How was church today?

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Jae said:
Our church situation right now is in limbo. Simply put, our denomination, Fellowship.ca - Welcome does not exist here in South Korea. Neither does Yobo's earlier denom of the PCC. There's a Korean church here in town that does simultaneous translation in English, though we've heard that the translation is substantially lacking.
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Finding a church in another country is a challenge I've never faced. It would be an issue if we ended up in Shanghai. The only church we know at all there is the one my late mother-in-law went to but it's Chinese-only AFAIK. Mrs. M has been there for at least one service, I think.

That said, my most likely move at this point would be to the US, and UUs are far larger and more widespread there than they are here so I'd probably be good unless I was really out in the boonies.
 
Mendalla said:
Finding a church in another country is a challenge I've never faced. It would be an issue if we ended up in Shanghai. The only church we know at all there is the one my late mother-in-law went to but it's Chinese-only AFAIK. Mrs. M has been there for at least one service, I think.

That said, my most likely move at this point would be to the US, and UUs are far larger and more widespread there than they are here so I'd probably be good unless I was really out in the boonies.
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A real blessing I have in navigating everything here in Korea is my yobo, who understands the language and culture. She feels that we must return to Suwon Central Baptist this coming Sunday as they gave us a gift of shampoo, soap, and toothpaste last week. After that, we are free to roam. We may next try a Presbyterian church as ut us Yobo's faith tradition. Also, we've noticed a Methodist-like church in the neighborhood.
 
Jae said:
they gave us a gift of shampoo, soap, and toothpaste
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the 'cleanliness is next to Godliness' principle at work? :angel: Or clean yourself up before you come back again?? ;) It seems an unusual 'welcome gift' ... or would it be considered common in S. Korea?
 
On the rare occasions that I have received a gift of toiletry items I immediately wondered if they ripped them off from a hotel room. I have heard church members suggesting that removing such items from hotels to give to a Shelter or Food Bank or something is excellent, affordable charity.
 
Carolla said:
the 'cleanliness is next to Godliness' principle at work? :angel: Or clean yourself up before you come back again?? ;) It seems an unusual 'welcome gift' ... or would it be considered common in S. Korea?
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From what I understand from Yobo, it's a common gift. It was given to all the newcomers/visitors at the service. It also may have had something to do with that being their Homecoming Sunday.
 
KayTheCurler said:
On the rare occasions that I have received a gift of toiletry items I immediately wondered if they ripped them off from a hotel room. I have heard church members suggesting that removing such items from hotels to give to a Shelter or Food Bank or something is excellent, affordable charity.
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Highly doubtful that these were ripped off. They're full-sized products which came in their own distinctive giftbox and giftbag.
 
KayTheCurler said:
On the rare occasions that I have received a gift of toiletry items I immediately wondered if they ripped them off from a hotel room. I have heard church members suggesting that removing such items from hotels to give to a Shelter or Food Bank or something is excellent, affordable charity.
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Usually hotels have their own brands so it would be fairly obvious.
 
I, too, have heard church folks suggesting such items be taken from hotel rooms. The argument being they are provided for our use so the items are ours to use as we see fit. I have never heard anyone suggest ripping off the towels or anything like that. Just the disposable items which are provided as a courtesy in the rooms.
 
paradox3 said:
I, too, have heard church folks suggesting such items be taken from hotel rooms. The argument being they are provided for our use so the items are ours to use as we see fit. I have never heard anyone suggest ripping off the towels or anything like that. Just the disposable items which are provided as a courtesy in the rooms.
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As a courtesy? Let's not pretend that hotels are giving them away because, gosh darn it, they just think their guests are so swell. Guests pay for those little toiletry items. In my opinion, those little items of shampoo, conditioner, etc. are good to go.
 
Oh yeah, my mom brings home as much of those little bottles and soaps as she can when she travels. Sewing kits, shoe shining sponges...all the little free stuff. They went to Las Vegas 2 years ago for one night on their way to the Grand Canyon, and my souvenir was a bunch of delux skin cream sample size packets - one body lotion had little gold flecks in it, supposedly real but I doubt it. I think she also said they were handing them out on the concourse between the hotel and some other spot, so she grabbed a bunch, lol. There’s a basket of little soaps and lotions and shampoos in her bathroom cupboard...sometimes she puts the basket out for out of town company, but when she gets quite a collection, my step dad brings it into the soup kitchen he volunteers at. In the past, the nicer ones have also been stocking stuffers, lol.
 
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Tabitha said:
Yes but if "paying guests" take all the toiletries each time it does end up costing the hotel more.
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The cost of the items is added into the bill of each of the paying guests. Hotels aren't stupid - they expect guests to take the stuff. So, meh.
 
But there's plenty like me who sigh and wonder when and where she will find the time and energy to store extra s**t and only use what they need. I don't usually travel with bar soap, though even if I'm camping; I know there's gonna be a night I will break down and use a motel...
 
BetteTheRed said:
But there's plenty like me who sigh and wonder when and where she will find the time and energy to store extra s**t and only use what they need. I don't usually travel with bar soap, though even if I'm camping; I know there's gonna be a night I will break down and use a motel...
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Like I said, once there’s a stash of extra s**t it gets donated to the guests at the soup kitchen my step dad volunteers at. They are usually appreciative to get it, and other extras like something that was purchased but somebody couldn’t use (my mom also has a newly diagnosed fairly rare allergy that was finally figured out to be some really long-named chemical hardly anybody has heard about that isn’t required to be listed on either US or Canadian products - can’t remember which - but it is in many cosmetics and cleaning supplies, so she cleaned out her cupboard), so it gets used by somebody, usually.
 
So, largely well balanced between those who pay, those who use, those who take, and those who redistribute.
 
We had a contemplative service today, each person lighting a candle up front if they chose to. Nice music, more repetitive singing than usual. We contemplated the meaning of communion and at-one-ment. There was a meditation up on screen we read about the Bread of Life. We sang "Eat this bread drink this cup" before taking communion. That was a first (singing that) since I'd been there, but a familiar tradition from years at UCCan and an Anglican service I attended once, and even a Catholic mass I attended once. I think they are trying to integrate some older traditions and mainline traditions with newer ones. It was nice.
 
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