...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.

@Posieandpip

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.

Tbf most of the Christians on this thread seem to be disagreeing with OP. (And this Jew certainly does.)

Yeah I take water everywhere, I'm breastfeeding and get so dry if I don't drink constantly.

@VerticalHorizon

I am utterly disappointed in The Church allowing coffee drinkers.

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

when i lived where the church was near the pub, it was the usual thing for evensong or sunday morning service to be followed by a jar or two. the journey between church and pub was led by the vicar once he had changed.

@Fairyliz

I never quite understand the need for people to have a drink with them constantly whether it be coffee or a water bottle. I have adult DC’s who have to have a water bottle with them when they are going on a car journey. Fair enough if it’s a four hour journey but this is for 20 minutes to their grandparents. It always looks infantile to me like a toddler with a sippy cup.

I'm in my late 20s and I was always taught to take water with me on a journey in case I broke down? Seems sensible to me to always carry a drink 💁

Unless they were slurping their coffee loudly when everyone else was quiet I can't see the issue. It wouldn't occur to be to think twice about someone bringing their own hot drink.

Well I can’t stand seeing adults walking around with coffees in their hands/drinking from them. It is one of my strongest irrational peeves and I can’t shift it no matter how often I say ‘heron this is not actually affecting you why on earth are you being so unreasonable’
Just why is it necessary ?
Think part of it is thinking if the cost and ridiculous sugar content of most.
So I agree with you op.

My church has a coffee bar/ station type thing inside it. Someone is 'on duty' beforehand and actively encouraged to serve hot drinks to people that they then drink throughout the service.

I thought this was the norm now, but looking at the replies on this thread, it seems perhaps I'm in the minority!

Admittedly, my church is not particularly formal. I've often thought that it looks more like a modern coffee shop, all dark wood and exposed brickwork and shiny coffee makers. People freely wander round and dance at the back and stuff during the singing.

I am a regular church goer and I have been known to fill a portable mug of coffee, take it to church, and enjoy it during the service. Sometimes life is busy and getting everyone of of the door on a Sunday morning is frantic. I relax into the service with my coffee and enjoy the hour and a half before thinking lunch and trips to the park etc. I've also been know to drink tea and breastfeed in church at the same time.

At my church in the good old days when you were allowed that sort of thing, we began with tea and coffee and people would bring them to their seats and then have another drink afterwards. we managed to be both informal and worshipful. It doesn't work for everyone, everywhere but for me, anything that helps people feel at home with God is a good thing

The naysayers on this thread sound like a bunch of Hyacinch Buckets, sucking your cheeks in, tutting loudly and directing disapproving stares at the offending women.

I'm really not seeing the problem here. What difference does it make to anyone else if someone takes a travel cup of coffee into church with them? It's not noisy, it's not distracting, it's not smelly. It's just a drink to sip when you feel thirsty.

I think this judgemental attitude towards something that really doesn't matter at is a big clue as to why so many people have given up on going to church.

Currently churches aren't meant to serve inside refreshments so a lot are suggesting people bring their own flask.

I'm not even religious and don't go to church, but even I think that's disrespectful, unnecessary and out of order!

Only on MN would people having the audacity to drink something be rage worthy.

People get up to all sorts of wacky shit in church, my DD used to work as a church organist and she saw all sorts. Best were the pets services - dog fights in the pews, dogs going psycho because someone else had brought in a hissing cat, spiders in jam jars, biscuit tins full of bees - you name it - Noahs Ark had nothing on it.

I've also heard some sermons that bordered on lunacy, so a cup of coffee wouldn't even raise an eyebrow. Jesus would be all for it - he'd probably turn it into wine :D

@RandomLondoner

They're only going to church to get their child into a school, and have no idea what normal church behaviour is. I've seldom been to church in my adult life, but the one time I went, I vaguely recall it being explained how to behave, because a lot of people attending didn't know. (Attendance at the church could give access to the best state primary school in a London borough.)

Umm...not if they're already (as described by the OP) School Mums.

