Question about JWs and Holiday related

Alannah

Alannah

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Hello all, Firstly I hope I posted this in the correct thread, but anyhow, I was just sitting here thinking about how some employers close on this Juneteenth day and then it got me thinking and really wondering and since I sadly dont have Lynn anymore to text or email to ask i figured this is the next best place. If your a JW and your working a holiday week and you get holiday pay in your check that week do you accept that extra pay or do you like for Christmas deny the gift that is being handed to you? Or would you take that extra funds you got and donate it to a good cause? I see it as the same thing,the employer is gifting you extra pay for working the holiday.
 
Alannah said:
Hello all, Firstly I hope I posted this in the correct thread, but anyhow, I was just sitting here thinking about how some employers close on this Juneteenth day and then it got me thinking and really wondering and since I sadly dont have Lynn anymore to text or email to ask i figured this is the next best place. If your a JW and your working a holiday week and you get holiday pay in your check that week do you accept that extra pay or do you like for Christmas deny the gift that is being handed to you? Or would you take that extra funds you got and donate it to a good cause? I see it as the same thing,the employer is gifting you extra pay for working the holiday.
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Hello sister: What a sheeplike pen of fear our Watchtower guides have forced us into! Should we not look to scripture for guidance and then act on God's instruction not what men acting like Pharisees enforce: Collosians 2:16 "Do not let anyone judge you about what you eat and drink or about the observance of a festival or of the new moon or of a sabbath." Romans 14: "Welcome the man having weaknesses in his/her faith but do not pass judgment on differing opinions,,,,One man judges one day as above another another judges one day the same as all others....Let each one be fully convinced in his/her own mind....The one who observes the day observes it to Jehovah".
The truth sets us free it shouldn't enslave. As my fellow brothers and sisters here will agree. Welcome Alannah.
 
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MickHewitt said:
Hello sister: What a sheeplike pen of fear our Watchtower guides have forced us into! Should we not look to scripture for guidance and then act on God's instruction not what men acting like Pharisees enforce: Collosians 2:16 "Do not let anyone judge you about what you eat and drink or about the observance of a festival or of the new moon or of a sabbath." Romans 14: "Welcome the man having weaknesses in his/her faith but do not pass judgment on differing opinions,,,,One man judges one day as above another another judges one day the same as all others....Let each one be fully convinced in his/her own mind....The one who observes the day observes it to Jehovah".
The truth sets us free it shouldn't enslave. As my fellow brothers and sisters here will agree. Welcome Alannah.
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Is this something watchtower has been persecuting people about? The amount of hours I used to work covering people for the Christmas break so they could have some family time I never once considered as something wrong! I would spend quite a time dozing away with my feet on the desk, picking up double time and endless coffee breaks. Quiet, peace, and the occasional break for a call-out. It didn’t even make up for the endless unpaid overtime during the year! 🤣
 
Alannah said:
Hello all, Firstly I hope I posted this in the correct thread, but anyhow, I was just sitting here thinking about how some employers close on this Juneteenth day and then it got me thinking and really wondering and since I sadly dont have Lynn anymore to text or email to ask i figured this is the next best place. If your a JW and your working a holiday week and you get holiday pay in your check that week do you accept that extra pay or do you like for Christmas deny the gift that is being handed to you? Or would you take that extra funds you got and donate it to a good cause? I see it as the same thing,the employer is gifting you extra pay for working the holiday.
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Where have you been for years? Nice to see you again!
 
BARNABY THE DOG. said:
Is this something watchtower has been persecuting people about? The amount of hours I used to work covering people for the Christmas break so they could have some family time I never once considered as something wrong! I would spend quite a time dozing away with my feet on the desk, picking up double time and endless coffee breaks. Quiet, peace, and the occasional break for a call-out. It didn’t even make up for the endless unpaid overtime during the year! 🤣
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What! You could not even say the word Christmas: It was the 'Pagan festivities'. So panicked with guilt one sister who had a love of Christmas puddings when filling her trolley with this one time only Christmas treat fled the supermarket leaving said trolley when seeing a local elder. No wonder the psychiatric svc's are made rich by W/T's broken minds.
 
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MickHewitt said:
What! You could not even say the word Christmas: It was the 'Pagan festivities'. So panicked with guilt one sister who had a love of Christmas puddings when filling her trolley with this one time only Christmas treat fled the supermarket leaving said trolley when seeing a local elder. No wonder the psychiatric svc's are made rich by W/T's broken minds.
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I still have a “Christmas pudding”, with brandy sauce if I can get one. Any time of year! Mother always used to make one and it had silver sixpences scattered in it to break your teeth on if you were not careful. My grandfather could bake it too through the year. It was highly flammable too! I was well acquainted with it before I could even string a sentence together so it didn’t matter to me what day it came on. And anyway, if Jesus was born 6 months after John, as stated, that would make his birthday in early October. And, to make matters worse, I rather like the yearly Christmas carol service from the chapel as Windsor when it’s held there. I don’t go, but it’s nice to hear ancient songs sung. What I really enjoy is ‘silent night’ sung in German. I don’t think I have ever respected or seriously followed any religion my entire life. None of them follow the Bible. The United Nations was always my stumbling block. I recall when my ‘study conductor’ mentioned it to me, thinking that it was a bit of a stretch to the imagination. I didn’t have the knowledge to argue the point though.
 
