Ok, I know everyone is probably tired of the subject by now. I haven't had internet access all week so I didn't get a chance to tell about my memorial experience.
Not that it is exciting in the least bit.
I arrived 15 minutes early and sat in the middle of the meeting hall (actually a school cafeteria). This was the first meeting I've been to with my former congregation in about five years now with the exception of a funeral that I basically snuck in and out of.
My whole point in going this year was to prove to myself I am no longer afraid of these people. I don't have to hide from them anymore.
As I started to say earlier, I arrived 15 minutes early. I saw a lot of friendly faces and said hello to some of them. Quite a few came up to me, hugged me and gave me the whole "nice to see you we miss you speech".
The speaker I would have sworn was giving a review of Mel Gibson's The Passion of Christ. The talk for the most part was ok if you buy into the whole Jesus being the Son of Man and God.
The part that bothered me was when the speaker basically said, if you have to question whether or not you are going to "shoot up like a rocket" when you die, more than likely you are not annointed special. So DON"T DRINK the WINE or EAT the BREAD.
This is so ridiculous!!! The fact that the jdubs have to tell the non-jws that they are not anointed. so do not partake, is so evil, rude, insensitive, and soooo unnecessary!!!!
Before the speaker went up to the stage there was an announcement by another elder.... "There will be a special announcement at the conclusion of tonight's celebration."
So at the end of the talk the elder read a letter from the society (not sure if it read Governing Body or JWs) would like to thank you for coming tonight to celebrate with us.... blah blah blah blah.........
Thank you for not drinking our precious wine and eating our precious bread. Because you obeyed our tacky admonition not to eat or drink you have kept us clean before our man-made god. Thank you for not defiling us with your evil, wicked ways.
Then they invited everyone there back the following week for the special talk.
THE END...