'Brewery church' is the latest in craft of luring folks to church

[guillaumeb]

From the article:

Perhaps it should come as no surprise then that the first known congregation founded expressly as a “brewery church” is a Lutheran outpost, part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and its Florida-Bahamas Synod....

With a church development grant from the Florida-Bahamas Synod and other fundraising, they secured a spot for the brewery in a diverse neighborhood near Orlando’s airport.
Since it opened in October, the community of about 50 has been meeting each Sunday at 11:11 a.m. for worship in the brewery’s beer garden, using apps on their smartphones in lieu of hymnals. Afterward they enjoy some frothy fellowship....

Christian communities in the U.S. have long used unorthodox means of reaching people who aren’t likely to come to a church to find God. “Churches have long used sports ministry, movies and entertainment, music and other pop culture to target a non-Christian audience,” said Annie Blazer, associate professor of religious studies at the College of William and Mary.

To read more:

https://religionnews.com/2019/02/12/brewery-church-is-the-latest-in-craft-of-luring-folks-to-church/

[Act_of_Reparation]

1. A message so powerful, you literally have to lure people into hearing it.

[guillaumeb]

2. Jesus went where the people were.

And if the message does not attract, there are plenty of places where one can drink.

[Voltaire2]

3. A message so idiotic you have to be drunk

to not dismiss it.

[marylandblue]

4. It's disappointing that there is no beer during the service. nt

[Bretton Garcia]

7. Just communion wine sometimes. And not enough of it.

Jesus stressed it they say, though. Wine could be his very blood, he reputedly said.

After his death, its said the apostles were filled with 'holy spirit." Though onlookers in fact suggested they were literally drunk on new wine.

Curiously, the word "spirits" can refer to inner mood. Or booze.

It's all about people getting crazy, and losing their rational judgment.

[marylandblue]

8. Too bad Jesus wasn't born in Russia

Because then we'd have sacramental vodka, which elevates the spirit much faster than beer or wine.

[Bretton Garcia]

9. A monk discovered champagne

Last edited Sun Feb 17, 2019, 07:27 AM - Edit history (3)

Dom Perignon; "I'm drinking stars," he enthused. More monasteries made their own beer or booze; Benedictine, etc..

Russian Orthodox priests probably consumed vodka.

People speculate that monks' lives were so bad, hypocritical, that they were driven to drinking. It may also have made raping nuns and boys easier.

Some churches tried locking up communion wine.

As for the rather ghastly communion dogma that wine is the 'blood" of Jesus, and bread his "body," and that we are commanded to consume them? It is not found in Judaism it seems; it may be related to ancient cannibalism.

So drunkenness and cannibalism seem to be the origin of some of the most sacred, central rituals of Christianity.

Somehow, booze in fact, is in the very heart and core of Christianity. Even though the Old Testament had condemned wine and drunkenness in priests and prophets, and had predicted a future disaster from such things.

Possibly drunkenness had reentered Judah with the Roman takeover of Jerusalem, c. 63 BC. The Romans at least informally continuing the Greek worship of Dionysus, wine, with their own "Bacchus."

However, 2 Macc. documents the heavy influence of Dionysiac revels in Judaism, as early as c.300-100 BC.

[MineralMan]

5. A local Methodist near my home puts a sign out

on Wednesdays that says, "Free Meal - 6PM!"

I haven't participated. Perhaps "Free Beer - 6 PM" would also serve.

How about "Free Salvation"? Perhaps not as attractive?

[Major Nikon]

6. ...