TOTALLY GEEKED!

huskerbb · Guru

Not meant to devolve into a religious argument--just curious

Ohfour · Hooker

When we are in town, we go. We rarely miss (G plays in the band) unless we are not here.

huskerbb · Guru

I guess I should have put a response in there like "did someone die"?

Tinydancer · Guru

I go every Sunday with my DH and his Mom. She can't drive anymore and she hates to miss church so we try to make sure she gets there.

Tangerine · Guru

Weddings and funerals. We used to go on Easter with Grandma

TrudyML · Guru

Dragged there my whole life, Catholic school. So no, never go. Unless its a funeral. Shall I start speaking Latin? Because I can.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

We only miss church if we are gone or to darn sick to attend. But you already knew that. wink

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

For the last year, I've been attending a Quaker Meeting, pretty much every Sunday. The last few weeks I've had to miss because it was the only time I could see Itty Bitty. Hope to get back Sunday.

flan

Honeys_Mom · Mod & Permanent Board Sweetheart

Every Sunday unless I'm sick. I need to be fed, and loved-on by all my little old lady dear ones.

jlbear71 · Guru

Wedding and funerals only. I just don't believe that God intended us to worship in one building. That and I have my differences with the Catholic church.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

jlbear71 wrote:
Wedding and funerals only. I just don't believe that God intended us to worship in one building. That and I have my differences with the Catholic church.

I never EVER felt at home in a Catholic Church.

flan

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

Weddings & funerals but I don't profess to be Christian though I was raised Christian & we did attend when I was a kid but eventually stopped going.

Momala · Great cook-happy wife-superb fisherman

I took on the "job" of doing the altar flowers every week, just to make myself get out of bed at least one morning each week, after my DH passed away. Now, the only Sundays I miss, if ever, are the ones where no one has signed up to sponsor the flowers, and DH and I go fishing!

huskerbb · Guru

I put twice a month or more. It probably averages at least three times a month. I'm an elder, so I feel like I should go--but once in a while we just don't feel like it.

JPT · Senior Member

TrudyML wrote:
Dragged there my whole life, Catholic school. So no, never go. Unless its a funeral. Shall I start speaking Latin? Because I can.

Yep. Another pre Vatican 2 kiddo here.

Explains the extreme aversion

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

JPT wrote:
TrudyML wrote:
Dragged there my whole life, Catholic school. So no, never go. Unless its a funeral. Shall I start speaking Latin? Because I can.
Yep. Another pre Vatican 2 kiddo here.

Explains the extreme aversion

Holey Moley!

Mea culpa!!!

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Twice on Sunday, Wednesday night and any other service like revival or what have you, when I am physically able.

If not, our church does a live stream for ever service. So if I can't be there physically, I can still "be" there.

Even watched the service on vacation.

The site is interactive as well. I can ask questions about the message, ask for pray, give offering or pay my tithes.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Weddings, funerals, and Christmas Eve. That's it.

I am agnostic bordering on full blown atheist.

God, if there is one, isn't in the building. He/she is in the flowers, the trees, the wind, the snow...not exclusive to organized religion and not an attendance taker.

Ohfour · Hooker

I went to Catholic school too...All girls Catholic HS. We had to attend mass EVERY DAY...

I still love to occasionally attend mass, just for the beauty of it. But I found my current church feeds my soul more...

huskerbb · Guru

God is in church. Matthew 18:20. Wherever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there I am, also.

That doesn't mean he is only there, but he is there.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

Mellow Momma wrote:
Weddings, funerals, and Christmas Eve. That's it.

I am agnostic bordering on full blown atheist.

God, if there is one, isn't in the building. He/she is in the flowers, the trees, the wind, the snow...not exclusive to organized religion and not an attendance taker.

This 100% - except I don't go on Christmas Eve.

TrudyML · Guru

JPT wrote:
TrudyML wrote:
Dragged there my whole life, Catholic school. So no, never go. Unless its a funeral. Shall I start speaking Latin? Because I can.
Yep. Another pre Vatican 2 kiddo here.

Explains the extreme aversion

Cheers!

JPT · Senior Member

huskerbb wrote:
God is in church. Matthew 18:20. Wherever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there I am, also.

That doesn't mean he is only there, but he is there.

Is he there if two or more are gathered at Starbucks?

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

JPT wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
God is in church. Matthew 18:20. Wherever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there I am, also.

That doesn't mean he is only there, but he is there.
Is he there if two or more are gathered at Starbucks?

Yes

jlbear71 · Guru

Hijack - I am getting burned out rapidly on the Papal visit this September. Yes, it is a great thing that the Pope is visiting the United States/North America. Yes, I understand the importance and enormity of this.

