Worship/Church Jargon

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Permalink Reply by Amy on 2 July 2008 at 7:56pm

I remember when my friend led worship a few months ago, she said at the start 'let's stand and sing,' which seems the most sensible option, as it doesn't apply this is the only worship in the service. However, when she led more recently, our minister asked her to say 'Lets stand and worship' instead. I thought that was a bit odd - like you said, the whole service (and really our whole lives) should be a time of worship.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Childs on 3 July 2008 at 10:09pm

I hate the use of the word "Just"...

i.e. "We're just going to pray now, "We'll just move into a time of praise" etc...

Makes acts of worship sounds about as meaningful as "I'm just nipping down the shops for some bread", "I'm just off to fill the car up" or "I'll just put the kettle on and make a lovely brew"

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Permalink Reply by Julia Chantrell on 4 July 2008 at 12:20am

When I was a teacher, I reckoned the too most common words in any teenager's vocabulary were 'just' and 'only'...

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Permalink Reply by Dave Clemo on 8 July 2008 at 7:21pm

Don't forget the prayers of the just-
O lord we just want to thank you.... we just want to...... we just want to..... we just want to......

I can't get this thought out of my head
The Rev David Brent..........OMG!!!!!

The Office and churchspeak-
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

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Permalink Reply by Eric on 9 July 2008 at 10:13am

O Eric, We’re so glad Eric you were in last night Eric. Eric the coffee you gave us Eric was tasty, Eric, severe of wonderful coffee. Oh Eric those biscuits Eric they were wonderful, we thank you Eric, Eric they were so nice. Eric we just want to Eric ask that you will be in, Eric tonight, and, let us have coffee Eric and biscuits Eric, just like oh Eric the wonderful ones you gave us last night Eric. Thank you Eric, In Eric’s name, Amen

Somehow it doesn’t sound the same my name being Eric and not Lord.

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Permalink Reply by Julia Chantrell on 9 July 2008 at 10:18am

Why are you severe with your wonderful coffee? Is it the strict discipline that makes it so wonderful?

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Permalink Reply by Eric on 9 July 2008 at 10:45am

Lol - sometimes even spell check doesn't help my bad spelling and my bad typing. Not to say anything of may bad coffee, talking of which the microwave has just beeped.

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Permalink Reply by Julia Chantrell on 9 July 2008 at 12:08am

'Slain in the Spirit'
WHAT????

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Permalink Reply by Paul Kent on 9 July 2008 at 1:29pm

Anybody aware of churches that have adopted business like psycho-babble as their lingo?

There's a lot of american churches that talk all about it!

Living under a mantle of wetness. ?
Core global apostolic reformation ??
co-ordinating the present truth mandate ???

but is that any worse than walking in to a church and finding

naves vespers and processionals... or trying to work out what liturgy is...

I am on best behavior.. trying not to name any particular ministries. :) I'm sure our church is just as guilty of using elaborate words that could be simplified...

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Permalink Reply by martyn burt on 9 July 2008 at 1:40pm

Yes, that is true. I may work for the good ol' C of E, but my church tradition is so far down the candle we don't know what a candle is! It has often been interesting that we have our own series of terms that only those with inside knowledge know and understand (quinquennials, sequestration, benefice, suspension of presentation etc) and often assume everyone else knows as well. I have often come a cropper when I don't know the difference between the Petertide and Michaelmas Ordinations (one is June, one September, but which is which; am i bovvered?).....

And as for my bishop (Michael Nazir-Ali) who once corrected me in committee as I thought all types of clergy ministry were the same (and of course they are not!) with team ministries as opposed to ecumenical arrangements etc.

And dont start me on the names for the bits of clothing they wear; we just refer to them as 'dresses' which goes down well I am sure!
It has taken me over 10 years to get used to the lingo, and I have a Church background but I still don't know most of it!

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Permalink Reply by Julia Chantrell on 9 July 2008 at 1:50pm

There's maybe a bit of difference between architectural and administrative terms [after all, if you don't call the chancel the chancel, what do you call it - 'the space behind where I'm standing with a sort of table thingy just under that big window'??], which exist in any walk of life and are always going to confuse those not in the know - and inventing cringe-worthy cliches...
But maybe we should add a sort of key to our welcome packs with a diagram of the church and arrows pointing to all the bits that have archaic names. I have to say 'narthex' did for me when I first came to SJs - I didn't have the faintest idea where or what a narthex was, and I was brought up in the C of E!

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Permalink Reply by Dave Clemo on 9 July 2008 at 5:48pm

All organisations use psychobabble. It serves two purposes.
1. It makes simple things sound complicated and important. Similar to giving a boring job a fancy title. Dustman? No thanks! Refuse co-ordinator and recycling operative? Yes please!
2. It instills a sense of belonging among the users of the jargon. Ever heard two computer techies conversing? Or education professionals?
Maybe the Society for the use of Plain English should be called in.
And what would they call the phenomenon known as "being slain in the spirit"?

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