Thanksgiving dinner with a catch....what think you?

[RGR]

I received a letter in the mail yesterday from a local church in our area. The letter stated that I and my family had been chosen to receive a free Thanksgiving meal. I mean, I do okay on what I make but it can still be a struggle. My first thought was "how nice" and read on about how I'd receive a turkey, the stuffing, bag of potatoes, etc. This was all going to be provided free of charge. Our church donates to the local food pantry, as do several of the other churches in the vicinity. I'm guessing this church probably doesn't though (they are of a "we're the only ones that are right" persuasion)... I kept reading on.....

The catch? You have to attend Sunday morning service this coming Sunday at their church!!! I'm not really sure what to make of it. Obviously I'm not going to anywhere beside my home church so Thanksgiving dinner for free is out lol!!!

Okay, here's the thing. In one respect, perhaps they get someone to come to church who doesn't normally come and they get saved. On the other hand, if someone is needy (not that we are btw) would you absolutely refuse them food b/c they didn't come to your church? I would have worded it something along the lines of "we have free turkey and fixings for those in this area and if you don't have a church home, we'd appreciate you considering us."

So, again, what think ye?

Edited November 15, 2010 by RGR

[2Joyful]

I believe sometimes we read more into things thats not really meant to be that way.

Perhaps you can pass the letter to a family thats in need and may benefit from the church service also.

During this time of season giving, the church would probably give the dinner without second thought to a family in need weather they attend or not.

Blessings

[RGR]

How's that working for them?

I know our church, along with other local churches, donates to the food pantry and our church will be doing it again this year for Thanksgiving to help those in need. It's not a requirement to my knowledge that you have to go to church somewhere to receive the help. It just bugs me to an extent that it's a "you have to attend our church to get help" thing.

[MorningGlory]

I received a letter in the mail yesterday from a local church in our area. The letter stated that I and my family had been chosen to receive a free Thanksgiving meal. I mean, I do okay on what I make but it can still be a struggle. My first thought was "how nice" and read on about how I'd receive a turkey, the stuffing, bag of potatoes, etc. This was all going to be provided free of charge. Our church donates to the local food pantry, as do several of the other churches in the vicinity. I'm guessing this church probably doesn't though (they are of a "we're the only ones that are right" persuasion)... I kept reading on.....

The catch? You have to attend Sunday morning service this coming Sunday at their church!!! I'm not really sure what to make of it. Obviously I'm not going to anywhere beside my home church so Thanksgiving dinner for free is out lol!!!

Okay, here's the thing. In one respect, perhaps they get someone to come to church who doesn't normally come and they get saved. On the other hand, if someone is needy (not that we are btw) would you absolutely refuse them food b/c they didn't come to your church? I would have worded it something along the lines of "we have free turkey and fixings for those in this area and if you don't have a church home, we'd appreciate you considering us."

So, again, what think ye?

I tend to agree with you....they probably mean well but it's just wrong somehow.

[anitarose]

I know my old church gives away boxes of food every week but the catch is you have to attend the Sunday morning service to get one...My current church I can go into the Children's church building where the food pantry is and help myself (as long as I ask one of the two men in charge of the Benevolence fund first). Granted, I don't get as much food from my current church as I would have with my old church but at least I know I'm being fed and so are others---in more ways than one.

a.

[georgedrw81]

My friend lives in a place where large parts of the population owes mopeds and few owe cars. Now if you join their church or go to their masses then they offer a car to use. The car is rent free use as long as you are with them. It is an attractive offer to upgrade from a moped to a car. One would think there would be thousands joining but they are not.

Blessings

[nebula]

It's a sales pitch tactic. I hate it when sales people do it. People don't appreciate it when a church does it, either.

That's all I can say.

[anitarose]

My friend lives in a place where large parts of the population owes mopeds and few owe cars. Now if you join their church or go to their masses then they offer a car to use. The car is rent free use as long as you are with them. It is an attractive offer to upgrade from a moped to a car. One would think there would be thousands joining but they are not.

Blessings

Dude, if someone doesn't want their moped, tell them to ship it over here to me. I could use it!!! LOL

[Fez]

If I was a starving unbeliever I would go.....

For all the wrong reasons, but I would probably go.

I agree with nebula.

[ladypeartree]

Trying to look at the positive side MAYBE they just mean you have to go to the service to collect the free stuff ... it would be easier to hand it out that way than to transport it all over the city