You may be surprised

I have decided that I should try to set out a little of the churches history for future generations and to bore the pants of everyone. You may be surprised.

The church came into being in the summer of 1998 and was first based on ICQ where, although it originated in England, it was mainly embraced by antipodeans. Apart from the creator the first member was a lady by the name of Dawn in Australia (screen name Midnight) who sought the truth and was keen to know what she needed to do to be initiated (I clearly recall both my thoughts and the eventual reply). Other members came from New Zealand and Tasmania.
Eventually the church moved over to ICQ groups where there was an influx of American and European members and there was much discussion about the best approach to life and it's problems.
Due to serious issues (I ended up without a computer) the church sort of flagged until it migrated to it's present home here.
At present the church is having a quiet time but it's doors are open and all are welcome. There is no complex initiation and you can come and go as you please. Ask questions if you wish, there is always an answer and know that this church will not judge you (unless you enter a competition or post stuff on Helium etc)

There's something missing

Actually there are lots of things missing, the main one being followers\members\enquirers but on this particular occasion I am referring to special days. Other churches have them whether they call them saint's days, feast days, holidays they have days where people do stuff or are excused from doing stuff or do stuff and then get excused for doing it.
We need this structure! Well no we don't need it, we just want it because we feel left out (hope no-one minds me saying 'we' I know I'm pretty much alone here but it makes me feel better).

Hence forth 24th April will be 'Laugh at a policeman day' because for years we have had to endure songs about, and animated models of, laughing policemen. Those who live in countries where the penalty for laughing at a policeman may laugh at English policemen by e-mail or may laugh at a picture of a policeman in private.
Please note, it is not necessary to do the laughing 'in the officers face' as it were and distance laughing is allowed.

lovefest

I would like to share a couple of thoughts which came upon me separately today but which fit with a major tenet of this church.
Firstly, I was re-reading a poem which I wrote to read at the memorial service for my favourite uncle which let me to consider how often one hears the same thing at funerals 'if only I'd told him\her or 'if only I'd visited' We are very good at being too late and we are not terribly good at talking about feelings (ok, I'M NOT, well I am english after all, and male)
Secondly, a point made by 'anonymous' on my honest box on facebook. the word love has been corrupted so it no longer seems ok to love a friend, especially if it's two men because 'love' is too closely identified with romance\sex.

I have a bit of a love\hate relationship with honesty box but at the moment I like it and it can be a great tool for expressing feelings you're not entirely comfortable with expressing openly.
Another tool I like to use is www.loveaboutyou.com (another facebook orientated app) where you can say nice things about your facebook friends.
Basically, I aim to tell people that they are special now and again, be more up front with my appreciation and certainly not wait until someone is dead before i realise I quite like them. I would appreciate people taking the same tack with me :) PLEASE

power and glory

just idly wondering (as you do at 1.00am) whether we should be conducting marriages here. Haven't really got a policy on any sort of partnerships yet but let it be known that the church of the terminally bemused will not dismiss any approaches out of hand.
Perhaps we could do short term\fixed term contracts or cyber only weddings. The world is our aphrodisiac shell dweller