Fill a Pew, Get a Brew

  • Thread starter Thread starter didymus
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

didymus

Guest
Fill a Pew, Get a Brew
A diocese in the Church of England, has found a creative way to get men to come to church. This past Sunday the church offered a range of incentives for men attending Father’s Day service, including bacon rolls, chocolate bars, and free beer.
[The Rt Rev John Inge, the Bishop of Worcester] argued that the free beer was intended to be symbolic of “the generosity of God”.
Men at St Stephen’s church in Barbourne, Worcester, will be handed bottles of beer by children during the service. A prayer will be said for the fathers before the gifts are distributed.
Click to expand...
The Ven Roger Morris, archdeacon of Worcester, who will be leading the service at St Stephen’s today, said that it was a practical way of sending a message to fathers.
Click to expand...
“I don’t see any other time that we can stop and remember fathers, and this is a gesture saying ‘Here’s something that will bless you,’” he said.
Click to expand...
Exactly when during the liturgy is this bottle-passing being done?
 
handed bottles of beer by children - Illegal according to federal law
during the service - Illegal according to Canon Law

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
 
Eucharisted said:
handed bottles of beer by children - Illegal according to federal law
during the service - Illegal according to Canon Law

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure if it is illegal in the UK to have children hand bottles of beer to adults…and I’m also not clear that the Church of England is under Canon Law. However, I do find the idea of handing out bottles of beer during church service disconcerting.
 
Eucharisted said:
handed bottles of beer by children - Illegal according to federal law
during the service - Illegal according to Canon Law

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
Click to expand...
This is church of England, so they don’t fall under our federal laws, nor our Canon Laws.

But, I agree that it was an inappropriate time to be handing out beer…after their service would have been more opportune…
 
didymus said:
Fill a Pew, Get a Brew

Exactly when during the liturgy is this bottle-passing being done?
Click to expand...
If the bottles are sealed, I don’t see what difference it would make if it was just a gift.
Many churches hand out carnations or other gifts to moms on Mothers Day.
Now a beer fest during the service might be something else…😉
 
Cracker_Mom said:
If the bottles are sealed, I don’t see what difference it would make if it was just a gift.
Many churches hand out carnations or other gifts to moms on Mothers Day.
Now a beer fest during the service might be something else…😉
Click to expand...
To be clear, I would take a beer over a carnation any day of the week. 😛 However, I agree with Ilroy that after service would have been more appropriate…perhaps a beer fest in the hall. 👍
 
Eucharisted said:
handed bottles of beer by children - Illegal according to federal law
Click to expand...
Yes, although it did take place in England, so their laws may be different. Here in the US, one church passed out Dad’s root beer on Father’s Day, although the article doesn’t mention whether children handled the distribution.
Eucharisted said:
during the service - Illegal according to Canon Law
Click to expand...
Perhaps, although since it was an Anglican church their Canon law may differ. A senior bishop supported the decision.
“Jesus created a lot more wine at a point in the party when some thought that there had already been enough drinking. He was all in favour of partying,” the bishop said.
Click to expand...
"We give wine away every Sunday, so giving away beer could be said to going downmarket a bit, but it’s an attempt to speak of God’s generosity.
Click to expand...
telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5587035/Church-blesses-fathers-with-beer.html
Eucharisted said:
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
Click to expand...
Yes, no doubt. I won’t even bother to ask whether the offer of free beer worked to get more men in. :eek:
rlg94086 said:
Well, liturgically I can’t support this, but a good Ben Franklin quote is in order:
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
Click to expand...
Indeed. The archdeacon of Worcester, who led the service, was quoted:
“I don’t see any other time that we can stop and remember fathers, and this is a gesture saying ‘Here’s something that will bless you,’” he said.
Click to expand...
 
Dale_M said:
Perhaps, although since it was an Anglican church their Canon law may differ. A senior bishop supported the decision.
“Jesus created a lot more wine at a point in the party when some thought that there had already been enough drinking. He was all in favour of partying,” the bishop said.
Click to expand...
With all respect to the bishop, that is very poor reasoning on his part. Jesus created more wine at a reception (a “party” as the bishop rightly calls it), but he didn’t pass out wine during the wedding ceremony. Also, to say “we give away wine every Sunday” is a pretty poor description of communion. 😦
Click to expand...
 
this is sad if this is the only way to get the english men and fathers to come to church.

the goal is to keep them coming back and they certainly can’t offer a beer every sunday can they?
 
Perhaps a BBQ after the Mass with some adult beverages would be more appropriate!

Revert TSIEG
 
SamH said:
So I should leave some for the others in line during communion?
Click to expand...
SamH… you are killing me… I have to go to a softball game!! HAHA

So what kinda beer are we talking about? No matter… I think BYOB would be the best for all involved!
 
Revert_TSIEG said:
Nope… I have been to the UK, and there beer is good and cold!
Click to expand...
Yep. In fact, I inadvertently got a waitress in trouble when I had my first Guinness in London. I asked if it was the normal serving temperature, and her boss chastised her because she served me the Guinness in a frosted glass - cold is okay but no frosted glass. :o
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top