Trueness to a specific religion...

[Tonio]

Originally posted by kwillia
I was born/baptized Catholic. We were really faithful at attending church until we were all hit pretty hard with the flu one winter. We missed several weeks of church in a row. After several weeks of not being able to attend, we received a letter from the church. It wasn't a "how are you...where ya been" letter. It was a "hey noticed you haven't been making your offerings so here are some envelopes to make it convienient for you to mail them in" letter. Needless to say.... my Mom "saw the light". Don't recall much of the church after that.

Years ago, my wife and I received a similar e-mail from the Unitarian church we had been attending. It started out with "We miss you" language and then reminded us that it cost the church money to keep us on their newsletter subscription rolls.

For our response, my wife came up with a great line (which was embarrassing, since I'm the one who earns his living as a writer). She wrote that if our wallets could drive themselves to the church, they would probably be more welcome at the services.

[JabbaJawz]

Originally posted by Tonio
She wrote that if our wallets could drive themselves to the church, they would probably be more welcome at the services.

Your wife rocks!!! That's a great story!

[Penn]

Originally posted by Tonio
Years ago, my wife and I received a similar e-mail from the Unitarian church we had been attending. It started out with "We miss you" language and then reminded us that it cost the church money to keep us on their newsletter subscription rolls.

I attend church in Lusby at St. Pauls UMC, and have yet to recieve a notice like the ones mentioned here. I've been absent to go skiing or take trip, but what I got in the mailbox was "We missed you, hope everything is well", then at the bottom of the 3 X 5 card it said something to the effect "If you need to speak with one of our Pastors, please call at ###-###-####, at anytime"
Maybe that's one of the difference between the Catholic Church and the Methodist Church. Also, I really like our Pastors' sermons, because as many times as he delivers the message, he tries to lay out a historical element to it, frequently pointing to one of the Disciples, and what they were preaching to the masses back then,
and how that message applies to us in today's terms. It gives you some perspective on the idea, then and now.
Laureng, if you are speaking to the theories, lifestyle and rules that are laid out in Corinthians I & II, and Galatians, practically all of St Pauls' other letters, those are indeed hard to follow. Many of us struggle mightily with them; you do the best you can as a human being, and follow God the best you can as well.

penn

Originally posted by SxyPrincess
No - I was just teasin.

Shew, good thing, I almost stopped donating to save the people down the street, feed the children, pay for the priest legal bills, help the poor, feed the needy, cloth the homeless....ect.ect...ect

[Penn]

Originally posted by justhangn
Shew, good thing, I almost stopped donating to save the people down the street, feed the children, pay for the priest legal bills, help the poor, feed the needy, cloth the homeless....ect.ect...ect

Hey, JH, you got $24.00 I could borrow for a case of Molson Golden?

penn

Originally posted by penncam
Hey, JH, you got $24.00 I could borrow for a case of Molson Golden?

penn

See, now Mr. Ed wants me to fund the murder of millions of brain cells too.......it just never ends!!!!!

[demsformd]

I completely believe the doctrine and beliefs of the Catholic Church but I hate the man-made parts of the institution and the "secularization" of the Church. I do not truly see the pope and bishops as infallible nor do I look to them for moral advice (after all, these are the same guys that defended sick sick priests that prey on little boys and girls). Lauren, my daugher recently went through the marriage preparation class as well and had much the same reaction to it as you did. I can't believe that the Church would require such tedious rules, especially rules about "Catholics in good standing." What the hell is that? I advise you to stick in there because all churchs have their own flaws and corruption. You make your own faith and your own decisions, regardless of what a man-made Church told you to do.

[JabbaJawz]

Wow, I can't imagine getting an "I miss you" notice from the church. I really don't think they pay much attention to who and who doesn't go, since St. John's is a pretty large parish. When we move to Prince Frederick, though, and look for a new church maybe we'll end up somewhere smaller. I'm having my reception at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Hall and they have a 'Welcome New Members' bulletin board where they post your family's picture and name, which I think is pretty darn neat!!!

I really look forward to not just 'going' to church at a new parish, but becoming involved in it, and I just hope they don't try to shove the down our throats too hard - or else we won't be able to stand it, lol!

[JabbaJawz]

Originally posted by demsformd
I can't believe that the Church would require such tedious rules, especially rules about "Catholics in good standing." What the hell is that?

I agree, they seriously made us feel like we were bad people or going straight to he// in a handbasket if we didn't practic natural family planning and other such RULES. Like ya'll said, though, it's all about following God...being a good person...having morals...etc... and not so much about following rules. When attending St. John's I've never felt these INSANE rules were shoved down my throat in any way, but at this class hosted by the Archdiocese it was totally shoved.

I got married at St. John's but we didn't have to go through those classes. Well let me take that back. We had to go to I think 2 classes. But is was nothing that you are talking about.
My husband is not even Catholic and he was aloud to get married in a catholic church. We agreed on our kids to recieve there sacraments in a Catholic church.
I know a St. John's you have to go through all this stuff to have the kids Baptized to. And if the priest doesn't think that the people that were choosen are not good enough meaning doesn't not meet the Catholic religion than you have to pick someone else. At our parish we didn't have to go through that.
But we don't go to church. We need to find a different church. We went as a rule last year but I don't soooo sick and tired of hearing donate money to this and that. Makes me so mad that the catholic religion has come down to this.
I have heard good things about Immaculate Heart of Mary. Only problem is it is a ways to travel every Sunday. Does anyone attend FAW? How is that church?