General Chat

A normal Sunday service today ie no special event being celebrated, but we had loads of mums, dads and tiddlers in the creche.

Good congregation and everyone seemed to be in good spirits which certainly helps things along.

Mothering Sunday is just a fortnight away...... :-D

During Lent, our church is holding a weekly service......Compline......prayers at the end of the day. It lasts about 30 mins.


A contemplative service which leaves you feeling peaceful and 'at one' with each other.


It's good to sit quietly........to think.......to listen.......to pray.......to reflect......and to leave feeling uplifted.


'The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.'

Thank you JG. I had a feeling that was the case. I hope to remember to ask our friendly RC priest next time he pops in.........'remember' being the operative word of course..... ;-)


I have only seen that programme a couple of times - when we couldn't make it to church last year because OH wasn't well enough to go. I know exactly what you mean about people talking over each other and think that, not only is it rude, but the 'chairperson' should keep things in hand more.


Going back to the Guiding issue, it appears that the organisation is considering a revision of it's Promise ... and I quote

"The Promise is guiding’s beating heart – it’s the core expression of our values and the common standard that brings us all together. But over the past few years we have heard from more and more girls and Leaders who struggle with the wording, particularly interpreting what it really means to girls today."


The Promise as it stands today is :

I promise that I will do my best,
To love my God,
To serve the Queen and my country,
To help other people,
And to keep the Guide Law.



As the Guiding /Scouting movement were founded by the Baden Powell's on the basis that character building came from loyalty to God and Country, one wonders what changes will be made.

I imagine some of the earliest members would have struggled with the meaning too.....but they just got on with things and learned as they went..... I know I did :-D

I watched the programme on BBC this morning 'The Big Question' , they were talking at one point about RC priests being celibate and there was a woman from 'Catholic Voices' who was married to a former Anglican minister who had converted to RC and she said that there was exemption for converts as they were married before they entered the RC priesthood. From the discussion I understood it to be that they didn't have to be celibate in that situation.

I do like to watch the programme most weeks but do wish that the people wouldn't talk over one another as the point they are trying to make gets lost.

Sylvia......really don't know what happens over here but I haven't heard of anyone being excluded because of their orientation.


John, I have to admit we are very blessed to belong to such a church with all its happenings. It's interesting really, as it would be described as being 'middle of the road' Anglican - no arm waving or pentecostal type worship...... but there's just 'something'. :-D

How sad that is, Sylvia :-( Feel so sorry for lady troop leader who has been thrown out.

Cynthia. It is lovely to hear of your Sundays, but must admit they make me a bit jealous. So much life and happiness and nothing like babies to make a service real.

Was a twicer today, and a thricer next week. Two small services today.

First was a congregation of 10 this afternoon. Singing was excellent (what else in Wales) and two young lads and a couple in middle age (about 50) meant it was lively. One of the boys is so enthusiastic - arms waving everywhere and he really gets into the Spirit.

Second I have just come back from this evening. About 20, but only a couple under 60. The lady who runs the chapel must be almost 90, but she still has the energy of a young woman. Very uplifting and finished with "Bread of Heaven" and Williams Pantycelyn would have been proud of us.

Chose that hymn "Sing we the King who is coming to reign" at one of the services. Lovely hymn by Charles Horne, an Anglican Rector who died in 1914 aged about 50. As you probably know, his son was Kenneth Horne of "Round the Horne" fame.

yet the Scout movement in the US still refuses to allow gays to be either scouts or leaders, or even chaperones :-(


it's been all over the news here over the last week, as a result of news that a lesbian mother troop leader was thrown out .

How can that be??????


don't know whether it applies also to the guiding movement there.


That's not inclusive ...................


............... and, yes, I am aware of abuse problems. But this is blackening everyone by virtue of orientation.

A glorious sunny morning so no probs about getting to church today :-D :-D


The Rainbows, Brownies and Guides were celebrating World Thinking Day and they did a presentation in place of a sermon.

They walked down the aisles, each of them wearing different headgear to represent different countries and sang "He's got the whole world in His hands". Their little faces were a picture :-D

Then they lit candles whilst their leader spoke about how everyone is different in different ways but that how, in Guiding, they are all united.

Most enjoyable.

We also welcomed back the babies who had been baptised last week and presented them with their Baptism Certificates.

