"A brief insight into the beginnings of a 'new' church in the 21st century."
It was an unknown factor that when an announcement was placed in the local Cambrian News paper that a Spiritualist Church was due to be opening in Tywyn that so much opposition would be forthcoming. Even after the opening on March 3rd 2006 it was rumoured that we were "preaching to the Devil," "talking to dead people", sitting in a circle in candlelight or working in darkness and much more.
One lady, allegedly from another church, a few weeks after opening, felt so strongly opposed that she stood outside the door one evening advising everybody who was arriving not to enter the hall as we were all speaking to 'dead people' and indulging in devil worship!
Rumours are still circulating today by some, who choose to remain anonymous that we, 'are doing it for all the wrong reasons,' whatever they may be!
Whoever they are, Loving Healing Thoughts are sent regularly with the best possible Love and Light.
Initially, and in some respects still, a lack of knowledge or ignorance is of course the main factor for such erroneous words and thoughts. A lot of people knew, or still know, little or nothing at all about a Christian Spiritualist Church.
Our church is pretty much like any other, we sing hymns and listen to readings that can be from the bible or any piece of writing of inspiration and be uplifting on the night, (see the pages 'Words of inspiration').
As can be seen above there is a bible, a Christian wooden cross and hymn books. Hardly the right ingredients to be devil-worshippers!
We openly invite anybody to attend our services to find out first-hand what Spiritualism is all about.
Every Friday evening is a Divine Service with:
an opening hymn,
an opening prayer,
a reading,
a minute of healing silence,
another hymn,
a demonstration of Communion with Spirit, which is channelled messages, via a guest medium from departed loved-ones,
finishing with the weeks notices and a closing prayer.
Already in our little church many people have found closure with peace and happiness in the knowledge that the Spirits (or souls) of loved-ones do live on and are happy in a life after death.
In a Spiritualist Church nobody is preached to as there is a strong belief in freewill. Individuals attend a church meeting whenever they can or want to, no-one has an index finger wagged at them for not attending. Everybody on the earth is an individual with a life to live as they so choose.
We do not recruit, invite, or ask that a person should attend our church meetings. Depending upon the circumstances it may be suggested that someone may find it beneficial IF they should choose to attend again in the near future.
The general feeling at the end of the service is one of
happiness, peace, love and calm.
The church is not discriminatory in any way, welcoming everyone regardless of colour, class, creed or religious beliefs.
"Let us walk softly on this earth with all living beings, great and small, remembering as we go, that one God, kind and wise created all."
(From a Native North American blessing)
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