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SummerSmiles
Guest
Agree. I’m not sure how he dealt with it, but I sure wouldn’t have wanted to be in his shoes.
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EasterJoy
Guest
Forgive me, I’m not one of those people who thinks that parish gatherings need a “theme”. Not that I have anything against that; it’s just not my strong suit.
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VeritasLuxMea
Guest
Catholics using the words “peace” and “love” in positive ways?Kinda sounds like… what we’re supposed to be doing! Shivers
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ThyKingdomCome
Guest
That’s a pretty exclusive attitude for a Church Picnic.
Perhaps a more loving attitude would be one that welcomed everyone and then DEMONSTRATED a loving community, rather than using a confusing slogan as the gatekeeper for who is enough like you to be allowed in.
As I said before, this doesn’t sound like a Picnic. You put a sign of for “love fest” and I’m going to worry that you’re going to make us all sit in a circle, including my impressionable children, holding hands, and playing trust games. Is this what the picnic is going to be like? If so, use that slogan, and you’ll get a little clique of people from the parish to come. But if you’re actually shooting for a community building picnic that is inclusive of all of your parish - then worry about your personal agenda less, and about the parish agenda of making the entire parish FEEL WELCOME. The way to do that is:
PARISH PICNIC!
PRICE:
FOOD:
ACTIVITIES:
ALL ARE WELCOME!
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Catholic90
Guest
Absolutely!! Have FUN games for the kids, a teen band for the teens, a magician, entertainment for the adults, including music, maybe a talent show, bingo, a raffle, food, pop, wine, and beer. People will come, they will visit, they will meet new friends, visit with old friends, and have a good time.
If you plan to have a talk or preach to them on love or do hokey trust games or “small group activities”, do it another time.
Guess which will have a larger turn out?!?
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SummerSmiles
Guest
Yes! This sounds like the type of fun parish activity that I would make sure to bring my family to!
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Luna_Lovecraft
Guest
This sounds like the annual festival the parish I grew up in has every year. Three-day event kicked off by golf tournament Friday afternoon. Small(ish) parish (fewer than 9,000 folks in the whole town), but it draws in thousands, including plenty of non-Catholics, as well as people from parishes in other towns. Beer tent, brawurst, Bar-B-Q, bingo, rides for the kids, bake sale, raffles and drawings, carnival games, just tons o’fun. Not to mention a huge money maker for the parish.
My current pastor here in California attended a seminary about 150 miles from where I was raised. When he saw my sacramental records he first comment was, “Oh, you grew up at St. XYZ’s. I loved their festival.”
Luna
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ManOnFire
Guest
That’s why it would attract the Lost, and be a celebration for the Found.
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ManOnFire
Guest
I thought it was obvious that a Love Fest at a church would be an emotional and spiritual love fest, because enough people would have the common sense to know it wasn’t going to be a physical love fest. But maybe I’m giving the human race too much credit.Because we think love is “icky” and it is best to only speak the word poetically as is done here… but never practice it?
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ManOnFire
Guest
Thanks!
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ManOnFire
Guest
Thanks!
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ManOnFire
Guest
It’s en vogue to look at things differently, to turn the mundane into an art form, challenge the mind with something unique. Open minded people like to challenge traditional definitions. We’ve come full circle to the point of that secular culture has successfully labeled and redefined a Love Fest as something icky. They have successfully flipped the definition in many people’s minds. The moment I flip the definition on the Flippers, they wig out. They can’t take they’re own medicine. That’s what I find to be hypocritical in this discussion. What happened to anything goes? It’s not politically correct if it disagrees with their norms. Artful people would appreciate opening their minds to consider my artful message, (which would not have been considered artful 50 years ago) unless they’re not really open minded of course. They would be perplexed with the decision: accept the emotional and spiritual love of Love Fest, or choose to be closed minded.Man on Fire, you’ve certainly gotten some flames, haven’t you?I’ll try not to be too fiery…
Here are my problems with this particular slogan:
–First of all, it is confusing. While I would be a little intrigued about what was meant by the term, I’d be more likely to think that it simply doesn’t make sense. If I saw that on a flier for a speech, the specific wording of “(of others, true)” would make me think that the speech itself might end up being hard to follow also - and not in a “it’s too intellectual” sort of way, but more in a “this analogy doesn’t really work” sort of way.
–Second of all, but more importantly, what you’re describing sounds like an afternoon of instruction. It’s like you’re saying, “here is this intriguing statement, now come to my seminar and find out what it really means.” But you’re not advertising a seminar. You’re advertising a picnic, a social gathering, that is not likely to be instructional. The flier doesn’t really advertise the main event.
So I appreciate your goal of giving an intriguing statement to get people to want to know more. But I don’t think the Church picnic is the place to do it. I think you’d be best to advertise the picnic more clearly. People will be changing their plans to come to the picnic, and families will be wondering if they can afford to bring their kids, or if their kids will have fun there. You’re going to get more people coming if they know that there will be food and fun (or whatever perks the picnic offers), and if they know what to expect. Then save your idea (with some tweaking) for an instructional/inspirational event.
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ManOnFire
Guest
Love Festival - more formal, and less hippieish! I like it! That just might be the bridge we need to sell it without the sleazy connotation. You deserve some credit for the name.This is just one of my little pet peeves perhaps…
I am not attending anything that even uses the word “Fest.” Nope. Not even Lobster Fest.
Hey, if you want to have a fun time, call it a festival. But a fest? Are we so busy that we can’t even say a complete word anymore?
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ManOnFire
Guest
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ThyKingdomCome
Guest
I’m sorry. I don’t even know what you’re talking about, who the “artful people” are, who “they” are that will be perplexed with decisions, who is flipping and who is en vogue, or what anything has to do with being politically correct or what a flyer for a picnic has to do with judging the open mindedness of the people who read it. I was under the impression you were hoping to invite people to a picnic, and perhaps I wrongly assumed that you are hoping to attract as many parishioners as possible. If this is not the case, then I can see how my suggestions don’t make sense. Maybe instead you could put up a flier that says, “Love Fest Picnic - artful, open minded people only, please!”
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ManOnFire
Guest
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ManOnFire
Guest
All of these are still in my plan. The only substance that would change would be the fun of the hippie garb and the poignancy of the message.
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ManOnFire
Guest
Those who appreciate “challenging norms” will show up out of artful appreciation, or choose to be hypocrites by staying away. Those who don’t appreciate “challenging norms” will also show up, for a regular picnic. It’s a win-win for the church and for exposing hypocrites.
I’m confounded at the people who insist on rebelling against an artful attempt at achieving goodness. 
It’s almost as if people have been brainwashed. 
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ThyKingdomCome
Guest
Boy, this is exciting! I can’t remember the last time I’ve been to a combination picnic / Hypocrite Exposition! Will there be prizes and punishments?
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Mummsie
Guest
IMHO, I think you’re working too hard to convince this forum that your idea works. There’s a difference between thinking outside of the box and sending a message only a few people will get or find compelling.
I would guess most of those posting here typically support their parish functions. If they tell you your concept is confusing, unclear, provocative (not in a good way), non-family oriented, then perhaps you should listen. We are not all close minded. But, if you want people to come, then you need to be clear what it’s all about. You can utilize the Love concept at the function in many other ways.
God Bless You.
I would guess most of those posting here typically support their parish functions. If they tell you your concept is confusing, unclear, provocative (not in a good way), non-family oriented, then perhaps you should listen. We are not all close minded. But, if you want people to come, then you need to be clear what it’s all about. You can utilize the Love concept at the function in many other ways.
God Bless You.
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