tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876613.post3416280149587183593..comments2023-11-20T10:17:40.928+00:00Comments on Good in Parts: Being thereKathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09171138485811816831noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876613.post-49215655507701226002007-06-01T22:58:00.000+01:002007-06-01T22:58:00.000+01:00Two points,first, I think that what makes us commu...Two points,<BR/><BR/>first, I think that what makes us community/family is the way that we help each other learn, the way we take time to do things in a way that makes it easier for other family members to model their lives on Jesus.<BR/><BR/>This isn't just a case of talking about religion or truth or whatever, it's about acting in ways that invite and contribute to others being bold apprentices of Jesus.<BR/><BR/>I'm going to blog a bit about this over at my place, http://celtic_difference.typepad.com tomorrow...<BR/><BR/>which leads me onto my second point, I can't get into my blogger account or is it google account or is it... well it won't let me in and I've tried using my password, what have I done wrong? any wisdom Rev Kathryn?<BR/><BR/>Caroline TooCaroline Toohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04751846730467721675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876613.post-34692895481057683722007-06-01T12:24:00.000+01:002007-06-01T12:24:00.000+01:00Oh, so many thoughts and questions. I do like you...Oh, so many thoughts and questions. I do like your blog. I struggle with the whole idea of 'church' sometimes, the irrelevance of much of it, the insistence on counting numbers, the expectations of meeting every Sunday for what can be a tedious hour and a half (though it can also be wonderful). <BR/><BR/>For me, family in the Body is part of community - it can be mobile, but it's hard when it's spread over many miles. It's also hard when there are too many people. My main experience of family live within the church is within the house groups - which for us are pretty autonomous, each geared around the needs of the people attending, and (in our case) eating a meal together as well as praying and studying (informally). We can be honest with each other, ask difficult questions, admit to faults, and still like each other. We don't have to pretend. <BR/><BR/>I can't see that ever happening in a bigger gathering, hence the importance of small groups within each congregation (or even across congregations...) and interest groups too. And social events, and prayer meetings, and so on. Even meals together as brothers and sisters, or families going for a picnic - the body gathers any time any two believers get together. <BR/><BR/>I now see Sunday mornings as more of a celebration - an optional extra, for those within the body to worship and pray and socialise together. But the life of Christ is not contained in any building or service, and worrying about who comes (or doesn't come) to any particular service is probably counter-productive. Trying to appeal to newcomers will alienate older folk, and vice versa... you really can't win. So why worry?!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835205817921501248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876613.post-81109571014767045952007-05-31T19:15:00.000+01:002007-05-31T19:15:00.000+01:00St M's really feels very like a family to me at th...St M's really feels very like a family to me at the moment - and a supportive one at that. There are prayers at the right time and a very useful bicycle exchange system. Quite how that fits in with festivals and seasons I'm not sure - perhaps it doesn't. After all, a Church like a pet, should be for life not just for Christmas.Fiona Marcellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07985022521354870620noreply@blogger.com