Re: Digest for prodigal-god-small-group@googlegroups.com - 5 Messages in 2 Topics

[jennife...@yahoo.com]

The thing that stands out to me I this quote is that it is a great plan for small communities/churches, but not large churches are not built to run this way... Not to say that large churches should be run the way they are, just pointing out the obvious, that they aren't. I say 'right on' that tithe money should go to the physical needs of the church body, not for parties or BBQ's or speakers.... 

A huge portion of our tithes go toward salaries of church staff & toward church-planned activities.  The additional offering that is taken for 'benevolence', which goes to emergency financial needs for medical, rent, utilities, death-related expenses etc, should be the fund that our regular tithe $ goes to and should be used as such... This is just my opinion, even as an ex-employee of the church.  

Church administrative staff is grossly underpaid compared to similar positions in secular businesses, but I think that if the church kept things simple, and the party planning was occasional & not the mainstay, then there would be very few staff, and many of those positions could be volunteer positions... Idealism, I know.  The benefit of small communities & churches is that the party planning ends up being done by people in the congregation for church members to attend, which equals no need for a church staff member to be paid to plan.  Small churches & community is the way to go...

My two cents, for whatever they are worth.
~Jenn

On May 24, 2013, at 8:23 AM, prodigal-god...@googlegroups.com wrote:

  Today's Topic Summary

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/prodigal-god-small-group/topics

• How did the early church collect and spend money [1 Update]
• food [4 Updates]

 How did the early church collect and spend money

Juan Castaneda <onecas...@gmail.com> May 23 10:42PM -0700  

I am reading an interesting book called, "The Rise of Christianity" which goes into detail on the early history of the church.
 
I found the following quote fascinating given our discussion last week (and apparently the prior session) on money and tithing. The quote is from Tertullian, an early church father, who wrote a book called the Apology in 197 A.D. Tertullian describes the Christian church this way:
 
"every one puts a little to the public stock, commonly once a month, or when he pleases, and only upon condition that he is both willing and able; for there is no compulsion upon any. All here is a free-will offering, and all these collections are deposited in a common bank for charitable uses, not for the support of merry meetings, for drinking and gormandizing, but for feeding the poor and burying the dead, and providing for girls and boys who have neither parents nor provisions left to support them, for relieving old people worn out in the service of the saints, or those who have suffered by shipwreck, or are condemned to the mines, or islands, or prisons, only for the faith of Christ; these may be said to live upon their profession, for while they suffer for professing the name of Christ, they are fed with the collections of His Church."
 
Sobering isn't it? What stands out to you guys?
 
Much love,
 
Juan


 

 food

Matt Alavi <matt...@gmail.com> May 19 04:28AM -0700  

Hey all. Just want to apologize for the food last night! I didn't realize
thin crust was such a "diet" food"! I wonder if anyone didn't go hungry.
 
Have a great week!
 
God bless,
 
Matt
 
--
Matt Alavi, L.Ac., Dipl. OM
Director of Pain Management and Natural Medicine
North County Integrative Acupuncture Center
15611 Pomerado Road, Suite 100 South
Poway, CA 92064
(858) 673-4400 office
www.northcountyhealth.net
 
<http://www.northcountyhealth.net>
 
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Signe Castaneda <hurle...@gmail.com> May 19 04:44PM -0700  

No worries Matt. It was a want and not a need [?]. Have a great week!
 


 

Matt Alavi <matt...@gmail.com> May 19 05:43PM -0700  

Thanks! Hahahahaha!
 
Matt Alavi, L.Ac., Dipl. OM, MSTOM
Clinical Director
North County Integrative Acupuncture Center
15611 Pomerado Road Suite 100 South Poway, CA 92064
858-673-4400
www.northcountyhealth.net


 

Julie Dosch <julie...@msn.com> May 19 08:33PM -0700  

I really liked the pizza! And I don't normally like pizza so much! Yummy!
 
Sent from my iPhone
 


 

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