Talk about disasters!
A couple of Elders thought it would be 'Great!" to save $$$ and have the English Congo have their Memorial at the KH after the Spanish Congo.
It started at 9pm and ended at 10:20pm
Parents with small children spent most of the Memorial (9:20-10pm) out in the parking lot soothing cranky tired children up way past their bedtimes (or kids put to sleep in cars/suburbans). So while the Former Bethelite (mid-50s) who now has been put out to pasture reassigned received oohs and ahhs like he was rocking the podium like a GB member spent most of the time talking to only about 45 sheeple. He started off with why using the "real" emblems was so important. He highlighted his story with prisoners making wine out of fermented red grapes or soaked raisins despite if being caught with the alcoholic brew could be sentenced to longer periods of incarceration. All I could think about was how Jesus said to do things in spirit and to have the love of God in ones heart. I mean what is more important here ritual or spirit? I just felt sick that they would have people in banned countries or those just not in position to obtain the "right" kind of wine make such sacrifices for what Jesus meant as symbolic. I am convinced more then ever that the correctness of the emblems versus the desire to remember Jesus and have a moment to partake in the symbolic sacrifice of Christ is far more important.
That is all that I heard of the Memorial as my 3yrs old was just as cranky as the others. I understand that my 8yrs (sitting with 3 of her friends) old fell asleep during the passing of wine and the Former Bethelite decided to have her woke up and then made a little joke at her expense (she is a very sensitive child). She feels 'totally humilitated' and said she isn't going to anymore meetings (she has always had the option to stay at home with her dad)
The main talk out in the lot (we had warm weather with a very pleasant breeze) was how stupid it is to have to bring kids to the KH late at night to go to meetings. We all relived our stories from childhood about being tired the day after BS and TMS. At least 5 of us are going to boycott the BS/TMS for the month of April (bet the others will enjoy the break of having to haul everyone to the KH or study home).
Well that was my night....
