The Memorial has just Started (page 2)

Gopher

Prisca,

You said,

I probably feel comfortable about not attending because I've already shared in communion with other Christians at other occasions over the year. So in a way, my conscience is clean.

I talked over this issue yesterday with another poster who is under strong family pressure to attend. He doesn't want to attend, yet he still feels that Christ is real (and so this time of the year is special).

I talked to him about this: The way the JW's celebrate (some partake because they are "mediated" and "included in a covenant" , and others don't) is a complete charade. Their drinking of the wine and eating of the bread (or not) is totally overshadowed by the error of their teachings.

So I asked him, what if other religions or cults had their own, inaccurate celebration of the "Last Supper"? Would we feel obligated to go and attend each one of these?

Since the answer plainly is "NO", then why feel an obligation to attend this particular ceremony?

-J.R., member, UADNA-MN
(Unseen Apostate Directorate of North America - Minnesota division)

This post was not evaluated by any mental health professionals.
Any opinions expressed are those of a fuzzy, cuddly rodent.

Will Power

Just an observation.

JWs are sticklers for what did and what did not take place within the bible. How they handled this & that, appearing to do everything by the "book".
Do you think that on the night of the "Last Supper" the room was decorated with flowers and that everyone was dressed up special (for each other)? Is there some reason why they don't have flowers at a regular memorial?

aud8

I don't feel that its the "truth" anymore, but its the command that Jesus gave "Keep doing this in remembrance of me" that bothers me, I feel I should be acknowleging this in some way.

Prisca

aud8,

If you feel you want to attend a passing-around of the bread and the wine (whether or not you choose to participate) then I'd suggest attending a local church when they have communion. You don't need to partipate, just observe and see how they do it. If you want to participate, I'm sure they'll include you, regardless of whether you are a member of their church or not.

When I have attended communion services, the priest/attendant will say something like this as s/he's offering it to you: "This bread/wine represents Jesus' body/blood and your acceptance of him as your Saviour." Then you sip the wine/grape juice, eat the bread, and that's it. No one is going to quiz you as to your "worthiness" to accept the bread and wine. It is something that is between you and God. No one can tell you what to do.

Or else, you could do something like what Ozziepost did, and get with some other like-minded individuals and share with them.

Kismet

This is one of the most difficult times of the year for many.

Part of it is the guilt of not attending, part of it is the family and friends being disappointed and part is just missing the ritual.

It has been 4 years now since my last Memorial (sounds like an AA meeting) and it is much easier now.

If I can suggest something that helped me that first year. There was no way in hell anyone was going to get me into another church that year...still too raw after leaving. I remembered the Yearbook accounts of those countries under ban or those in concentration camps and how they celebrated the Memorial.

So I did the same. I read the Bible passages, I prayed...A LOT. I even had the glass of wine there (which quickly disappeared followed by one or two more). That took care of God and that was the most important aspect for me. I knew in my heart that leaving the Org was the right decision. So hold your own observance of the event. It may help.

Fortunately due to the manner in which I left I have not been under a lot of pressure form JW's to attend. I know how hard it has been for others that do get pressured from their family and have guilt trips laid on them. My only suggestion is to get out with other people tonight, or maybe go into chat here or somewhere else. We can get much support from our friends...one's that don't judge us as to where we are tonight.

Tho my beliefs now are far different than 4 years ago, doing the above got me through the first year. I wish all of you well and for some it is already over for another year for others just a few more hours and then the pressure will be off.

Good luck!

Kismet

LB

Aud as Kimset said it can be very difficult this time of year for some people What helped me to get out quickly was one of the guys carrying around the emblems I knew to be a total phoney and jerk. That sort of ruined the night for me and I haven't been back.

I suggest asking yourself if the WTBTS really has it correct. Is this just a once in a year affair? I don't recall Christ saying to do it only once a year, he said to just keep on doing it. That might mean at every single meeting. Maybe even every single meal. The society is the one that made it a yearly memorial.

Never Squat With Yer Spurs On

Had Enough

I'm really glad to read the comments of everyone on this subject. I don't feel so alone now in what I too am feeling.

Angharad and Abaddon: I too feel bad about letting my family down in not attending. My mom just recently died but she always made a forceful point of how "vital it is not to miss this meeting". This will be the first one I will have missed because of choosing not to attend.

I talked it over with my da'd son since we've both been "invited" to attend, and we both agreed that to go will feel too hypocritical. Still, it hurts to know I will be getting those "looks of distain" when my daughter asks me if we went.

I'm still in the "floundering around" stage with my beliefs so I'm experiencing one extreme to the other about partaking of the emblems. Years of ingrained thinking at first made it seem almost repulsive to think of ever joining in...almost sacrilegious, since "only the chosen few" should partake.

Last year when I attended the BRCI where so many former JWs were and heard of some taking communion and attending other churches...I found this very difficult to comprehend and deal with and yet I appreciated so much hearing their thoughts and comments. It opened up some whole new questions in me.

Then I flipped to questioning everything about the bible, God and Jesus. Now, having done more research, I seem to see why so many have changed their reasoning on the scriptures to feel the need to join in the communion.

Kismet: I appreciate your comments on how you personally handled your first non-attendance. I feel now that I understand too little about the Bible, and I need to do more examining and self-analysis to find my "happy place" and want to acknowledge the great sacrifice Jesus made if it really did happen that way. I guess I still have a long way to go yet.

Prisca: Thanks for your thoughts and starting this thread.

Edited for dumb spelling. Why does a word look OK while I'm typing and then looks weird only when I've posted?

Had Enough

"Never doubt that a small group of citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."...Margaret Mead

flower

I'm not attending for the first time ever this year and I also feel a little wierd about it. I feel like I should do 'something' to show my respect and appreciation for Christs sacrafice but I dont want to go to the memorial.

I feel a little guilty, but I hope the Lord understands what I'm dealing with right now. But then I guess nothing should be more important than him at this time of year. Maybe I will go to church with my roommate this weekend.

flower

JBean

Well folks, I need to say that I am going tonite. Basically because of 2 things: my parents and the thought that I DO need to do something to acknowledge Christ's sacrifice (as someone else said). I'm going to the JW memorial though, for my folks sake ONLY, cos it's true, I could go to another church to "celebrate", I guess. Anyhow... if anything different/funny stands out tonite, I'll be sure to post it tomorrow! Wish me luck as I take a deeeeepppp breath and put on a smile. [8>]

LDH

This is my THIRD year of not going! The first year I lied like a rug.

It doesn't bother me at all that I'm not going, AND on top of that my parents didn't even remind me or ask me if I was going this year so I don't have to engage in any nasty conversation, which I've already had with other family members this week.

I don't feel like i *have* to do anything as far as God is concerned. I put my time in, I'm coasting now. After all, doesn't Jehovah remember our "righteous works?"

Lisa

The Memorial has just Started

Share this