Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: "Money: it's a gas. Grab that cash with both hands . . ." Message-ID: Date: 2 Apr 91 08:26:04 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: State University of New York at Binghamton Lines: 44 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article kilroy@gboro.glassboro.edu (Dr Nancy's Sweetie) writes: >We're curious to know if anybody else has ever encountered this practice, >or if it is a local innovation. Our guess is that the donations started >dropping, and the "front basket" system was instituted to get more cash; >if true, we think those priorities are misplaced -- are we overlooking >something? A friend recently took a confirmation class to Boston. While there they went to a few different churches. At one of them htye had a practice she found interesting. They had 3 collections: each went to a different cause. As I recall, one went to local operating expenses, one to local missions and one to global missions. (I may be wrong). Two of the collections were made in "the usual way" I.E. the ushers passed through the congregation. The third was made in an "unorthodox" method. The people took their collection *to* the ushers. (I believe this was the local expenses collection.) My friend thought this a good idea, since it made the act of giving more intentional, and active rather than a passive thing. Many United Methodist congregations each year collect pledges from the entire congregation for what they intend to give that year. Even though our congregation doesn't do this, envelope collections are tallied for income tax purposes, (we receive a statement at the end of the year). Every time a collection is taken, the ushers see what is given, (unless it's in an envelope without the quantity on it.) Since I am tremendously absent minded, I tend to forget my envelope. I find that I can fold paper money quite small, hiding all conventional denominational markings. If the usher were looking closely, he may recognize a portion of the architecture on the back, but I'm not too concerned. I suspect that this ploy would also work quite nicely in your situation. (Similarly, if you don't suffer from absent-mindedness, you could bring a standard envelope from home.) My question, how was the rest of the service? Did the congregation welcome you? Did they strike you as sincere? Loving? Christian? It would seem to me a shame to stay away from a "neighborhood church" for a matter that you could address. Tom Blake SUNY-Binghamton