Welcome to this week’s Five Minute Friday. Our instructions, via creator Kate Motaung: “Write for five minutes on the word of the week. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.” Today’s prompt: COLLECT.
I am tempted to write about another kind of “collect” – emphasis on the first syllable as in the “collect” that is read during a church service, but a different “collect” (emphasis on the second syllable) is in my head.
I went to church with my daughter at her church for the first time Sunday, and when it came time to collect the offering, I found myself inserting my donation into a POPCORN BUCKET. I mean, her church is quite laid back but I didn’t understand at first.
The church is doing a summer series, “Summer at the Movies” and the entire theme is around movies and theatres (hence the signage on the way in, the popcorn being served, and the …… popcorn buckets used to receive offerings).
I love themes.
But I also love the fact that no matter what the outside receptacle, the contributions we choose to make are consistently the same. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the trappings that don’t matter.
When I go to my family reunion Saturday, someone’s baseball cap will be used to collect the money we contribute annually to pay for paper goods. That always makes me smile …. so functional ….. so “family reunion.”
I am so glad I had the opportunity to go to church with my daughter. The theme was “Finding Dory” and (spoiler alert) how, despite being separated, her parents never stopped believing she would find her way back to them.
They worked every day to make sure she had a path back (several paths back) and they, being parents, remained in one place so she wouldn’t get confused.
Don’t we all need a central source of love that always believes we’ll make it back?
This post is part of the weekly Five Minute Friday linkup.
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
Amen! I would’ve done a double take at the popcorn bucket as the offering plate too. Sounds like a fun summer series though. I’m in the 3 spot this week.
It made me laugh! But I applaud the church’s complete integration of the theme. This Sunday’s “feature” is Lion. I’m betting that leads to an incredible message.
I am your neighbor over at the #fmfparty this week. Glad you made it to church with your daughter. Have a blessed weekend.
It was such a treat to be there with her and meet the people who have been such a big part of her spiritual journey.
LOVE this…both the popcorn bucket, and the message in “Finding Dory”. Great job.
#1 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-dying-spouse-339-revelation-and.html
Thank you, Andrew. There was a really beautiful visual during that last scene where the parents explain the way they set up the paths every morning for her to find her way home. Definitely selfless parents. I enjoyed your post and commented.
I enjoyed this post. I’m a church organist/choir director in an Episcopal church, so I immediately recognized the term ‘collect’ with accent on the first syllable. I would imagine that the term ‘collect’ is not widely used or recognized in your daughter’s church. But, the purpose of the ‘collect’ is obviously there: to draw people for together for a higher purpose that is bigger than any individual in the group.
Carol (“Mimi”) from Home with Mimi
I’m Episcopalian too (could you tell LOL?). And she was raised Episcopalian (for quite a few years) but yes her current church is, for lack of a better word, “casual” Methodist (and it’s awesome — just trying to convey that it’s modern “come as you are”). The funny thing about the popcorn buckets is that they are HUGE. Maybe they should be seen as a sort of prayer that they’ll bring in HUGE offerings. 🙂
“…I also love the fact that no matter what the outside receptacle, the contributions we choose to make are consistently the same. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the trappings that don’t matter.”
This is a good word, Paula. All too often we get caught up in the way things are done, rather than focusing on the why. My own church is struggling with this right now.
Oh those struggles can be a challenge as a congregation. I will send prayers your way on that. And thanks for the kind comment.
That’s pretty funny. And went so well with your prompt!
Right? That Kate has a knack for prompt selection! 😉
I’m sure the kids and kids at heart enjoyed this series of messages
Glad U embraced it
EXACTLY! It wasn’t just the younger people enjoying the messages, for sure! The pastor actually tied the movie’s lessons to how we should create community for people with special needs and their families, who are often feeling “alone” in their responsibilities. She did a great job.
Love love love this! I also agree with Marie that my favorite part is about the why more than the how.
Thanks, Meg!