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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2015 18:48:54 GMT -5
Did you find it helpful and a time of meditating? Or did you find it creepy and uncomfortable?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2015 18:51:21 GMT -5
Did you find it helpful and a time of meditating? Or did you find it creepy and uncomfortable? helpful, you get your thoughts in order, clear your mind to receive what is given during the meeting...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2015 18:51:32 GMT -5
This song comes to mind when I think of the stunning silence I remember back in my childhood.
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Jun 13, 2015 19:15:51 GMT -5
I loved it, and it is something I miss in other churches I have attended. Did you find it helpful and a time of meditating? Or did you find it creepy and uncomfortable?
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Post by placid-void on Jun 13, 2015 19:20:29 GMT -5
I find quietness to be a very precious gift. Noise is free for the taking, it can be your companion anytime and anywhere. Quietness often requires effort to find and embrace. For me, meaningful reflection is the product of a quiet and open mind. Fifty years later I still recall with fondness the sublime peace that attended that brief period before meeting.
I would need to think about this more and challenge myself more critically, but I am unable to readily think of another social context where unity of purpose within a group is more profoundly expressed through quietness than those few minutes prior to a fellowship meeting.
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Post by SharonArnold on Jun 13, 2015 19:27:43 GMT -5
Did you find it helpful and a time of meditating? Or did you find it creepy and uncomfortable? I loved it, and it is something I miss in other churches I have attended. I loved it too. Creepy? Never! I still attempt to connect with the "silence that underlies everything" every day that I live.
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hberry
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Post by hberry on Jun 13, 2015 19:32:38 GMT -5
I loved it, and it is something I miss in other churches I have attended. Did you find it helpful and a time of meditating? Or did you find it creepy and uncomfortable? I always enjoyed the quietness before the meetings. However, to be honest, for the most part it just let me daydream without interruption. Silence is to be treasured, especially inner silence--which is possible without outer silence, of course. I'm am learning that, as I am learning reverence. What I enjoy most now is walking into my church and seeing my pastors sitting quietly, heads bowed, obviously praying. It reminds me that they are there with one desire: to speak truth to the congregation. I never found the silence creepy or off putting--but I was raised that it was 'right,' so I'm not sure that thought would have occurred to me.
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Post by ellie on Jun 13, 2015 19:50:54 GMT -5
Did you find it helpful and a time of meditating? Or did you find it creepy and uncomfortable? Often the best part of a meeting. I love silence.
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Post by ellie on Jun 13, 2015 20:07:17 GMT -5
I find quietness to be a very precious gift. Noise is free for the taking, it can be your companion anytime and anywhere. Quietness often requires effort to find and embrace. For me, meaningful reflection is the product of a quiet and open mind. Fifty years later I still recall with fondness the sublime peace that attended that brief period before meeting. I would need to think about this more and challenge myself more critically, but I am unable to readily think of another social context where unity of purpose within a group is more profoundly expressed through quietness than those few minutes prior to a fellowship meeting. The silence during group meditation can have a similar unity of purpose. Also silent periods on Buddhist retreats. There is a very pleasant shared purpose when preparing and sharing meals at tables together in silence.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2015 20:09:44 GMT -5
Did you find it helpful and a time of meditating? Or did you find it creepy and uncomfortable? it is the place of the still small voice
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2015 20:10:56 GMT -5
Did you find it helpful and a time of meditating? Or did you find it creepy and uncomfortable? Often the best part of a meeting. I love silence. silence is golden
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hberry
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Post by hberry on Jun 13, 2015 20:14:04 GMT -5
I find quietness to be a very precious gift. Noise is free for the taking, it can be your companion anytime and anywhere. Quietness often requires effort to find and embrace. For me, meaningful reflection is the product of a quiet and open mind. Fifty years later I still recall with fondness the sublime peace that attended that brief period before meeting. I would need to think about this more and challenge myself more critically, but I am unable to readily think of another social context where unity of purpose within a group is more profoundly expressed through quietness than those few minutes prior to a fellowship meeting. The silence during group meditation can have a similar unity of purpose. Also silent periods on Buddhist retreats. There is a very pleasant shared purpose when preparing and sharing meals at tables together in silence. AT the National cemetery near me, they observe a moment of silence during the Memorial Day celebrations. It has the same sense of unity and connectedness for me.
