Comments on: Random Poll: The Ideal Starting Time for Church http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: LDS Anarchist http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-38189 LDS Anarchist Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:24:48 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-38189 I'd have to say "other." I think the church should set it up so that the building opens up at 8am with a member of the bishopric present, and at least one priest and then every hour or every half hour, depending upon who shows up, if some member does show up, the priest can bless the bread and water and pass it out to whoever is there. The wards could split it up so that each ward would have a member of the bishopric preside over his priest(s) and bless and pass out the sacrament during a three hour block. Then the next ward would preside over the next three hours, and so on and so forth. Ideally, it would be 8 - 5 (or even later) so that anyone could go to the local chapel and receive the sacrament. It doesn't take more than a half hour to bless and pass the sacrament, so it can be done at the top and bottom of each hour. In this way, a person can choose the best time to partake of the sacrament and virtually anyone would be able to make it, even those who worked on Sunday. Also, for small groups of members, instead of blessing a whole bunch of bread and water, the exact amount needed could be blessed. The benefits of such a system could be: each member of the bishopric getting experience in presiding each Sunday (they would be rotated throughout the day), the priests would also be rotated and get lots of experience blessing the sacrament each Sunday, any teachers that are present likewise could be rotated would get lots of experience passing the sacrament, etc. In other words, the Aaronic priesthood would really be employed if such a system were set up. Now, just in case you think so, I am not kidding. I am an active LDS and an anarchist, and I think we should be free to go to the chapel and partake of the sacrament more than just at one set time, which if we are late, we must wait a whole week for another opportunity. I’d have to say “other.” I think the church should set it up so that the building opens up at 8am with a member of the bishopric present, and at least one priest and then every hour or every half hour, depending upon who shows up, if some member does show up, the priest can bless the bread and water and pass it out to whoever is there. The wards could split it up so that each ward would have a member of the bishopric preside over his priest(s) and bless and pass out the sacrament during a three hour block. Then the next ward would preside over the next three hours, and so on and so forth. Ideally, it would be 8 – 5 (or even later) so that anyone could go to the local chapel and receive the sacrament. It doesn’t take more than a half hour to bless and pass the sacrament, so it can be done at the top and bottom of each hour.

In this way, a person can choose the best time to partake of the sacrament and virtually anyone would be able to make it, even those who worked on Sunday. Also, for small groups of members, instead of blessing a whole bunch of bread and water, the exact amount needed could be blessed.

The benefits of such a system could be: each member of the bishopric getting experience in presiding each Sunday (they would be rotated throughout the day), the priests would also be rotated and get lots of experience blessing the sacrament each Sunday, any teachers that are present likewise could be rotated would get lots of experience passing the sacrament, etc. In other words, the Aaronic priesthood would really be employed if such a system were set up.

Now, just in case you think so, I am not kidding. I am an active LDS and an anarchist, and I think we should be free to go to the chapel and partake of the sacrament more than just at one set time, which if we are late, we must wait a whole week for another opportunity.

]]> By: Paula http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33692 Paula Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:07:12 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33692 Ann, when I was growing up, we had our own reason for getting out of SM on time. It always started at 7:30 PM, so that farmers could milk their cows first. It was supposed to end at 9, but that was when Gunsmoke started, so we knew that the speakers and the bishopric would make sure we were done by 8:45 so that we could all be home in front of the TV at 9. Ann, when I was growing up, we had our own reason for getting out of SM on time. It always started at 7:30 PM, so that farmers could milk their cows first. It was supposed to end at 9, but that was when Gunsmoke started, so we knew that the speakers and the bishopric would make sure we were done by 8:45 so that we could all be home in front of the TV at 9.

]]> By: woundedhart http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33690 woundedhart Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:59:12 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33690 I'm with everyone who yearns for a shorter block. My DH served in a mission where all the meetings were 30 minutes. Ahhh, doesn't that sound sweet? So I vote for 10:00-12:00, with generous gab-time in between meetings. I also vote for a different ward for people who have children in the various stages of napping. Although, I decided when my first was still small that the blessings you reap from church attendance with children come from your actual attendance, not from any messages gleaned while there. Because those are few and far between. I’m with everyone who yearns for a shorter block. My DH served in a mission where all the meetings were 30 minutes. Ahhh, doesn’t that sound sweet? So I vote for 10:00-12:00, with generous gab-time in between meetings. I also vote for a different ward for people who have children in the various stages of napping. Although, I decided when my first was still small that the blessings you reap from church attendance with children come from your actual attendance, not from any messages gleaned while there. Because those are few and far between.

