'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I was looking down at the congregation and imagining all the old men on the PCC, and the young man playing the keyboards beside me filled with the Holy Spirit and my ancient church suddenly held for me a glimpse of a Promise.
I wanted to shout GO FOR IT, GO FOR IT...............but I didnt because we're Anglicans, and the average age of the congregation today was 60, much lower than usual as Junior Church were with us for their monthly visit.
Sometimes I just want to leave the church which we go to , to not go at all, to listen to my CDs and watch Songs of Praise, and be one of those I don't need to go to a church to be Christian type of Christian. I didnt like the 3 out of the 5 dreary hymns. I wanted everyone to be filled with the Holy Spirit in a revival sort of way. I wanted a real go at worship, where we are rapt by the attention we are giving to our wonderful , awesome and available God. I wanted singing in tongues and a sense of excitement of being in the presence of God. I didnt want DULL DULL DULL.
I've just watched Songs of Praise. It was harping back to the Welsh Revival.I had a good sing. I love that Hymn. I've got it off my chest now, keep on trusting, its not all about me after all.
I so feel for you. My old church was just like this and I struggled with it for years. we did leave (for a number of reasons..) and then didn't go to church for a year. We are now at a much freer church (still CofE) and it is great! I heard from a friend that at our old church on Pentecost Sunday they didn't even have a sermon - they (in their infinite wisdom) showed a slide show of how they are going to reorder the church. By contrast at the new place our curate was up the front inviting people to come for prayer to be filled with the Holy Spirit. now that is where I want to be!
ReplyDeleteJust Having that one comment helped me-so thanks Red. Our vicar is filled with the Spirit,and it shows, and things are changing very much for the better.I just want to go on ahead of the vision sometimes I think. I am looking forward now to the time when she too invites people to come up front too. Thanks for encouragement.Its great that in a blog one can share and know that God has lined up someone to help.x
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