tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498961727602805543.post5123966516508672931..comments2024-02-18T04:34:40.897-04:00Comments on Living in Barbados: Is Heaven going to help us?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498961727602805543.post-69358611693268754232008-06-28T14:18:00.000-04:002008-06-28T14:18:00.000-04:00Dear Mr Jones !3 years ago when I was relocating t...Dear Mr Jones <BR/>!3 years ago when I was relocating to Barbados I had similar feelings after belonging to several different Anglican churches across the world from "death warmed up" to most vibrant and alive. But my sister who did not have my experience encouraged me to stick to our Church and I am glad I did.<BR/>Agreed one of our services may be long,at times but when one examines the reasons for this often it is purely due to the example of pure patience that is being exibited by the minister in charge,what a fine exapmle of Christian behaviour. <BR/>Then one questions seriously, is preaching and leaping about singing and having a good time all that worship is about? <BR/>People want to participate, be involved and be recognised and it is in this process, at my church anyway,that may take time.<BR/> But again we must not only look at Sunday worship. There is the community involvement and ministries and organisations because that is where many Anglican Churches are working hard without blowing their trumpets!!!<BR/> I should also like to draw your attention to the teaching and by so doing the quiet revolution that is going on. I heard The Rev. Peter Haynes preach at an ordination service at which he challenged the newly ordained to dare to do things differently. Then I heard The Rev. Canon Henderson Guy explain to the congregation at a funeral why the casket is censed. All this helps us understand Anglicanism.<BR/> Then there is the Rev.Michael Maxwell who is to my mind is very evangelical in hisn approach. Now these are only my few experiences which I hope you will find encouraging,but I do appreciate what you may have experienced, and I hope you will not give up but come and be a part of it and offer your services. <BR/>You are welcome to St Leonard's ChurchAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498961727602805543.post-46837869382202468222008-06-24T20:41:00.000-04:002008-06-24T20:41:00.000-04:00I am not Anglican but Methodist and have to admit ...I am not Anglican but Methodist and have to admit that I agree with you on the formality of the services in B'dos. And my one pet peeve.....the length of the service.<BR/><BR/>A 9.00am service can last to 11.00am or longer.........like you they have long lost my attention. It's not the length of the service per se just make it more interesting !! I have had this conversation years ago with someone ‘in’ the church and of course I was looked down upon for even mentioning that I was even aware of the time while at church. Like if one doesn't have any other events in your life on Sundays. I for one was working on Sunday afternoons so my time was limited anyway.<BR/><BR/>I now don't live in B'dos but in a Spanish country and have to admit that I now go to an Anglican church which I totally enjoy. The service lasts 1 hour, the sermon is interesting and the Priest is very down to earth and with-it. It is an English service as I find that the Catholic services (in Spanish) here are also formal. But more to the point I think that the Anglicans are closer in their thinking to Methodists. (in my opinion anyway!) I think because my grandparents were Anglican that I had more of an affiliation with it anwyay.....<BR/><BR/>But congregation numbers are declining everywhere; young people are just not attending. In my church plenty 'old' people, and children going to Sunday school which takes place at the same time. But very few young people....probably still sleeping from the night before.<BR/><BR/>But it is also parents that initiate church going. I certainly went to Sunday school every Sunday at 3.00pm. And I find myself as I get older going to church more often than in my younger days but we also did it as a family when I was younger so it's not so foreign to me.<BR/><BR/>Parents who don't know anything about going to church can hardly teach their children and so the cycle continues.<BR/><BR/>Where are all those family values from days gone by ? Where is the family unit ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498961727602805543.post-92186847663160802262008-06-24T20:34:00.000-04:002008-06-24T20:34:00.000-04:00Dennis, I am Anglican. Someone who actually conver...Dennis, I am Anglican. Someone who actually converted to Anglicanism. Simply explained I like the Anglican way.<BR/>Of course your observations are right, but I am afraid the B'dian Anglican Church is a special entity. The church reflects the B'dian society; ultra-conservative for the most part. It is slowly dying and I have seen the Census stats. Regardless, you are invited to Holy Trinity in Ruby St. Philip.<BR/>You are not alone in your challenges with the church but I am sure you know that Anglicanism holds no dogmas. If you want to talk about it you can let me know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498961727602805543.post-26829176656446978942008-06-22T19:41:00.000-04:002008-06-22T19:41:00.000-04:00I was christened at St. Peter's Parish Church back...I was christened at St. Peter's Parish Church back in the days when Anglicanism was still the state religion. It is my humble opinion that one of the main problems of Anglicanism in Barbados is the burden of its history on the island - a history wrapped in colonialism, racism and classism. It has never recovered financially since it was disestablished in the '70s and it shows not only in the building condition of some churches and cemeteries (re: St. Peter's) but also in the life of the church itself. It is heard to be a relevant voice while still suffering from an identity crisis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com