]]> By: Ann http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33676 Ann Wed, 22 Aug 2007 04:45:33 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33676 Jett #15 are you Jett the animator? If so, would you please e-mail the cartoon you made of me? ann dot porter at gmail dot com. Back on topic - When I was mostly just occupying a pew on Sundays, I was on the one hour block and it rocked. I still think it rocks. Sacrament meeting, optional Sunday School, and special interest meetings for YM/YW & RS. If the men still want to have priesthood, fine. Start at 10, out by 11:15. Even the east coast games haven't quite started yet. When I was a wee Catholic, Fr. Schultz always used to say the 11:15 mass. His motto was "The Last Supper only took 20 minutes; how do I think I can improve on that?" His goal was 30 minutes door to door. He almost always made it. Now THAT was awesome. My favorite ever talk by Fr. Schultz: "Today's gospel says 'Blessed are they that hear the word of the Lord and keep it.' What's the best way to hear the word of the Lord? Come to mass." That was it. The whole sermon. I was nine. That was the first time I ever loved going to mass. (P.S. before anybody rags on me for not relishing our meetings, etc., I would like to state that I'm just being flippant and silly. It's bedtime.) Jett #15 are you Jett the animator? If so, would you please e-mail the cartoon you made of me? ann dot porter at gmail dot com.

Back on topic – When I was mostly just occupying a pew on Sundays, I was on the one hour block and it rocked. I still think it rocks. Sacrament meeting, optional Sunday School, and special interest meetings for YM/YW & RS. If the men still want to have priesthood, fine. Start at 10, out by 11:15. Even the east coast games haven’t quite started yet.

When I was a wee Catholic, Fr. Schultz always used to say the 11:15 mass. His motto was “The Last Supper only took 20 minutes; how do I think I can improve on that?” His goal was 30 minutes door to door. He almost always made it. Now THAT was awesome. My favorite ever talk by Fr. Schultz: “Today’s gospel says ‘Blessed are they that hear the word of the Lord and keep it.’ What’s the best way to hear the word of the Lord? Come to mass.” That was it. The whole sermon. I was nine. That was the first time I ever loved going to mass.

(P.S. before anybody rags on me for not relishing our meetings, etc., I would like to state that I’m just being flippant and silly. It’s bedtime.)

]]> By: Ziff http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33672 Ziff Wed, 22 Aug 2007 01:59:30 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33672 Geoff, I think I might be able to stand 8 AM if it meant a 2.5 hour block. Like you, Mark, I love that it leaves time later in the day for, uh, important business. :) <blockquote>church time is completely related to children and their schedules.</blockquote> Jessawhy, you're so right. My younger son is four. How quickly I forget to be grateful that he's old enough to not be tremendously affected by odd church schedules. But even then, he occasionally falls asleep in sacrament meeting. Geoff, I think I might be able to stand 8 AM if it meant a 2.5 hour block. Like you, Mark, I love that it leaves time later in the day for, uh, important business. :)

church time is completely related to children and their schedules.

Jessawhy, you’re so right. My younger son is four. How quickly I forget to be grateful that he’s old enough to not be tremendously affected by odd church schedules. But even then, he occasionally falls asleep in sacrament meeting.

]]> By: jessawhy http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33670 jessawhy Wed, 22 Aug 2007 01:27:53 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33670 I agree with Vada, church time is completely related to children and their schedules. Beyond that it's just preferences. When my first was a colicky baby, I'd walk him home from our wymount ward to our apartment and put him to bed during church. (I felt incredibly guilty about it) I mean, for newborns, there's a complete eating/sleeping/waking cycle in 3 hrs. I remember thinking that I couldn't have a testimony of a church that demanded families bring their newborns to a 3 hr block. I agree with Vada, church time is completely related to children and their schedules. Beyond that it’s just preferences.
When my first was a colicky baby, I’d walk him home from our wymount ward to our apartment and put him to bed during church. (I felt incredibly guilty about it) I mean, for newborns, there’s a complete eating/sleeping/waking cycle in 3 hrs. I remember thinking that I couldn’t have a testimony of a church that demanded families bring their newborns to a 3 hr block.