Alannah said:
Hello all, Firstly I hope I posted this in the correct thread, but anyhow, I was just sitting here thinking about how some employers close on this Juneteenth day and then it got me thinking and really wondering and since I sadly dont have Lynn anymore to text or email to ask i figured this is the next best place. If your a JW and your working a holiday week and you get holiday pay in your check that week do you accept that extra pay or do you like for Christmas deny the gift that is being handed to you? Or would you take that extra funds you got and donate it to a good cause? I see it as the same thing,the employer is gifting you extra pay for working the holiday.
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Hi Alannah, It is nice to hear from you. Your question is very thoughtful and I’m sure other people have had the same or similar question. What it brings to my mind is the account of Herod summoning the astrologers to find out who the foretold Messiah was so he could kill him while he was still a vulnerable child. Satan was the one who directed them via a “star” and at Matthew 2:11 shows they gave Jesus gifts. There is no mention of Mary or Joseph refusing those gifts, even though astrologers are really under Satan’s control unless Jehovah wants to counter that control, which He did by giving them divine warning to not return to Herod. So, Jehovah can make all things work for his good purpose. But pray about it and do what your conscience tells you to do. Food or money are not inherently evil on their own but I think are just tools that can be used rightly or wrongly depending on the person.
 
BARNABY THE DOG. said:
I still have a “Christmas pudding”, with brandy sauce if I can get one. Any time of year! Mother always used to make one and it had silver sixpences scattered in it to break your teeth on if you were not careful. My grandfather could bake it too through the year. It was highly flammable too! I was well acquainted with it before I could even string a sentence together so it didn’t matter to me what day it came on. And anyway, if Jesus was born 6 months after John, as stated, that would make his birthday in early October. And, to make matters worse, I rather like the yearly Christmas carol service from the chapel as Windsor when it’s held there. I don’t go, but it’s nice to hear ancient songs sung. What I really enjoy is ‘silent night’ sung in German. I don’t think I have ever respected or seriously followed any religion my entire life. None of them follow the Bible. The United Nations was always my stumbling block. I recall when my ‘study conductor’ mentioned it to me, thinking that it was a bit of a stretch to the imagination. I didn’t have the knowledge to argue the point though.
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I feel Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It moves me every time I hear it.
 
Alannah said:
Hello all, Firstly I hope I posted this in the correct thread, but anyhow, I was just sitting here thinking about how some employers close on this Juneteenth day and then it got me thinking and really wondering and since I sadly dont have Lynn anymore to text or email to ask i figured this is the next best place. If your a JW and your working a holiday week and you get holiday pay in your check that week do you accept that extra pay or do you like for Christmas deny the gift that is being handed to you? Or would you take that extra funds you got and donate it to a good cause? I see it as the same thing,the employer is gifting you extra pay for working the holiday.
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The watchtower doesn't have a problem investing in the stock market, which is the world's largest gambling casino. I've worked on holidays and earned a bonus which helped buy and pay for essentials. Absolutely nothing wrong with it. You're working for a wage you don't need anyones permission to take the money!
 
Alannah said:
Hello all, Firstly I hope I posted this in the correct thread, but anyhow, I was just sitting here thinking about how some employers close on this Juneteenth day and then it got me thinking and really wondering and since I sadly dont have Lynn anymore to text or email to ask i figured this is the next best place. If your a JW and your working a holiday week and you get holiday pay in your check that week do you accept that extra pay or do you like for Christmas deny the gift that is being handed to you? Or would you take that extra funds you got and donate it to a good cause? I see it as the same thing,the employer is gifting you extra pay for working the holiday.
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Nice to hear from you again Alannah.

If you are working a holiday and you get paid, extra or not, you are receiving what your employer feels your work is worth. I never considered holiday pay as a gift, just the pay I earned.

This is one of those things that you have to go by your own (Bible trained) conscience on I think. And take into consideration what the holiday is as well. Pagan holidays, I would consider differently from days the government has set up to commemorate certain events--Juneteenth for example.
 
Revvzone said:
The watchtower doesn't have a problem investing in the stock market, which is the world's largest gambling casino. I've worked on holidays and earned a bonus which helped buy and pay for essentials. Absolutely nothing wrong with it. You're working for a wage you don't need anyones permission to take the money!
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they probably are cool with Usury as well, just as long as "the banking system" interprets the scriptures to mean "not excessive" They probably will accept that external interpretation
 
Alannah said:
Hello all, Firstly I hope I posted this in the correct thread, but anyhow, I was just sitting here thinking about how some employers close on this Juneteenth day and then it got me thinking and really wondering and since I sadly dont have Lynn anymore to text or email to ask i figured this is the next best place. If your a JW and your working a holiday week and you get holiday pay in your check that week do you accept that extra pay or do you like for Christmas deny the gift that is being handed to you? Or would you take that extra funds you got and donate it to a good cause? I see it as the same thing,the employer is gifting you extra pay for working the holiday.
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Hi Alannah, just throwing in my one cent for what it's worth, if it helps, I've never refused any birthday/Xmas cards/gifts etc, wouldn't like to deprive anyone of their "happiness in giving" 😊 Me, my oldest son and oldest daughter always used to work in a posh restaurant on Xmas day, Valentine's day etc, you know, the days that no-one else wanted to work and we earned a small fortune in wages and in "tips" 👏
 
