Lack of gatherings means the congregation only exists in the Kingdom Hall (page 2)

serendipity

I agree too. I thought I wasn't invited because I didn't go in service and was 'weak'.

In our cong the youths would meet on Sat nights and study the WT for the next day, then play games and eat refreshments. It was cancelled right after the 1975 article came out in the late 70's (the, sorry, but its really your own fault you thought that, article) The elder who chaperoned us (we always had and elder or MS in attendance) told us his experience. Quite enlightening. The youth meeting was henceforth cancelled. (someone told their parents the 'funny story' and I am sure they used it against the elder-he stepped down and then moved-a very stable, been there forever kind of guy). There was informal roller skating on sunday nights. We often brought neighbor kids and there was nothing JW'y about it. They didn't cancel those that I know of. That was it except for the anniversary cake each year at the book study (the only time a refreshment was ever served at the study). NEVER cong. gatherings except for weddings or field service. Probably why we looked forward to conventions-it broke up the monotony with a different version of monotony.

lilybird

There was informal roller skating on sunday nights

Funny,, as teens in the 70's we used to go rollerskating on Sunday nites. It was a great way to meet other cute guys(jws of course). Must have been a universal dub thing. It did stop by the end the 70's though.. Teens weren't alllowed to do anything fun that wasn't watchtower related.Can anything watchtower related be remotely fun or even interesting?

Ok, Does anybody have pre-arrangements? (85% of hands go up) Well, looks like we are good to go.

I remember that too. There was an elderly woman crippled in a wheelchair who always had to ask around for someone to help her get around at assemblies. Some sisters complained that it should be arranged for her by the brothers,, but it never was.

Now I guess misery loves company at the KH and every there pretends at the meetings that they really are happy,,at least for an hour or so until the meeting ends.

moshe

Our KH orgainzed some skating parties,too. Again, that was back in the 70's. A few of those who were well off had parties to show how well off they were. My kids grew up in the restictive era after 1980,and even today I feel like the lack of social activities for JW teens has made them more introverted than they would have been.

MinisterAmos

I'm sure that you'll get real popular very quickly IF you open up the pool and the liquor cabinet.

You'll nave 'em crawling over your house like cockroaches (especially the Pioneers who are always looking for a hand-out.)

thepackage

I used to try to get basketball games organized and arrange trips to the movies and sporting events but the "wise" Elders shut me down and suggested I encourage the "friends to go out in field service". I still go to meeting and have a few friends over to BBQ and a few cold beers but I don't tell anybody.

rolling rock

Worlock
Post 2186 of 2190
since 16-May-06
Quote
"The congregation does exist outside of the hall for a VERY SELECT FEW."

My mom and dad are always geting together with there JW friends and doing stuff...

I also remember lot's of "gatherings" as a youth, and I was an 80's kid...

Bumble Bee

Our cong had quite a few things going on. In the summer we had cong picknicks at the beach, in winter we would rent a community hall and have a pot luck, dancing, cards for the older ones, skits, singing etc. We had skating parties, and met for tobogganing, went to museums etc. This was all after '75. Even into the '80's early '90's we still did things like that. But from what I've heard it's very rare that a whole cong will get together for anything, my mom's old cong was still having a cong picknick before she moved, about 3 years ago. Not sure what her current hall does. I think it depends on the cong.

BB

tijkmo

As many of you know, the Watchtower is not known for organising social gatherings of any kind for relaxation or enjoyment.

not just not known..but specfically frowned upon..

wt articles and service meeting items regularly stress not having large gatherings..i know i know it doesnt actually say thou shalt not..but the fact is anyone organizing one gets so much pressure they end up either scrapping the idea or not bothering in the future

any organizing of smaller events was deemed to be cliquish...sisters getting together was considered to be gossiping..and young people dont get to do preconvention or volunteering or quickbuilds unless they have qualifications..

can anyone say counter productive

lovelylil

I always wondered WHY no one associates outside the kh? I was in two congregations, the first one for over 10 years. And I can count on one hand how many times my family was invited to do social things with the "friends". And my hubby was a MS and I was a pioneer. Both my kids were in the school so I didn't know what the problem was.

My hubby said it was a "social class" thing because the hall was in a very affluent area. And most of the congregation was doing pretty well financially. Well, we alway live pretty simple even if we have lots of money. I guess because we grew up poor. We bought a very modest home and always drove a modest car. I just bought my "dream" van (New Toyota Sienna) and I am pushing 40. Anyway, he thinks the congregation thought we were poor and even when some planned family ski trips, they left ours out. Then immediately after we bought a home (no small price in Boston) - we started getting invited places! And some of the elders who NEVER even said hello and the hall asked us how we like owning our own home. Our real estate agent was a "sister" and she even commented by the huge down payment in cash we made that she couldn't believe we had that kind of money because she said "I always thought of you guys as poor".

The other reason we think we were not invited out was race issue. The hall was 99.9% white (and made many racial slurs) and my hubby is Puerto Rican. One sister even approached my daughter who was 10 at the time and told here that "you can tell you are puerto rican by the loud colors of the dresses you wear". Then she started laughing. My daughter was speechless. I was like "you know, some would take that as a racial slur". And this lady stopped talking to me. (and elderess). Lilly

Lack of gatherings means the congregation only exists in the Kingdom Hall