It's not my thing, but people can and do have genuine faith. I see applications every year where the Priest confirms they have attended weekly throughout their lives. It's an intrinsic part of their being, their social support, connecting with their friends, family, the church community and with their God. It's the functions that the Church have served for hundreds of years.

Personally, I prefer plodding around the recreation ground at that time of a Sunday morning, as I get to be at one with nature rather than bells and smells being an irredeemable heathen but if it's always been part of their lives, there's no reason for it to stop once the Primary application has gone in - and going by the Priest References I process for secondary, it doesn't stop - after infant entry, there's then preparation for First Holy Communion aged 7, for example.

The local church has the first Mass on Sundays at 8.30am, so that probably means up by 7am, showered, dressed, kids breakfasted and dressed, travel (as it's not within walking distance for everybody who attends) - if their day usually starts with a coffee, they're going to be needing one by 10am.

It will definitely be because the normal post-service tea/coffee/biscuits/chat isn't allowed under Covid.

I put YANBU because I thought they had brought their take out actually into the service. Sounds like they stopped off for coffee after. Sounds like a pleasant morning TBH.

I think drinking anything during the service is not on, but perhaps it's as pp have said and due to covid reasons the church is encouraging people to bring their own mugs for the after coffee service.

I am struggling to understand this constant need to have a coffee in hand wherever people go though. When I go for walks with my dog about half the people there now have a coffee/tea in hand. I don't remember this a year or two ago so I think it's a fairly recent thing. These walks are remote through fairly dense woodlands and very muddy with some bits you need to almost climb in out of to get to another part. How these people manoeuvre it all with a dog or two, couple of kids and coffee cup in hand is beyond me.

Our church has a coffee cart outside that is open before church where you get a coffee/tea/hot chocolate and take it in. You have to have it with the plastic sip lid to prevent spills in the church, spilling a hit drink on a child etc. The cart is also open after the service. Who cares, no idea why anyone would care about this. If you don’t want one then don’t get one but leave everyone else be.

I often bring my own in a thermos flask from home if I’ve been rushing around and not had a chance to have my morning cuppa before church starts in which case I can’t be arsed standing in line at the coffee cart.

@HeronLanyon

Well I can’t stand seeing adults walking around with coffees in their hands/drinking from them. It is one of my strongest irrational peeves and I can’t shift it no matter how often I say ‘heron this is not actually affecting you why on earth are you being so unreasonable’ Just why is it necessary ? Think part of it is thinking if the cost and ridiculous sugar content of most. So I agree with you op.

its not necessary, it is, however, a choice.

I have a brilliant reusable coffee cup that is leak proof and keeps my drink piping hot for up to 8 hours. I fill it on a morning and take it with me throughout my day, as it saves me a fortune on coffee/water/Pepsi Max whilst out. Chances are they took their cups to drink afterwards and not through the service. However, when I was a student, I attended a lovely informal church filled with the most eclectic group of students and elderly people going. The minister would not take no for an answer, he took it as his own personal challenge to feed and water all students who passed his threshold because they're poor and needy. I left every week with home baked cookies, parcels, bacon bun, tea, coffee. We used to have coffee and treats post service. It was great, I miss that congregation a lot. Not just for the food, but because of the attitude of anything goes, worship how you want, we will support you no matter what. There was many a hungover, green looking student on a Sunday morning sipping water or OJ to stop themselves vomiting over poor Margaret in front!

@lardylegs123

I'm not even religious and don't go to church, but even I think that's disrespectful, unnecessary and out of order!

If you aren't religious and don't go to church, what are you basing that view on.....as a hater of football, it makes as much sense as my having a view on the off side rule

@VerticalHorizon Yes, and where are all the pet animals? They should be rootling around in adoration.

Yeah, I'm sure this is something God would worry about

I've rarely seen such a judgemental load of posts from people who largely appear to be non Christian. Some of you seem to have a ridiculously narrow view of Christians and church.

The last church I went to had a coffee shop and cafe attached to the church. It was church run and opening hours just like any other cafe, including Sunday mornings.