]]> By: Vada http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33659 Vada Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:32:00 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33659 I also love the 10am start time. The ward we just moved into starts at 10am, and I'm so happy. And since we don't usually share a building (we are temporarily right now because one of the other wards is having their building expanded) we get to pick our own time, and we will probably always meet at 10am. Yeah! My biggest reason for loving 10am is that it works best for my older son. He gets up between 8 and 8:30am, so getting ready and getting to church by 9 means we have to wake him up, and that makes him crabby all day (and church completely miserable for all of us). Lunch is usually between 12:30 and 1, so with the snack from nursery it's not a big deal to eat when we get home at 1:30. And naptime is 3:30-5:30. If we got put on a 3-6 schedule I'm pretty sure I'd go inactive. There's no way he could handle that. Of course, my younger son usually takes two naps, the first one starting between 10:30 and 11, so Sundays throw his schedule completely out of whack. But any church time would do that, and he's much easier to deal with when his schedule's bad than the older one. I also love the 10am start time. The ward we just moved into starts at 10am, and I’m so happy. And since we don’t usually share a building (we are temporarily right now because one of the other wards is having their building expanded) we get to pick our own time, and we will probably always meet at 10am. Yeah!

My biggest reason for loving 10am is that it works best for my older son. He gets up between 8 and 8:30am, so getting ready and getting to church by 9 means we have to wake him up, and that makes him crabby all day (and church completely miserable for all of us). Lunch is usually between 12:30 and 1, so with the snack from nursery it’s not a big deal to eat when we get home at 1:30. And naptime is 3:30-5:30. If we got put on a 3-6 schedule I’m pretty sure I’d go inactive. There’s no way he could handle that. Of course, my younger son usually takes two naps, the first one starting between 10:30 and 11, so Sundays throw his schedule completely out of whack. But any church time would do that, and he’s much easier to deal with when his schedule’s bad than the older one.

]]> By: Jett http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33658 Jett Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:21:54 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33658 I'm part of a singles ward where we have been 1-4 for what I've been told is now decades. HAAAATE it though the worst I've ever had was 3-6. I'd rather have church at 8 am than 3pm. I’m part of a singles ward where we have been 1-4 for what I’ve been told is now decades.

HAAAATE it though the worst I’ve ever had was 3-6. I’d rather have church at 8 am than 3pm.

]]> By: Lulubelle http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33657 Lulubelle Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:18:24 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33657 That's easy! 9:00-11:00. Yep, two hours would be heavenly! Three hours is so long. Sitting for that length of time (especially when many of our meetings don't have the content or delivery to sustain keeping anyone awake or engaged) is brutal. That’s easy! 9:00-11:00. Yep, two hours would be heavenly! Three hours is so long. Sitting for that length of time (especially when many of our meetings don’t have the content or delivery to sustain keeping anyone awake or engaged) is brutal.

]]> By: Melanie http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33653 Melanie Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:37:06 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/21/poll-the-ideal-starting-time-for-church/#comment-33653 I recently moved from a singles ward that we were told would meet from 1-4 until the end of time. It was nice for sleeping in, I suppose, but I ran into conflicts with family activities with seeming regularity. I now live in a singles ward that meets in one of the 4 chapels in the SLC institute (with 20 other wards) and I am completely sold on 9am. It's a little early but I absolutely love having the whole rest of the day to do nothing... too bad I no longer live around my family so I have to enjoy it alone... I recently moved from a singles ward that we were told would meet from 1-4 until the end of time. It was nice for sleeping in, I suppose, but I ran into conflicts with family activities with seeming regularity. I now live in a singles ward that meets in one of the 4 chapels in the SLC institute (with 20 other wards) and I am completely sold on 9am. It’s a little early but I absolutely love having the whole rest of the day to do nothing… too bad I no longer live around my family so I have to enjoy it alone…

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