I have done plumbing, and, at the end of the day, it's all just pipes.
So when the girl's trumpet had a valve that appeared to have rotated round in its body, it was a simple matter of applying plumbing principles to realign the airflow.
To the relief of everyone present, the girl got back up on stage, and gave us a note perfect performance.
And of course, it was worth going to hear the nursery sing "Away in a Manger."
Monday, 23 December 2013
Where's the Bairns?
A while back I was at a meeting where it was mentioned that an advent wreath had to be bought because it's getting a bit too much for the person who had been making them for years. I can't remember the exact cost, but it was enough to draw a shocked intake of breath from all those gathered. To me, it seemed like a fair price for the work that the florist put in, and it was a perfect example of the value that the volunteers in the church put in, through their time, talents and money.
I asked at the time if some of the children could have been given an oasis ring and, with appropriate assistance, made their own advent ring. It would have been a nice contribution from them, and a seasonal example of their being part of the congregation. After all, Christmas is the season that children have most involvement in with the church. could they manage something else? Would it make the season that is busy for them a little too much like work?
When discussion came up about the use of matches or a lighter to light the candles, I suggested that the children would find one of those stove lighter wands easier to use, there was blank looks. People were more worried about the prospect of wax on the carpet than children using wax tapers.
Advent arrived, and while one adult read a script about the candles, another adult lit the candles. This pattern was repeated, with the exception of yesterday, when I got to light all four candles and read the script.
When the nativity play started, the children acted out their parts, but in mime only. There were no spoken parts, which, while they can on occasion be slow in delivery, are cute. People still talk about the times when they had a part to play in their nativity many years ago. The narrator, another adult, did all the speaking. so yes, it was cute, it was Christmassy, and the important parts of the message were there. I just don't like feeling that the children have to be old before they are allowed to be young again.
In other news, I'm listening to Team Rock Radio at the moment. No adverts, with the exception of an occasional ad for the magazine that is paying the bills. A very occasional Christmas song, which usually has an awesome guitar riff. If the first song you hear of a day is the one that sticks in your head all day, Monday, the day of the interview with the Christian organisation, the tune in my head was "Can I Play with Madness." It seemed appropriate...
I asked at the time if some of the children could have been given an oasis ring and, with appropriate assistance, made their own advent ring. It would have been a nice contribution from them, and a seasonal example of their being part of the congregation. After all, Christmas is the season that children have most involvement in with the church. could they manage something else? Would it make the season that is busy for them a little too much like work?
When discussion came up about the use of matches or a lighter to light the candles, I suggested that the children would find one of those stove lighter wands easier to use, there was blank looks. People were more worried about the prospect of wax on the carpet than children using wax tapers.
Advent arrived, and while one adult read a script about the candles, another adult lit the candles. This pattern was repeated, with the exception of yesterday, when I got to light all four candles and read the script.
When the nativity play started, the children acted out their parts, but in mime only. There were no spoken parts, which, while they can on occasion be slow in delivery, are cute. People still talk about the times when they had a part to play in their nativity many years ago. The narrator, another adult, did all the speaking. so yes, it was cute, it was Christmassy, and the important parts of the message were there. I just don't like feeling that the children have to be old before they are allowed to be young again.
In other news, I'm listening to Team Rock Radio at the moment. No adverts, with the exception of an occasional ad for the magazine that is paying the bills. A very occasional Christmas song, which usually has an awesome guitar riff. If the first song you hear of a day is the one that sticks in your head all day, Monday, the day of the interview with the Christian organisation, the tune in my head was "Can I Play with Madness." It seemed appropriate...
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
The Coffee Chain Replies.
In yesterday's post I bemoaned Christmas starting early in my office tea bar. Well I must give the company in question the right of reply.
"Dear Spot,
Thank you so much for your email and your feedback about our 2012 Christmas campaign.
Every year we carry out customer research to gauge how we should launch Christmas and when we should start talking to our customers about it. Our market research tells us that the start of November is the right time in order to get people feeling "Christmassy" while they are out shopping and making preparations. This timing is in line with most major UK retailers. A number of customers contact us even earlier than November to find out about our range of festive treats and drink flavours and when they will be available in our stores.