Yes, it will make Philadelphia a cluster of traffic. They are expecting about one million people to attend. They are already re-directing and rescheduling transit so that people who have jobs away from that area will not be able to get to work. They are assigning small train stations (like my local one with about 50 parking spots) to be the designated stops. Why not the one two stops down that is literally 20 times as large and has parking for about 1,000 cars? Life does not stop just because the Pope is coming.

Domestic Engineer · Guru

Every Sunday morning, Bible class and worship service, unless out of town or sick, must Sunday evenings and almost every Wednesday evening service.

Scooby · Newbie

I go pretty much every Sunday unless I just don't feel like it, which is rare. My dad tried to guilt me about not coming one Sunday. I told him, "I'm an adult, if I don't want to go to church one Sunday, I don't have to. That's the great part about being an adult!" He doesn't say much about it anymore.

huskerbb · Guru

JPT wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
God is in church. Matthew 18:20. Wherever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there I am, also.

That doesn't mean he is only there, but he is there.
Is he there if two or more are gathered at Starbucks?

If they are gathered in his name, yes. It's not unheard of for prayer groups or Bible study groups to meet in restaurants, coffee houses, etc...

huskerbb · Guru

Again, not trying to criticize anyone or get into any arguments--but for those who don't go or rarely go, what, if anything would get you to start attending?

This would assume you aren't an atheist who would obviously need some belief in God as a precondition to attend church.

Tinydancer · Guru

I can tell you why I stopped going for a while and then started going again. I was so busy with life and family that I forgot to make time for church. Then my grandson was born and I knew I wanted him to have church in his life. I grew up going to church and I still remember what a big part of myself was formed by that experience. I feel so sad when I hear how some churches have turned people away from religion but my experience was the total opposite. Not all churches are created equal I guess.

huskerbb · Guru

Tinydancer wrote:
I can tell you why I stopped going for a while and then started going again. I was so busy with life and family that I forgot to make time for church. Then my grandson was born and I knew I wanted him to have church in his life. I grew up going to church and I still remember what a big part of myself was formed by that experience. I feel so sad when I hear how some churches have turned people away from religion but my experience was the total opposite. Not all churches are created equal I guess.

I didnt go much in college and right after. it was certainly no crisis of faith (Which I don't get), i just got out of the habit.

FNW · Guru

We only miss if someone is sick or we are gone.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

huskerbb wrote:
God is in church. Matthew 18:20. Wherever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there I am, also.

That doesn't mean he is only there, but he is there.

Exactly! So if I spend Sunday morning on a nature walk with DH and DD's talking about how God made the trees and the little bugs on the leaf and every single speck of dirt...that's church! And that's what we did most Sundays while they were growing up. If it was cold, we went to museums and talked about how talents come from God and how you should always use your talents for the betterment of society etc. Church doesn't happen just in the church building.

Instead of giving money to a church congregation (most of which is used for upkeep of the building, grounds and salaries of the employees) we gave money to charities. Each person in the family researched a charity or told me what kind of charity they wanted (when the kids were little) and we donated to charity as a family, rotating to each charity so the kids each had their turn once or twice a year.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

That's a fair question Husker. We used to go but now we don't. I guess I am just tired. I never found the sense of community at church. Most of it has been superficial. And the drama . I don't have the energy to go through the motions. I don't feel any more connected at church than I do st home. And for our last Church when my mom was ill , we had dropped out for awhile. When we saw the Church members around town it as like they didn't know us. So you can say "oh its your fault" blah blah. Maybe it is. I just don't have the energy to start in a new church.

Ohfour · Hooker

Mellow Momma wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
God is in church. Matthew 18:20. Wherever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there I am, also.

That doesn't mean he is only there, but he is there.
Exactly! So if I spend Sunday morning on a nature walk with DH and DD's talking about how God made the trees and the little bugs on the leaf and every single speck of dirt...that's church! And that's what we did most Sundays while they were growing up. If it was cold, we went to museums and talked about how talents come from God and how you should always use your talents for the betterment of society etc. Church doesn't happen just in the church building.
Instead of giving money to a church congregation (most of which is used for upkeep of the building, grounds and salaries of the employees) we gave money to charities. Each person in the family researched a charity or told me what kind of charity they wanted (when the kids were little) and we donated to charity as a family, rotating to each charity so the kids each had their turn once or twice a year.

I appreciate and admire that...

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

To me, going to church, or watching online, is like a booster shot.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Ohfour wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
God is in church. Matthew 18:20. Wherever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there I am, also.

