{"id":223,"date":"2013-05-07T19:41:00","date_gmt":"2013-05-07T19:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com\/wp\/2013\/05\/07\/15-th-to-19-th-april-we-wherebased-in\/"},"modified":"2018-12-22T15:00:17","modified_gmt":"2018-12-22T15:00:17","slug":"15-th-to-19-th-april-we-wherebased-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com\/wp\/2013\/05\/07\/15-th-to-19-th-april-we-wherebased-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Sanctuary changes format of Divine Service…. Your comments on 2013 \u2013 a Crucial Year for Spiritualism… Bullying…"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n15th to 19th April we where
\nbased in Folkestone but travelled throughout Kent and we had a day trip over to
\nCalais. Usually during such trips I try to meet up with fellow spiritualists or
\nresearchers, this time it was the latter… <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n16th April – I took the service at
\nthe Inverness Spiritualist Church (SNU) at the Smithton
\nHall.  This church is always well
\nsupported and has a very active committee which has done a lot over the
\nyears to promote spiritualism in the North of Scotland.   It is now two years since Rupert and Niki Baxter-Smith
\nstepped down from the committee.  Niki as
\npresident for almost a decade Rupert, treasurer for the same length of time.   But is good to see that although their health
\nis failing a little both still manage to get along to the church, in fact
\nRupert was chairing for me on my recent visit.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n25th It was a pleasure to be part of the
\ndevelopment circle whose sitters as I have mentioned before are so enthusiastic
\nand have a great thirst for learning.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n28th I was at the Milngavie and Bearsden
\nSpiritualist Sanctuary. This sanctuary has only been open for eight months and
\nalready has made great inroads to improving the spiritualist movement. More
\nabout this in a moment.<\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nRecently there have been calls for the change in the format of our
\nSpiritual Services. Some interesting new proposals put forward that are worthy
\nof debate but others it looks like change just for the sake of change.  Do
\nwe need changes to our format?  Like everything else we cannot stand still
\nand should always try to move forward, go with the flow, about big changes to
\nbring in the younger members to our churches.  Personally I don\u2019t think
\nhere in Scotland we have a problem in getting the young to attend our
\nchurches.  But we cannot make radical changes to suit one group who are
\nnot yet members of our movement at the expense of those who have attended our
\nchurches for years.  We cannot let the tail wag the dog.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nHere in Scotland, Glasgow in fact, we have seen change to our service, a
\nsmall tweak here and there which has added, not detracted, from our
\ncommunication with God and Spirit.  In August last year Glasgow medium
\nElizabeth Halliday was guided to open a spiritual place of worship and into
\nbeing came the Milngavie and Bearsden Spiritual Sanctuary – not
\nChurch.  Now I know a lot of our Spiritualist places of worship have
\ndropped the name \u201cChurch\u201d for \u2018Centre\u2019 but that title can be confused with
\nPsychic Centres by the general public.  I feel the \u201cSanctuary\u201d was a good
\nmove.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThen the time of the Divine Service – a Sunday afternoon.  I know of only one other church in the area which
\nholds a Sunday afternoon service.     This gives the people
\nof Glasgow an alternative from the one morning and many Sunday evening services
\nwe have at the moment.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThe changes did not end there as Elizabeth decided to omit the opening
\nprayer. 
\nIn its place there is
\nfive minutes of contemplation which gives us our own personal space to link
\nwith God, our loved ones in Spirit, or just to reflect on our week. Not
\nsomething I would have considered but I must say that I was impressed as with
\neach minute for reflection passed\u2019 I could feel the atmosphere getting stronger
\nand spirit drawing closer There is still the closing prayer.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nThe \u201chealing Service takes place during the Divine Service.  Three
\nminutes session of Healing for each patient and each session is finished by the
\ngentle clash from mini-cymbals.  All this adding to the atmosphere within
\nthe church and we all get the benefit of the healing energies.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nSmall changes that have made a big impact to the Divine Spiritual Service
\nin a positive way.  No shouting about change \u2013 no dramatic changes \u2013 just
\na small tweak here and there.  I would recommend committee members of
\nSpiritualist Churches in the area go along to the Fraser Centre, Douglas St,
\nMilngavie, Glasgow, G62 6PA and experience this change in format.  It may
\nbe for your church or it may not but go along and see.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nKeeping with Elizabeth\u2019s Sanctuary…  Laying a wreath at the
\nCenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in Whitehall has for a long time been an issue
\nbetween the SNU and the British government, considering that other UK religious
\ndenominations are represented at the national service of remembrance and
\nSpiritualism is not.. But individual spiritualist churches throughout the
\ncountry do take part in local remembrance services, the Stirling church (SNU)
\nbeing one. Recently I asked Stirling churches President Linda Buchan how this
\ncame about and she replied \u201cWe were asked to take part in the service\u201d.<\/i>
\nWell, it was the same with the Milngavie spiritualist sanctuary they were asked
\nto take part in the local remembrance ceremony even though they had only opened
\nits doors a few weeks ago. I hear constantly from spiritualists \u201cWe never
\nget to the remembrance day services<\/i>\u201d. Well, if your church is not
\nasked to take part it is up to you to ask to be included.  <\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\nContinuing with your comments on my \u201c2013 A Crucial Year for Spiritualism\u201d.<\/i><\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nVera emails; –\u201cMaybe
\nthe way some of your churches advertise the mediums to their platform is a big
\npart of the problem.  My spiritual
\nchurch will put in our advert in the local paper something like \u2018The medium for
\nSunday evening is John Smith from wherever\u2019.  
\nBut some churches go over the top with their comments of the medium especially
\non facebook, so what have the general public to think?<\/i><\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nYes this is a good point this has been creeping in
\nfor some years now and something that can be easily rectified if the committee
\nis willing to put the church and spirit before or on an equal footing with the
\nmedium.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nDawn is on roughly the same track with \u201cNot so much on their websites but certainly
\non facebook mediums seem to advertise themselves as being at a particular church
\nand the way they put it is is as if they want their fan-club to come along and
\nsee them.  Surely a regular church goer
\nwould turn up at a church what every medium was on?\u201d<\/i><\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nYes \u2013 again the emphasis being on the medium not the
\nreligion or Spirit.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nRalph \u2013 \u201cLack
\nof education as to what spiritualism is about. 
\nA couple of workshops and many feel they know it all, whether it is on
\nthe platform or opening a church.  There
\nis little deep-rooted knowledge of what spiritualism is really about these days\u201d<\/i><\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nAgain the fast-tracking that we experience in our
\neveryday lives and has certainly entered our movement.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\n <\/i>Anne \u201cMoney is
\nat the root of all the problems spiritualism has to day.  Too many wanting to make a living out of
\ntheir psychic abilities, a good living. 
\nOur churches were closer to Spirit and God when we had amateurs on our
\nplatforms.  Many use our churches as a
\nspringboard to a lucrative career. Maybe we would see a big change if churches
\nbanned those from their platform who participated in theatre performances and
\nhouse-parties\u201d.<\/i><\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nStrong words from Anne and in the end if things go
\nthe way they are going, it might come that we have to take drastic
\nmeasures.  But surely before we reach
\nthat a little common sense all around can sort things out?  But are we too far down the entertainment and
\nfinancial paths for common sense to sort it out?  I believe in the end a compromise can be
\nfound by the mediums\/churches making a decision as to what path they are on.  Either the path of religion or entertainment
\nor making a good living from their abilities.  
\nMake that clear and we can all live in harmony.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/i> <\/div>\n
\n<\/i> <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n

