Comments on: Idle Play or Idol Worship http://www.adamjcopeland.com/2008/01/03/idle-play-or-idol-worship/ Adam J. Copeland Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:20:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Marci http://www.adamjcopeland.com/2008/01/03/idle-play-or-idol-worship/comment-page-1/#comment-548 Marci Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:32:58 +0000 http://adamcopeland.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/idle-play-or-idol-worship/#comment-548 I just want to know how and why the kid got those giant hands and feet as gifts. Did he lose a bet? Actually, I noticed that Scottish kids did not all walk in with Nintendo Wii's and iPods, which is probably what would have showed up at my church on Christmas day. So is the good news here that they are less materialistic? I do like having the service on Christmas and agree with the other comments on that. The oohing and aahhing over the gifts by the congregation reminded me of the book, "Upon This Rock" about a black church in NY. They didn't bring gifts, that I know of, but at some points in the year, the congregation did call up the youth and read their report cards and highlight other successes the youth and children had at school and in the community. I think there is something good about actually calling kids up front and having people give them focused attention (perhaps not for their christmas presents...) rather than just saying, "we support youth". I just want to know how and why the kid got those giant hands and feet as gifts. Did he lose a bet?
Actually, I noticed that Scottish kids did not all walk in with Nintendo Wii’s and iPods, which is probably what would have showed up at my church on Christmas day. So is the good news here that they are less materialistic?
I do like having the service on Christmas and agree with the other comments on that.
The oohing and aahhing over the gifts by the congregation reminded me of the book, “Upon This Rock” about a black church in NY. They didn’t bring gifts, that I know of, but at some points in the year, the congregation did call up the youth and read their report cards and highlight other successes the youth and children had at school and in the community. I think there is something good about actually calling kids up front and having people give them focused attention (perhaps not for their christmas presents…) rather than just saying, “we support youth”.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.adamjcopeland.com/2008/01/03/idle-play-or-idol-worship/comment-page-1/#comment-547 Sarah Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:13:04 +0000 http://adamcopeland.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/idle-play-or-idol-worship/#comment-547 My first thought was as Catherine N - nice to have Christmas day worship when it is NOT on Sunday. In my experience, even when Christmas was on Sunday (2-4 times when my children were younger as I recall - they are 20 and 24 now) presents were not brought to church and "displayed" - now a book or stuffed toy may have made it in to the sanctuary - but it wasn't a "tradition." Learn something new every day (thank goodness) but am reasonably sure this is not something I would encourage and might find a way to actively discourage in an appropriate way/time. My first thought was as Catherine N – nice to have Christmas day worship when it is NOT on Sunday.

In my experience, even when Christmas was on Sunday (2-4 times when my children were younger as I recall – they are 20 and 24 now) presents were not brought to church and “displayed” – now a book or stuffed toy may have made it in to the sanctuary – but it wasn’t a “tradition.” Learn something new every day (thank goodness) but am reasonably sure this is not something I would encourage and might find a way to actively discourage in an appropriate way/time.

]]> By: Catherine N http://www.adamjcopeland.com/2008/01/03/idle-play-or-idol-worship/comment-page-1/#comment-546 Catherine N Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:25:47 +0000 http://adamcopeland.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/idle-play-or-idol-worship/#comment-546 Well, I don't know what to make of the gifts, but I think there is something to be said for actually having a Christmas day service. We only do it here (in my experience) when Christmas falls on Sunday, and it's often treated like it's kind of an inconvenience. Well, I don’t know what to make of the gifts, but I think there is something to be said for actually having a Christmas day service. We only do it here (in my experience) when Christmas falls on Sunday, and it’s often treated like it’s kind of an inconvenience.

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