All in all.....................a good morning... :-D

Didn't make it to the Ash Wednesday service. OH was concerned about the weather and the last thing we need is for him to go base over apex :-(


Seems as though we weren't the only ones to be cautious as there was a very low turnout. :-(


This morning, whilst he was waiting for his meds to kick in, I found him laying back, listening to Stainers Crucifixion......what a magnificent piece of music that is. :-D

Saw an interview with Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor last night and he said he would be there and contributing but non-voting as he was 80. Yet one of the favourites to succeed is 80 and another 75. Hmmmmm!

There are a couple of outside contenders in late 50's (which is apparently young). There is a Filipino who is very much in favour. But, if I was a gambling man, I think I would go Oullet. Only 6 more weeks and we should know. Tony Blair looking after things pro tem (a frivolous and non-factual comment). :-)

Off for pancakes. Happy Shrove Tuesday, everyone. Nothing now except sackcloth and ashes till Easter Sunday :-S :-S ;-)

Thanks Island, if I find anything out, I'll post it on here.


4 pancakes later and I am FLUP.


Must put my mind to thinking what I am going to read for Lent........... :-S

Sorry, meant to say......enjoy your pancakes - those who are going to indulge. Mine are on the way from the kitchen as we speak...................drooooool...... :-D

Cynthia, it was a regular RC church goer who told me. Who told them I know not.

That's it Rose.....I couldn't think who had written it. Thanks. :-)


Island, I've had a look but can't find anything about married clergy converts to catholicism having to be celibate - there is probably an exemption or somesuch.


Would you Adam and Eve it? Just as I was about to embark on bedmaking this morning, the doorbell goes and in pops our RC priest friend - his first words were "It's okay, I haven't had a letter yet".......he had called to pass on his copy of Private Eye to me.


Naturally, the chat was on the Pope's resignation and it was good to discuss it with someone who knows more about it than we do. He was surprised but not overly shocked and said how the Pope seems to have deteriorated quite quickly.


He went on to explain why and how various things within the election process etc will probably happen. This was done with a lot of humour and we were roaring with laughter at some points he made - but it was all respectful.


I was surprised to learn that GB will not have a representative to send to the voting process because Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor is now 80 and not eligible to vote.


At one point, I glanced at his feet. He was wearing his Mr. Naughty socks...:-D :-D

Cynthia, I remember 'The Shoes of the fisherman' with Anthony Quinn, It was, if I remember rightly, adapted from a book by Morris West ( I'll check in a minute and edit if I'm wrong, but I did read it after having seen the film). :-)

I doubt a vow of celibacy would be a first night suprise Ken :-D

Thank you Island. I didn't realise they had to practice celibacy. That must be tough.

KenSe, if a married Anglican becomes an RC priest the marriage is a done deal.
Allowing RC priests to marry would involve meeting and wooing a lady, all too time consuming for a man who has given himself to god and parishioners.

I 'think' former AC married priests have to lead a celibate life as an RC. :-0 :-S

Since they allow ex Anglican priests to become Catholic priests and remain married it can't be too much of a step to allow any priests to marry. Can it?

Sylvia I do hope you have a good trip and enjoy the mutual good company. :-) :-)
Very interesting what you say about Ouellet, but many could not see Welby at one time in Canterbury. York was the big favourite. And London was well in running.

Durham has been a see of controversy over the years. Bishop Westcott (who was responsible for the poor (imo) Greek Revised Translation of Bible in 1881, Bishop Jenkins recently who caused (imo) great problems for those of simple faith. So I just hope and pray that Welby is very different - and I think he is.

Personally, it sounds from what I have heard (and what many including Cynthia are wanting) that a diplomat who is deeply concerned about the image of the Roman Catholic Church might be the right man at the right time for the see of Rome.

One of the strengths of Anglicanism and Methodism has been that priests have been encouraged to be married and usually the wife is as important (more important often) than the clerk in orders. I think parishes, circuits, individual churches should be more welcoming of single men and women and not try quite so hard to get young men (in particular) to marry. There is nothing wrong in being a celibate, and there are still many young people who want to be married to Christ entirely and not have the complications of a worldly relationship.

Edit. But that works in reverse. I think Dr Kildare in Thornbirds would have been just as effective if allowed to marry:-D ;-)