I have taken the following from Facebook: –<\/strong>
\n<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nThe boy you punched in the hall today. Committed suicide a few
\nminutes ago. <\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

That girl you called a slut in class today. She\u2019s a virgin. <\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n

\n<\/p>\n

The boy you called lame. He has to work every night to support
\nhis <\/em>family<\/a>. <\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n

\n<\/p>\n

That girl you pushed down the other day. She\u2019s already being
\nabused at home. <\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n

\n<\/p>\n

That girl you called <\/em>fat<\/a>. She\u2019s starving
\nherself. <\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n

\n<\/p>\n

The old man you made fun of cause of the ugly scars. He fought
\nfor our country. <\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n

\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong>The boy you made fun of for crying. His mother is dying. You
\nthink you know them.<\/strong> <\/em><\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\nThere are so many forms of bullying and it can have a devastating effect
\non those at the sharp end.    Some don\u2019t realise that they are causing so
\nmuch suffering with their little jokes at the expense of others.  What they think is a sense of humour is
\nactually a form of bullying. Then there are those who get morbid satisfaction
\nwith outright bullying.  The more they
\nsee the victim getting distressed the stronger and more constant the bullying
\nbecomes.  <\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nRecently I was talking to victim of bullying who just could not take any
\nmore. They said they had been bullied for years and in the past only managed to
\ncope because they knew that when they got home and slammed the door closed they
\nwere was safe.  Safe till the next time
\nthey went to school, their workplace or shopping<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nBut now-a- days with modern technology they could not even get a little
\nrespite in their own home. They were bullied by text and email.   This forced them to give up their mobile
\nphone and Internet connection.  But they
\nstill worry about what is being said about them on the social networks. They
\nwere getting to a stage where they did not want to go out at all; their quality
\nof life was zero.  They felt that death
\nwas a better option than a life of being continually bullied.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/div>\n

\nThankfully in this case help came over the horizon in the form of a new
\nwork colleague.  Within days of starting
\nin the job he set in motion the work\u2019s procedure to stop bulling in the
\nworkplace.  The victim now getting the
\nhelp they should have got a long time ago.   The scars of the bullying run deep in their
\nmind and we can only hope and pray at the age of thirty-five they can finally
\nlead a life free of fear and persecution.<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n

Not all victims of bullying are so lucky.  On a regular basis we see in the media that
\nsomeone has taken their own life because of bullying.  Many a time it is someone of school-age whose
\nlife has barely began, yet in their short time on the earth plane was like
\nbeing in hell.<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>
\n………………………………………………………………..<\/strong><\/div>\n

\n <\/div>\n
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<\/p>\n

\n <\/div>\n
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\n<\/strong> <\/div>\n
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\n<\/div>\n

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\n<\/div>\n

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\n<\/div>\n

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\n <\/div>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    15th to 19th April we where based in Folkestone but travelled throughout Kent and we had a day trip over to Calais. Usually during such trips I try to meet up with fellow spiritualists or researchers, this time it was the latter… 16th April – I took the service at the Inverness Spiritualist … Continue reading “Sanctuary changes format of Divine Service…. Your comments on 2013 \u2013 a Crucial Year for Spiritualism… Bullying…”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=223"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":605,"href":"https:\/\/tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223\/revisions\/605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}