Hi to everyone!
Wow! What a list of new friends we have on this forum, I don't know if I'll ever be able to keep up, but that's Ok.
I wanted to dive in to the post to talk about the Memorial. I do not have any intentions of going, even if I was invited. I have not gone to one in about 30 years, and with all that I have learned and read, as well as the information we can get on the internet, I certainly can not allow my conscience to view it as acceptable for me. Now, by that last sentence, I am only saying that about myself, with a deep respect for others views. I do believe in my heart that Christ's death is significant for me and that without it life seems empty and meaningless to me. So, what am I going to do?
I plan to spend some time with my folks, and we will celebrate it privately, by reading some of the passages concerning his death. Our thoughts are, like scripture, and I'm paraphrasing "where there are two or more gathered in my name, there my spirit is." No need for extra literature to explain the importance of the event, only the scriptures. In the book by Ray Franz, ("Crisis of Conscience") it also was an issue of contention with the society because of individuals having their own private meeting in their own home. It is nobody's business what you do when it comes to reading or discussing the scriptures in your own home. From what I have read and learned, it apparently has been done by many. And of course, it is definitely not being announced everywhere.
I also want to express a concern or an emotion that I have, and maybe you have had this feeling, it's actually very simple. I have a friend that is getting married to a wonderful woman. He sends out 200 invitations inviting them to his wedding and to the reception. So, I show up and attend the wedding, and then I go up the street to the reception. While I'm there, cake and beverages, and I'm talking the good beverages, are being passed out to the Bride and Groom, and the entourage of the couple, as well as the parents. BUT NOBODY else, not me, or the guests or anyone else get to have cake or beverages, we just get to watch them enjoying the cake and beverages. So how can I be a part of something if I don't get to enjoy the benefits of the reception. And that's how I felt when I went to memorial. I would sit for an hour and watch 2 or 3 people out of 80 partake of the emblems, and yet I always felt that Jesus was telling me to "keep doing this in remembrance of me." From what I know, I find out that I am not alone in that feeling. So in conclusion, I don't care about there rules, and it is in my heart what I feel. I also found it interesting when I was reading on this subject a couple years ago, that there are quite a number of people that when they went to the memorial, they would go to an individuals house and have another private memorial.
Anyway, this is just my own point of view, and whatever you decide to do, make it a great day!
Happy Trails to all! Truth and Justice