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Post by SharonArnold on Jun 13, 2015 21:07:06 GMT -5
I find quietness to be a very precious gift. Noise is free for the taking, it can be your companion anytime and anywhere. Quietness often requires effort to find and embrace. For me, meaningful reflection is the product of a quiet and open mind. Fifty years later I still recall with fondness the sublime peace that attended that brief period before meeting. I would need to think about this more and challenge myself more critically, but I am unable to readily think of another social context where unity of purpose within a group is more profoundly expressed through quietness than those few minutes prior to a fellowship meeting. I have found it in other contexts. I used to careen into a local yoga class, with a couple of minutes to spare. I sometimes had a slightly uncomfortable feeling but never processed it much. Then, one day I showed up 15 - 20 minutes ahead of time, with most of the other participants. I totally got it (oh, just like meeting), and never again showed up there again without allowing for the 15+ minute obligatory time of quietness. I've found the same (or even greater) respect for silence within Buddhism. But, then, once I showed up at at a Hindu temple, 15 minutes before the scheduled 10:00 am service. Because I was one of the first 8 people to show up, I ended in the circle up front, a full participant in all the ceremonies (including the red dot in the middle of my forehead), while the rest of the congregation (300 +) filtered in gradually over the next couple hours, before a shared meal at lunch time. They were all so totally accepting of me, a stranger, non-Hindu, but still it was more attention in an unfamiliar setting than I would normally expose myself to!
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Post by SharonArnold on Jun 13, 2015 21:13:54 GMT -5
Silence is to be treasured, especially inner silence--which is possible without outer silence, of course. I'm am learning that, as I am learning reverence. Yes, this is an interesting concept.
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Jun 13, 2015 22:23:55 GMT -5
It seems to me that society grows increasingly afraid of quietness.
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Post by bubbles on Jun 13, 2015 22:33:16 GMT -5
Did you find it helpful and a time of meditating? Or did you find it creepy and uncomfortable? Being still and quiet is a good discipline. Sometimes quieting the mind can take time.. yes it was helpful in the sense of reflection inner searching of the heart. It was not a creepy nor uncomfortable. I live with quietness as much as possible. I enjoy peace.
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Post by bubbles on Jun 14, 2015 12:55:17 GMT -5
It seems to me that society grows increasingly afraid of quietness. Why do you think that Alan? As I get older it seems people are more stressed and anxious in their daily life.
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Post by Persona non grata on Jun 14, 2015 13:08:19 GMT -5
Did you find it helpful and a time of meditating? Or did you find it creepy and uncomfortable? A good topic, @laverdad - I love the quietness, something we get far too little of in our daily lives.
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Post by Persona non grata on Jun 14, 2015 13:11:05 GMT -5
This song comes to mind when I think of the stunning silence I remember back in my childhood. It wasn't the beer you had for breakfast was it? - Just kidding, a great song.
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Post by Greg on Jun 14, 2015 13:12:11 GMT -5
Did you find it helpful and a time of meditating? Or did you find it creepy and uncomfortable? I liked the quiet. How about you, Walker1903? Did you find it creepy and uncomfortable or did you hear of or from someone else who did?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2015 17:00:56 GMT -5
There is a time and place for everything. The time just before a meeting starts is a time for quietness - particularly a Sunday morning meeting when we gather round the emblems and remember why we are there. I always find it moving and I have not experienced anything quite like it in any of the "outside" services I have attended (even though there is generally quiet before the service commences). "Speak Lord in the stillness ...". Sometimes I find that I have come into the meeting with a wrong spirit and in those quiet moments before the meeting starts, it gives me an opportunity to change my thinking and change my spirit. The words that often come into my mind are "We are all gathered here before God ...".
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2015 17:08:46 GMT -5
I liked it on Sundays but felt like the bible studies and gospel meetings should have been less formal and rigid. I always felt ashamed when outsiders tried to talk the friends in gospel meetings and the friends wouldn't even answer them.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2015 17:17:16 GMT -5
I know what you mean but I think it is basically disrespectful to chat to someone before a meeting starts. If we walked in off the street to an "outside" church and the congregation were sitting there quietly, most of us would do the same surely.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2015 17:18:19 GMT -5
"Customs."