That doesn't mean he is only there, but he is there.
Exactly! So if I spend Sunday morning on a nature walk with DH and DD's talking about how God made the trees and the little bugs on the leaf and every single speck of dirt...that's church! And that's what we did most Sundays while they were growing up. If it was cold, we went to museums and talked about how talents come from God and how you should always use your talents for the betterment of society etc. Church doesn't happen just in the church building.
Instead of giving money to a church congregation (most of which is used for upkeep of the building, grounds and salaries of the employees) we gave money to charities. Each person in the family researched a charity or told me what kind of charity they wanted (when the kids were little) and we donated to charity as a family, rotating to each charity so the kids each had their turn once or twice a year.
I appreciate and admire that...

Thank you. That means a lot to me. Seriously.

huskerbb · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
That's a fair question Husker. We used to go but now we don't. I guess I am just tired. I never found the sense of community at church. Most of it has been superficial. And the drama . I don't have the energy to go through the motions. I don't feel any more connected at church than I do st home. And for our last Church when my mom was ill , we had dropped out for awhile. When we saw the Church members around town it as like they didn't know us. So you can say "oh its your fault" blah blah. Maybe it is. I just don't have the energy to start in a new church.

But then my question remains--what, if anything, would make you go back?

Maybe the answer is nothing.

huskerbb · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
God is in church. Matthew 18:20. Wherever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there I am, also.

That doesn't mean he is only there, but he is there.
Exactly! So if I spend Sunday morning on a nature walk with DH and DD's talking about how God made the trees and the little bugs on the leaf and every single speck of dirt...that's church! And that's what we did most Sundays while they were growing up. If it was cold, we went to museums and talked about how talents come from God and how you should always use your talents for the betterment of society etc. Church doesn't happen just in the church building.
Instead of giving money to a church congregation (most of which is used for upkeep of the building, grounds and salaries of the employees) we gave money to charities. Each person in the family researched a charity or told me what kind of charity they wanted (when the kids were little) and we donated to charity as a family, rotating to each charity so the kids each had their turn once or twice a year.

I don't really disagree--but, be honest, 99% of people who aren't going to church aren't talking about God on Sunday mornings, either. They just use it to sleep in or do projects at home, or whatever else people do besides church on their weekends.

Like my dad always said--the gulf between man and God is like the ocean. Theoretically, you can cross the ocean without a ship or a plane, but it's a lot easier with one. Church is the ship or plane that takes us across that ocean.

ETA: I'm NOT saying that YOU don't do the things you say on your Sundays--I'm just saying that most people don't do those things.

-- Edited by huskerbb on Thursday 9th of July 2015 10:03:29 PM

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

I don't go ever. I used to, before DS was born and for a couple of months after. That was over 30 years ago. I grew up catholic, went to CCD, church every weekend, classes, etc. I was driven a huge blow when I went to have DS baptized. At the time I lived in the biggest Diocese in my area. Huge power. I was poor, worked retail including Sunday's for the OT. I wanted him baptized in the church I was, the one I was married in, it was in a different district. I had to get permission from the Diocese. They wanted money. I had heard the rumors about buying your way into things such as annulments when married a long time or such, didn't want to believe it. I had no money, but they insisted, I left disillusioned. DS was finally baptized at the age of 8 once I moved out of that district. I have not forgiven the church since. I've cried over it. I feel I am doing wrong by DD in not introducing her to religion. My scars are bad, they still hurt.

huskerbb · Guru

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
I don't go ever. I used to, before DS was born and for a couple of months after. That was over 30 years ago. I grew up catholic, went to CCD, church every weekend, classes, etc. I was driven a huge blow when I went to have DS baptized. At the time I lived in the biggest Diocese in my area. Huge power. I was poor, worked retail including Sunday's for the OT. I wanted him baptized in the church I was, the one I was married in, it was in a different district. I had to get permission from the Diocese. They wanted money. I had heard the rumors about buying your way into things such as annulments when married a long time or such, didn't want to believe it. I had no money, but they insisted, I left disillusioned. DS was finally baptized at the age of 8 once I moved out of that district. I have not forgiven the church since. I've cried over it. I feel I am doing wrong by DD in not introducing her to religion. My scars are bad, they still hurt.

Truly, I think you need to repair your relationship with the church. Maybe not the Catholic Church, but maybe a denomination that would suit you better.

