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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

399 replies

NannyPlumsSnarkyWand · 20/06/2021 09:43

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.

OP posts:
Jasmine11 · 20/06/2021 11:08

Don't think God (if they existed) could care less if anyone was drinking coffee during the service. If taking a coffee makes more people go to church as they see it as a less formal event than in the past then surely churches around the country with their dwindling elderly congregations should be pleased?

Bumpsadaisie · 20/06/2021 11:10

OP

I fear you notice the americano in your sisters' hands but ignore the choco-mocha-caramelatteccino in your own ...

☕️🤣

OMalleyTheAlleyKit · 20/06/2021 11:12

I think it's more strange they're going to church in this day and age.

Bumpsadaisie · 20/06/2021 11:12

[quote HaplotypeK]You passed a group of people coming BACK from church at 9.30am?[/quote]
It happens. I went to communion at 8am and was back home by 9.

KindnessCrusader · 20/06/2021 11:14

@VerticalHorizon The op didn't even go to church, she was walking her dog past the church!

KevinTheGoat · 20/06/2021 11:14

@Crockof

It does my fucking head it. It appears that adults now are incapable of doing anything without a Cup of coffee glued to their mouth like some weird dummy/comforter. Now you've noticed it is will give you the minor rage everywhere you go. And don't get me fucking started on A&E where we all need to wear masks apart from when 'sipping ' (god awful word) coffee from the bloody overpriced Costa machine.
What a bizarre thing to get angry about. People drinking coffee. As long as they don't spill it on you, why does it matter? Why does it make you so angry? I carry water with me in the summer because I get dehydrated easily, should I stop doing that?
Somanysocks · 20/06/2021 11:14

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.

Looks more like the non churchgoers are the judgemental ones.

lastcall · 20/06/2021 11:16

Hilarious. People who identify as religious are decreasing in number year on year, church attendance is decreasing year on year, and you want to drive more people away because they prefer to sit with a drink while they listen.

Priorities seem a bit skewed....

And I'm not even religious!

Bumpsadaisie · 20/06/2021 11:16

I expect that the church in the absence of being able to provide coffee at the end has suggested people bring their own in insulated cups so people can chat afterwards outside?

daisyjgrey · 20/06/2021 11:16

@Crockof

It does my fucking head it. It appears that adults now are incapable of doing anything without a Cup of coffee glued to their mouth like some weird dummy/comforter. Now you've noticed it is will give you the minor rage everywhere you go. And don't get me fucking started on A&E where we all need to wear masks apart from when 'sipping ' (god awful word) coffee from the bloody overpriced Costa machine.

...are you alright...?

Chloemol · 20/06/2021 11:17

How do you know they drank them in church? They may have taken them to drink after as there is no coffee or tea being served after which I know sone church’s do

Dont be so judgemental, if it’s people like you going to church no wonder numbers are falling

VerticalHorizon · 20/06/2021 11:17

I am utterly disappointed in The Church allowing coffee drinkers.

Once upon a time, they served decent beers. State of pubs these days tuts

Di11y · 20/06/2021 11:19

Our church welcomes us to bring reusable coffee cups, but to be fair was also offering bacon and sausage sandwiches before the service for a long time and didn't bat an eyelid if the kids were disruptive. Very informal.

God went where the people were and welcomed them, didn't impose formal rules like the Pharisees did.

With covid you're not allowed to serve teas and coffees after so bringing your own seems v sensible.

JellyTumble · 20/06/2021 11:19

It’s just a church; just a meeting of people to worship an imaginary being.

Don’t be so uptight.

BluebellsGreenbells · 20/06/2021 11:20

I see it as some form of fashion accessory - bit sad really

KevinTheGoat · 20/06/2021 11:21

@Star81

To be honest the older people in our congregation still get their wrapped boiled sweets out for the sermon so don’t see why having a hot drink would be an issue - no rustling of papers !

Also, a lot of churches are having their ‘coffee after church’ in the gardens just now and having to use disposable cups so maybe they just take their own ?

I don’t see it as a big deal really

I used to sing in the synagogue choir and sometimes members would be passing Strepsils or other cough sweets around during a service.
motogogo · 20/06/2021 11:22

I've taken coffee for years.

Posieandpip · 20/06/2021 11:22

Doesn't seem weird to me at all

Linguaphile · 20/06/2021 11:23

YABU. Most churches (at least the Protestant ones I’ve been to) serve coffee and tea and biscuits either before or after the service. Between covid concerns and environmental awareness around disposable cups, it makes total sense to ask people to bring their own flask.

I think the idea of church as a very formal place is a bit old fashioned. People wear jeans and t-shirts and are quite relaxed these days.

VerticalHorizon · 20/06/2021 11:23

@BluebellsGreenbells

I see it as some form of fashion accessory - bit sad really
Using it as a fashion accessory, or you seeing it as such?
Posieandpip · 20/06/2021 11:24

As a Christian I try not to judge, but in this instance I can't even see a reason TO judge, and actually this is so bizarre that I actually think this is a fake post just to rile everyone up and make Mumsnet even more anti-Christian than it already is.

godmum56 · 20/06/2021 11:24

@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!

I went to a c of e grammar school and it was an optional practice. There was optional school communion on fridays at 8.30 and coffee and toast afterwards for those who observed fasting. No one was encouraged to fast, in fact some of us could not do it without fainting and we were banned from trying.
knittingaddict · 20/06/2021 11:24

@mybrainhertz

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

I suppose it's a bit of a casual attitude which permeates every part of life now. I suppose Jesus would just be glad that they'd turned up.

What? I've been a christian in C of E and non denominational churches for almost 40 years and have never once heard this. Catholic churches maybe?

Almost all chuches I've been to have served coffee and tea at some point, either before or after the service. I imagine individual flasks might be a covid measure.

Op, why would you care or judge what Christians going to church do? What impact does it have on your life?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/06/2021 11:25

It’s a bit odd - and probably treading the place to casually - but in another way, brilliant. Grin

I’m guessing it wasn’t a Catholic Church?

Maybe they took the cups sealer throughout the service to drink on the way home though?

KevinTheGoat · 20/06/2021 11:26

@DisgruntledPelican

I wonder if the people who think carrying bottles of water and takeaway drinks is weird are the people who always have urine infections, dehydration headaches etc. There seems to be a generational divide IME…

Snacking is different. But carrying water is normal.

This. I get headaches a lot, and it's one reason why, when I go for walks in summer, I carry a bottle of water around with me. It's not because I'm an overgrown child, it's because I don't want to get dehydrated and when it's hot you are supposed to drink plenty of fluids. And plain old tap water doesn't make you fat so I don't get what it has to do with the obesity crisis.