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New Commandments

Written by

PaulSmithJr

in

Yesterday at Mass, while I was taking up the collection, I saw something I'd never seen in my more than two decades of ushering. A guy held up a $20 bill and asked me if I had a ten he could take back as change. I was so stunned I just answered his question with a "I don't know. I don't keep track of what people put in." He then reached into the basket and found two fives, dropped the twenty in and sent me on my way.

I told that to another usher, who's also been ushering a long time. and our associate pastor and neither of them had heard of it, either. Telling my girlfriend that night, we formulated a new (11th?) Commandment: "Thou shalt not make change from the collection basket."

She then proposed an additional one: "Thou shalt not allow thy cell phone to ring loudly during service." (She's Baptist.)

Later, a related occurred to me: "Thou shalt not answer thy cell phone during Mass/service." (Which I've sadly seen a number of times, including by a US Senator.)

So, any other suggestions?

I've crossposted this at my blog (http://www.gazizza.net) and will bring good suggestions from there over here and vice versa.

Comments

  1. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    I don't know, is it worse to make change or to not put anything in because all you have is a large bill and you need a portion of that? 

    Cell phones…silence them or leave them in the car or coatroom.

     

    Though shalt not chew gum at Mass, especially when receiving Communion!

    Momof11

  2. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    WOW! What a kudo for your ushers! Our baskets for the offering are kind of small and deep. I think if I had to go through that process of letting the guy find change, I'd just move on and let him keep the $20. If he needs it that badly, keep it. God will do just fine with the tithe the other members and visitors have decided to give. I don't know that my face would be impassive either. I might tend to frown on anyone taking change from the offering plate or basket. Maybe that's why we use a basket instead of a plate. You can't grab change for your paper money without a disturbing todo about it when the "change" is in the bottom of the basket. Does that guy understand where that $20 came from? He has it because of God given talents and energy to him to earn it and the gift of the job to work for it, so it really comes from God to begin with, so the least he could do is give it to God's church. What kind of father is this guy? If this is his message to other people in the congregation what must he be teaching his family about money and God at home?  Thanks for your "offering" about this person who obviously can't see where God fits into his life.Frown

  3. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Thou shall not show thy backside.

    Thou shall not talk over the volumne of the choir.

    Thou shall not put thy hands in pockets as a orans posture.

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