I would check around. Go to a few services and see what you think. Lutheran churches will have some of the same liturgical practices, but differ in church polity quite a bit. Some other denominations will be more spiritual.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
I don't go ever. I used to, before DS was born and for a couple of months after. That was over 30 years ago. I grew up catholic, went to CCD, church every weekend, classes, etc. I was driven a huge blow when I went to have DS baptized. At the time I lived in the biggest Diocese in my area. Huge power. I was poor, worked retail including Sunday's for the OT. I wanted him baptized in the church I was, the one I was married in, it was in a different district. I had to get permission from the Diocese. They wanted money. I had heard the rumors about buying your way into things such as annulments when married a long time or such, didn't want to believe it. I had no money, but they insisted, I left disillusioned. DS was finally baptized at the age of 8 once I moved out of that district. I have not forgiven the church since. I've cried over it. I feel I am doing wrong by DD in not introducing her to religion. My scars are bad, they still hurt.

Most churches won't allow people to just show up and ask for services like weddings, funerals or baptisms. You have to be a member of that specific parish. Lots of people want to get married in the cathedral in my hometown, but unless you are a member of THAT parish and attend regularly, you can't get married there. I am not saying you were wrong to be hurt (I think you were spot on correct) I just would not have been as shocked as you were. It's pretty much a given in most any denomination.

Ohfour · Hooker

Mellow Momma wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
God is in church. Matthew 18:20. Wherever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there I am, also.

That doesn't mean he is only there, but he is there.
Exactly! So if I spend Sunday morning on a nature walk with DH and DD's talking about how God made the trees and the little bugs on the leaf and every single speck of dirt...that's church! And that's what we did most Sundays while they were growing up. If it was cold, we went to museums and talked about how talents come from God and how you should always use your talents for the betterment of society etc. Church doesn't happen just in the church building.
Instead of giving money to a church congregation (most of which is used for upkeep of the building, grounds and salaries of the employees) we gave money to charities. Each person in the family researched a charity or told me what kind of charity they wanted (when the kids were little) and we donated to charity as a family, rotating to each charity so the kids each had their turn once or twice a year.
I appreciate and admire that...
Thank you. That means a lot to me. Seriously.

:) we have our differences....but know that I respect you and the choices you have made for your family.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Thanks Husker. I had DD baptized on my deck by my niece when DD was 3. There were 6 of us. Niece had recently been ordained as a priest in the Episcopal church. She is gay, which I found funny given DD's father would be strongly against that. I wanted DD baptized but according to the court couldn't do so without exDH's agreement, one he wouldn't give just to be a jerk. So asked my niece to come to my house, we did it on the sly and I don't care who knows about that now. I hid it for a long time. And I dare my ex to bring to court on that given today's atmosphere.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Mellow Momma wrote:
I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
I don't go ever. I used to, before DS was born and for a couple of months after. That was over 30 years ago. I grew up catholic, went to CCD, church every weekend, classes, etc. I was driven a huge blow when I went to have DS baptized. At the time I lived in the biggest Diocese in my area. Huge power. I was poor, worked retail including Sunday's for the OT. I wanted him baptized in the church I was, the one I was married in, it was in a different district. I had to get permission from the Diocese. They wanted money. I had heard the rumors about buying your way into things such as annulments when married a long time or such, didn't want to believe it. I had no money, but they insisted, I left disillusioned. DS was finally baptized at the age of 8 once I moved out of that district. I have not forgiven the church since. I've cried over it. I feel I am doing wrong by DD in not introducing her to religion. My scars are bad, they still hurt.
Most churches won't allow people to just show up and ask for services like weddings, funerals or baptisms. You have to be a member of that specific parish. Lots of people want to get married in the cathedral in my hometown, but unless you are a member of THAT parish and attend regularly, you can't get married there. I am not saying you were wrong to be hurt (I think you were spot on correct) I just would not have been as shocked as you were. It's pretty much a given in most any denomination.

I was a member of the congregation. They wanted money. Plain and simple.

Ohfour · Hooker

Here's the thing... People think I'm a hard ass. I'm NOT. And the Geeks here that know me know that. I love my friends, no matter their religion, sexual orientation, outlook on life. Really, I'm a lover, not a fighter...

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Ohfour wrote:
Here's the thing... People think I'm a hard ass. I'm NOT. And the Geeks here that know me know that. I love my friends, no matter their religion, sexual orientation, outlook on life. Really, I'm a lover, not a fighter...

Wrong, You are a lover and a fighter, but you fight for the right things.

Ohfour · Hooker

Thank you...but back me up that I'm not a hater...of anyone...:)

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Ohfour wrote:
Thank you...but back me up that I'm not a hater...of anyone...:)

You are not a hater, you are a lover with hippie in there. It's actually annoying sometimes when I am talking business and stuff. hmm

Ohfour · Hooker

Nice...lol! Peace and happiness and all that schitt...

-- Edited by Ohfour on Thursday 9th of July 2015 10:50:25 PM