How do you feel about this? (Full Version)

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2by2 -> How do you feel about this? (5/3/2008 4:08:09 PM)

The church that my family and I have attended for the last year and a half (which is a United Methodist Church) began taking up a collection for the Empty Pantry Fund in our community. While I agree that this is a totally worthwhile cause, I am disturbed that this collection is tied to communion. When people go up for communion, they are asked to place a dollar into the collection plate for the Empty Pantry fund.The symbolism related to the act of taking communion is priceless and I don't think communion is the time to collect for a charity. I think a collection after service as people are leaving the sanctuary should suffice.

I overheard a visitor say that they were shocked that people at this church "paid" for communion. I can see how it could be interpreted that way when you didn't know what the collection was for.



csl7037 -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/3/2008 4:20:44 PM)

Is there some reason it would be connected? Sounds weird at least. And if you've overheard someone get the wrong impression, I think you should make the Pastor or someone aware of that issue. I just don't see a reason to connect the two and agree with you it just doesn't sit right. But if it's leading someone to think they're "paying for communion" I think it's got to stop.



2by2 -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/3/2008 5:32:55 PM)

There is no connection as far as I know. It was so unsettling to us, that we have been visiting other churches. Come to find out that several of the Methodist churches that are under the Holsten Conference are doing this.

I did mention it to the Pastor, but I believe that because we are not members at the church (we were almost ready to join until the whole communion thing happened), our voice really doesn't matter.

I appreciate your input about this. My mom and I have discussed it at length and feel the same way. We were worried that we were being overly sensitive and that it wasn't a big deal but it just doesn't sit well with us.



Qtman -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/3/2008 6:09:09 PM)

I agree with you it should be done at some other time during the service. I don't know that there is anthing wrong with doing it that way but you have already pointed out that at least one got the wrong impression. That alone is enough to make me change it.



drmark -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/4/2008 8:53:21 AM)

Is Communion taken every Sunday? Is an offering taken every Sunday? If yes to both, why this confusing mixture of receiving from the Lord with giving to the Lord?



Covaan_Meshuga -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/4/2008 9:29:10 PM)

We don't do communion, so I wonder what communion is for in your church, specifically. Does what you believe communion is for disagree with giving to the poor (not likely!!)? Are you more worried about what it represents to those who visit or are new? Is the offering explained every time? Can one take communion without giving to the offering?



SovereignIsHe -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/4/2008 10:19:30 PM)

Are they selling cars in the parking lot after service on Sunday?

John



BibleBased -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/5/2008 8:57:27 AM)

Having attended many different churches/ denominations the ones i respect most firstly say if you are NOT a member of this church do NOT put money in the collection. All visitors or seekers/ new christians should not be paying for the upkeep of the church - that is the responsibility of members.
Also in the Church of England/ Anglican church the collection is taken to the front, as the minister is preparing the bread and wine, which seems to me one step away from the original post.

My wife is a non christian and her mother said you had to pay to go to church. Many times my wife and children have tried churches with me and i have explained you don't have to put in any money. But the bag/ plate is still passed to you or held in front of each person with the obvious begging money intention - which saddens me. Like to embarrass people to give.

Given should be a private thing and not part of any service.

Funnily my mother's church is in a wealthy area and they are really worried because money given for months has not covered the monthly basic bills. One rich member who leaned on the church in her final days, insisted to her daughter - when i die don't give the church a penny. Another is always saying i've no children and so much money i might as well enjoy it. She goes all round the world on 4 or 5 holidays a year, cruises for 3 or 4 weeks a time. Her father was a minister too.

I guess we can only walk correctly ourselves. Salvation is not through a church, a congregation or a minister/ pastor. You give in the way you feel God wants you to and don't take part in any 'visible' giving to please men. If need be, change church or set up a house church like i'm trying to do. Love BibleBased.



stampinlady -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/5/2008 9:19:11 AM)

I was a member of a Baptist church that always received an offering after our once a month communion. It was called the "Benevolant Fund." I never questioned it and don't see that it's biblically wrong. I'd have to go back and read 1 Corinthians and see if there's something mentioned about it. Hmmm. .



rcjames -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/5/2008 3:00:38 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: 2by2

The church that my family and I have attended for the last year and a half (which is a United Methodist Church) began taking up a collection for the Empty Pantry Fund in our community. While I agree that this is a totally worthwhile cause, I am disturbed that this collection is tied to communion. When people go up for communion, they are asked to place a dollar into the collection plate for the Empty Pantry fund.The symbolism related to the act of taking communion is priceless


Well, if you think communion is priceless, why fuss about a requested dollar for the needy.

Thanks
RC



2by2 -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/5/2008 9:17:38 PM)

Communion in this church is the first Sunday of the month. The church practices "open" communion, meaning that one does not need to be a member of the church to receive communion. The congregation proceeds in an orderly fashion to the front of the church and after taking the symbolic blood and body of Christ, you are asked to drop a dollar in the plate. You then go back to your seat in the sanctuary.

My beef with this is NOT giving to the needy. I can honestly say that I put 10% of my income into the plate when it is passed for tithes. I can tell you that God does not need my money, yet I tithe 10% for the church to use as it sees fit, and I feel that what I give is given back to me 1000 fold in blessings from the Lord Almighty. Not only do I tithe, but I give of my time and energy for the benefit of the church...AND the needy.

My beef IS with the fact that money is tied in this particular church to the holy sacrament of receiving the blood and body of Christ. Christ's sacrifice for us is PRICELESS. All I am saying is leave a price tag off of communion and take up a collection as people are leaving. Can't we, for once, leave money out of it???



Covaan_Meshuga -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/6/2008 11:32:59 AM)

I work for a church, but I don't attend it, so I am not sure how communion is done there all the time. I was there a couple times when they did communion, but it did seem that they separated it from the other activities by the procedure of the ones serving communion, their prayers before communion, and the quietness of communion. This was followed by a change of energy by the leadership of the service, when they went on to other things.

I don't know -- perhaps it is because I don't know that much about churches communion, but it just doesn't seem like a big deal that they want contributions for the poor after they are served communion, since they are already there where they can contribute.

However, something occurs to me. When I was leaving my old church, I went to one in which they required those who made contributions to the church to come forward in a parade around the edge of their auditorium, up to the platform, and to the offering plate that was set up in the center of the altar area. To me, it was a big show. Is this what is bothering you, too?



hotsaucygma -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/6/2008 2:12:47 PM)

My guess is that the church is "connecting" the idea of the Lord's (bountiful) "table" to the "empty" table of those needing to use a food pantry. I'm not sure how I would feel about it if I were to experience communion in this manner. If an explanation was given first, and the "offering" were voluntary it would seem to make more sense to me. I have never heard of this before though!



Focusing -> RE: How do you feel about this? (5/8/2008 3:38:40 PM)

I think it's inappropriate to ask for people to give money while taking communion.

Not only that, but it makes it very obvious who gives, who doesn't give, maybe how much one gives. It seems like a manipulative technique, one done possibly to shame people.

Very strange.



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