...to think that bringing your morning coffee to church is a bit inappropriate?

[NannyPlumsSnarkyWand]

I'm pretty sure I'm just being a judgy old gimmer - thought a Sunday morning AIBU thrashing would be in order.

Just passed a group of school mums as they were coming back from church. They were all carrying portable coffee flasks and sipping from them.

I mean, yes I understand the need for coffee in the morning, but part of me thought - is there really such a pressing need to bring your coffee to a formal church service? Can you really not go a whole hour (less actually) without coffee? And then there's something just a bit odd about it. You're going to church, not the theatre, I don't know - my experience of church services is formal. It would have been seen as inappropriate to bring coffee - you have your tea and coffee after the service - but then as I say, maybe I'm just an old gimmer. Is this normal at church now?

So just to caveat this - no, it doesn't occupy a great deal of my thoughts; yes, I do have other more important things to worry about; yes I do have friends; no, I'm not judging their worth as people based on whether they drink coffee during the service or not, I just had a passing thought and wondered what others thought.

[LEMtheoriginal]

YABU we all know they're only there to get their kuds in the Catholic primary

[MiddleParking]

You’d hate ours, it’s an absolute zoo. Children sit and play with toys or colouring in throughout and it’s so loud you can’t hear the priest at all. Great fun!

[hennybeans]

Well OP, you would not like the church my mum attends in the States. It has an actual Starbucks in the foyer. Obviously it's a more progressive sort of church, but it attracts thousands (!) every Sunday, unlike most churches here in the UK. I guess their attitude is whatever gets people through the door, which certainly seems to be working for them.
I am a confirmed Anglican, but the church here does itself no favours to move with the times. In another generation or two, it will be devoid of a congregation. Who cares if people have coffee with them as long as they don't spill it.

[An0n0n0n]

I thought only God was supposed to pass judgement?

[khakiandcoral]

Even if it's not formal, you don't drink coffee during a service! If they have, they ridiculous and rude. Do people even have to be taught the most basic things?

No need to go over the top, but come on.

Hopefully they got it after the service.

[NeverDropYourMoonCup]

Not that I'm religious, but if I were, I'd be fasting before Mass and bringing a coffee with me (as tea and coffee afterwards isn't allowed at present) to stave off the caffeine withdrawal headache I'd get otherwise.

[Alittlebitlostrightnow]

Before Covid, my church had a table at the back of the room with tea/coffee and cakes at the back that you had access to throughout the service. It was quite common for people to have their coffee with them in the service. There were also sofas at the back by the table and some people used to join in from there…especially people who had tiny babies and were feeding them etc.
My church is really relaxed and has quite a young congregation on the whole. It’s nice going to church in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. There is the option of kids church too but if children weren’t comfortable, it wasn’t the end of the world if you could hear little ones…I miss it being like this.

[Ohpleasenotagain]

I always found very difficult to understand and accept how so many people from the church community are so judgmental. It turned me away from church.

[BaronessOfTheNorth]

Why is it odd that they drank in church?

[Lougle]

Lots of people travel from slightly further afield to get to our church. There is a Costa Coffee opposite and several people buy one on the way in (or at least did, pre-covid). I don't see a problem with it. Jesus isn't interested in what you're drinking, just what you're thinking.

[Disfordarkchocolate]

I'd have thought that they were replacing the normal tea/coffee after church in the church hall because this wasn't happening due to Covid.

[Pinuporc]

I think if you're taking communion you're not supposed to eat or drink in the hour beforehand.

I grew up going to church and went regularly as an adult until a few years ago and have never heard of this!

[Gwenhwyfar]

@ErrolTheDragon

As they were drinking on the way home, that suggests they weren't actually slurping all the way through the service, which would be odd. Quite a lot of churches do - or did - tea and coffee afterwards which I'm guessing they can't now. Maybe bringing a flask for afterwards is just an alternative to that?

The tea and coffee afterwards is usually in the vestry/hall though isn't it?

[Peach01]

It's not appropriate to have distractions like drinking or eating during a service. You're there for prayer. Everyone moves around to go for communion, there's children, elderly people, disabled people who need to shuffle through narrow gaps between pews. Not a good idea to have anything surplus lying around.

[Gwenhwyfar]

@Pinuporc

I think if you're taking communion you're not supposed to eat or drink in the hour beforehand.

I grew up going to church and went regularly as an adult until a few years ago and have never heard of this!

Me neither. Might be just for RC? (but in my denomination communion was only once a month anyway).

[Gwenhwyfar]

"Everyone moves around to go for communion"

Depends on the denomination. It is sometimes give in the seats and this might be a better option during Covid just as cafes are now table service only.

[HaplotypeK]

You passed a group of people coming BACK from church at 9.30am?

[Gwenhwyfar]

@BaronessOfTheNorth

Why is it odd that they drank in church?

Because people don't usually.
In recent years, I've seen some people taking water because they really need, but it's not usual to bring in drinks and the only food is usually boiled sweets or something discreet.

[OrlandointheWilderness]

Good heavens, you are a judge lot on here! Both my parents are vicars, they certainly wouldn't have a problem with this.
And I'd like to think that Jesus, you know being someone who doesn't judge people, would be fine with it too 😂!
It is a coffee. C'mon now. Be kind to people.

[Bumpsadaisie]

@Crockof

I suppose Jesus would just be glad that they'd turned up

More likely Jesus knows the real reason they are there to work the school system

😂😂😂🤣

[TellmewhoIam]

@Lilibet2022 Exactly! Have flask, will worship!

[JudgeJ]

@notanothertakeaway

I don't really 'get' this desire for constant coffee. But, if churches movd with the times, and it encourages people into church, that's a good thing

My children are allowed water in class at school, which wouldn't have been permitted in the past

Let's move with the times, maybe a Costa machine instead of a font! I often take a water bottle into Church because I find the very dry atmosphere aggravates by throat.

[riotlady]

Depends on the church! Some of the stuffy (but beautiful) Catholic services I went to as a child? No. But lots have more casual services- my local one literally had one called “cafe church” where you can have a bit of tea and cake during the service. Personally I prefer the latter- what matters is coming together as a community and connecting with your faith. The bells and whistles don’t matter

[VerticalHorizon]

You aren't there to be giving a toss what others are doing, you are there to worship God.

Focus on that. And let them get on with the same, coffee in hand, or not.

[OrlandointheWilderness]

And I'm sorry, but you have NO idea why they were there. School age mums carrying coffee are just as likely as anyone else to be devout, interested or just really need something to help them through a rough time.
People wonder why the church is slowly fading. THIS is the reason. Sanctimonious, judgemental people who are the opposite of what a Christian should be. Someone else's attendance and behaviour in church is NONE of your business.