It has become clear to me that a "custom" or how something is done in one (or more) places can easily become a law by edict. Then it becomes as something written in stone: "this is how it is done!"
Wonderful when believers are not under dictates of "custom" nonetheless the fellowship in the NT did largely follow the "traditions" (customs?) of the apostles. So, there IS basis for some "conformity" though certainly not as "Law."
Various groups have different "customs." Those in the 2&2 preacher group certainly are no different in this than other groups. Some stand to sing in various groups, as was 2&2 custom in days of origin, or so I was told by a number of "original workers." "Kneeling" to pray, before the average age with our infirmities made it increasingly difficult for group leaders to do so.
Where I have most recently been invited to attend public worship services, there is warm cheerful greeting until the service begins with the same focus song each week, whereupon people quickly come to order, and a customary service begins. Is it the same as a 2&2 preacher service? No. Do I find it objectionable? No. Is there room for individual prayer and commentary? Yes.
Is Christ the focus? Most absolutely. Do I and others believe ourselves fed? I do, and think others do also. Should it be compared to a 2&2 preacher worship service? No. Is one way better or worse than another? No to my mind any longer. Different, yes, better or worse, no. Would I feel comfortable where sound would be at the maximum, beating inside my body? No, and I do not chose to attend such services a second time neither. Are they "right" for me? No. For others? Seemingly "Yes," so why not let them be?
Some appear to belittle any concept of attending a fellowship group of one's choice. As this (attending the service of my choice) is what I was taught to do from earliest childhood, I practice it still. Was I allowed to do that by 2&2 preachers? Absolutely not! Did I learn from such an experience? Absolutely, emphatically, "yes!" Do I participate in group activities in as much as my own conscience allows as when attending 2&2 preacher group services? Eyup!
Am I troubled by lack of silence or not before a service begins? Nope, not any longer, and I carry my own silence and peace within.
And, oh, btw, my ring and index fingers are the same and of equal length on on both hands, so maybe that dictates according to some.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2015 19:17:10 GMT -5
Seems like people are slow to quieten down in the Virginia conventions. Within 5 minutes of workers seated on the platform, chatting and whispering can be heard. I guess Charlie Hughes didn't do a good job pushing the quietness thing, I dunno. Some of the local denominational churches here are a bit noisy before service begins and often gossip is heard if you listen too closely. I hear that Spanish conventions are a bit loud before workers sit on the platform.
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Post by breakingfree on Jun 15, 2015 3:32:47 GMT -5
I recall the meetings being likened to heaven. I beg to differ: Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice; Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing! (Revelation 5:11-12) After these things I looked and behold a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and felon their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen! (Rev 7:9-12) And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders... (Rev 14:2-3) After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! (Rev 19:1) And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! (Rev 19:6) Since heaven promises no pain, tears or sorrow, you folks in the silence majority wont need asprin to cope with all that noise!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2015 3:46:10 GMT -5
I find quietness to be a very precious gift. Noise is free for the taking, it can be your companion anytime and anywhere. Quietness often requires effort to find and embrace. For me, meaningful reflection is the product of a quiet and open mind. Fifty years later I still recall with fondness the sublime peace that attended that brief period before meeting. I would need to think about this more and challenge myself more critically, but I am unable to readily think of another social context where unity of purpose within a group is more profoundly expressed through quietness than those few minutes prior to a fellowship meeting. That silence is golden and it facilitates a quieted spirit, well for me anyway, it is kind of a hall mark of our fellowship.
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Post by Mary on Jun 15, 2015 4:39:16 GMT -5
I find quietness to be a very precious gift. Noise is free for the taking, it can be your companion anytime and anywhere. Quietness often requires effort to find and embrace. For me, meaningful reflection is the product of a quiet and open mind. Fifty years later I still recall with fondness the sublime peace that attended that brief period before meeting. I would need to think about this more and challenge myself more critically, but I am unable to readily think of another social context where unity of purpose within a group is more profoundly expressed through quietness than those few minutes prior to a fellowship meeting. That silence is golden and it facilitates a quieted spirit, well for me anyway, it is kind of a hall mark of our fellowship. You get that in many traditional churches. As I said above, you can go into a Catholic church any time and there is always dead silence. Other churches too. I personally like the buzz of fellowship and greeting each other before and after church. That is usually at the door before entering church though.
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