We do appreciate that not everyone feels the same way, and for this reason we still offer all our regular drink products in conjunction with the Christmas specialties.
Thank you again for your feedback which we will be forwarded to the wider Marketing Team for consideration when they conduct their Christmas Review.
Many thanks,"
So the question I must ask is who are these people who actually want the Christmas marketing to start so early?
"Dear Spot,
Thank you so much for your email and your feedback about our 2012 Christmas campaign.
Every year we carry out customer research to gauge how we should launch Christmas and when we should start talking to our customers about it. Our market research tells us that the start of November is the right time in order to get people feeling "Christmassy" while they are out shopping and making preparations. This timing is in line with most major UK retailers. A number of customers contact us even earlier than November to find out about our range of festive treats and drink flavours and when they will be available in our stores.
We do appreciate that not everyone feels the same way, and for this reason we still offer all our regular drink products in conjunction with the Christmas specialties.
Thank you again for your feedback which we will be forwarded to the wider Marketing Team for consideration when they conduct their Christmas Review.
Many thanks,"
So the question I must ask is who are these people who actually want the Christmas marketing to start so early?
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Counting The Cost at Christmas.
A letter regarding Christmas marketing.
Dear [well known coffee chain], Your coffee is exceptionally good, although I will confess to being a tea man myself. (Earl Grey, hot.)
Why do you feel the need to jump on the Christmas bandwagon so early in the season? My office tea bar has a mini [coffee chain] franchise, and today I discovered they had moved over to the [coffee chain] Christmas branded cups and promotional materials. When I queried this, I was advised that the use of these cups and flyers was a condition of being part of your group.
It’s not that I’m anti Christmas, but I think it’s pretty unimaginative of your marketing people to centre your promotional efforts around Christmas so early on the year. At least in the USA, Thanksgiving comes before Christmas, but in the UK, there’s no other holidays to stop the progressive seasonal creep of the festive season. And, sadly, I will not be stocking up on your products prior to Christmas. I’d love to give the gift of a skinny latte, but they are too hard to post, so I’ll probably settle for gift vouchers instead.
What about the other things November has to offer? Why not show more support for Remembrance Sunday on the 11th? Or why not do a push for St Andrews day? Leave Christmas for the season of Advent. How about four special brews for the four weeks leading up to Christmas? You could launch this with a big push at the start of December. Make it something to talk about, the shop that dares to be different. Come on, [coffee chain], Be unique. Be daring. Be original. Then you won’t be spending a large chunk of the year being the same as every other unimaginative outlet on the high street.
Kind regards,
spotthegerbil
(Their reply has arrived. I'll publish tomorrow)
Dear [well known coffee chain], Your coffee is exceptionally good, although I will confess to being a tea man myself. (Earl Grey, hot.)
Why do you feel the need to jump on the Christmas bandwagon so early in the season? My office tea bar has a mini [coffee chain] franchise, and today I discovered they had moved over to the [coffee chain] Christmas branded cups and promotional materials. When I queried this, I was advised that the use of these cups and flyers was a condition of being part of your group.
It’s not that I’m anti Christmas, but I think it’s pretty unimaginative of your marketing people to centre your promotional efforts around Christmas so early on the year. At least in the USA, Thanksgiving comes before Christmas, but in the UK, there’s no other holidays to stop the progressive seasonal creep of the festive season. And, sadly, I will not be stocking up on your products prior to Christmas. I’d love to give the gift of a skinny latte, but they are too hard to post, so I’ll probably settle for gift vouchers instead.
What about the other things November has to offer? Why not show more support for Remembrance Sunday on the 11th? Or why not do a push for St Andrews day? Leave Christmas for the season of Advent. How about four special brews for the four weeks leading up to Christmas? You could launch this with a big push at the start of December. Make it something to talk about, the shop that dares to be different. Come on, [coffee chain], Be unique. Be daring. Be original. Then you won’t be spending a large chunk of the year being the same as every other unimaginative outlet on the high street.
Kind regards,
spotthegerbil
(Their reply has arrived. I'll publish tomorrow)
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