MickHewitt said:
What! You could not even say the word Christmas: It was the 'Pagan festivities'. So panicked with guilt one sister who had a love of Christmas puddings when filling her trolley with this one time only Christmas treat fled the supermarket leaving said trolley when seeing a local elder. No wonder the psychiatric svc's are made rich by W/T's broken minds.
Click to expand...
Every year, late on xmas eve afternoon and new years afternoon I used to traipse from one supermarket to another buying up all the stuff they were selling off cheap, I used to get so excited by the amount of stuff I was getting for my money that I didn't think about looking out for spying elders. One new year eve , Sainsbury's had a humongous pile of avocados left over and needed to sell them off quick. They were 70p each, bogof, but dropped them to 5p each. But the till system put them through as 5p and 5p but also deducted 70p because of the bogof offer! So for every 10p I spent, the store owed me 60p 😂 I'd bought dozens of the things in order to give them away. I also had other shopping in my trolley which I got for more or less free due to all the 70p deductions! The person on the till was so confused when my total bill was pennies! She called the manager over and explained what was happening and the manager looked at me, smiled and said "happy new year!!" I called up a few sisters and told them what was happening and they all came up and got a trolley full of shopping for next to nothing too. I unloaded my trolley into the car and went on to round two 🤣 I had so much food that I invited lots of brothers and sisters round to help us eat it ☺️ good times 😍
 
BARNABY THE DOG. said:
I still have a “Christmas pudding”, with brandy sauce if I can get one. Any time of year! Mother always used to make one and it had silver sixpences scattered in it to break your teeth on if you were not careful. My grandfather could bake it too through the year. It was highly flammable too! I was well acquainted with it before I could even string a sentence together so it didn’t matter to me what day it came on. And anyway, if Jesus was born 6 months after John, as stated, that would make his birthday in early October. And, to make matters worse, I rather like the yearly Christmas carol service from the chapel as Windsor when it’s held there. I don’t go, but it’s nice to hear ancient songs sung. What I really enjoy is ‘silent night’ sung in German. I don’t think I have ever respected or seriously followed any religion my entire life. None of them follow the Bible. The United Nations was always my stumbling block. I recall when my ‘study conductor’ mentioned it to me, thinking that it was a bit of a stretch to the imagination. I didn’t have the knowledge to argue the point though.
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I buy up all the cheap xmas puds in January and we eat them through the year too!
By the way, what do you mean by the United Nations was your stumbling block?
 
jay said:
Our minds have sure been messed up by looking for others to make decisions for us. "Hey man did you see Barnaby buying that pagan pudding? They need to ground him from passing the mics."
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We had a sister in our congregation who refused to eat any foods at all associated with xmas, no matter what time of year it was.. very odd..🫣
 
Patricia said:
Nice to hear from you again Alannah.

If you are working a holiday and you get paid, extra or not, you are receiving what your employer feels your work is worth. I never considered holiday pay as a gift, just the pay I earned.

This is one of those things that you have to go by your own (Bible trained) conscience on I think. And take into consideration what the holiday is as well. Pagan holidays, I would consider differently from days the government has set up to commemorate certain events--Juneteenth for example.
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What even IS Juneteenth anyways 🧐
 
Proverbs 14 v 15 said:
I buy up all the cheap xmas puds in January and we eat them through the year too!
By the way, what do you mean by the United Nations was your stumbling block?
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When I was having my study the UN was believed to be “the beast that was, but was not and rose again”. Though I see the value of prophesy - certainly more now, than I did then, it was not the end times, death, destruction and all that hype that attracted me to the truth. The UN may have a part to play, but for me it matters not who wields the stick, but who protects us from it.

Essentially my faith, such as it may be, is anchored in creation, its utter uniqueness and the laws that govern it - and the sentiment and joy in its accomplishment that Jehovah must have. And of course, that we are at the apex of that creation. Every last detail of creation supports our reason for living. It’s not in the least what we can get out of it, but that it is complete in itself. We need for nothing. Adam needed nothing. Trees and vegetation. Crystal clear water from the streams and rivers. It was all that was required to live. Even clothing was not necessary, or even the thought of it. It says more about our natural being than anything else. Simplicity and economy born from the greatest feat of science ever seen.

The only job, the joy, was to make the whole earth like Eden. We could make our own tools from the elements in the soil under our feet; build our own homes, and paint them with the pigments found in nature. Every element for our future was to be found under our very feet and the circle of nature would ensure that they were replenished for an eternity. Why should I have to believe in the purpose of the UN when the presence of Jehovah was in my garden? What is more important? To know the source of life or its means of destruction? Come what may from mankind and satan, I just put my faith in the redemption of humanity - plant a mustard seed and you’ll see what I mean.
 
Proverbs 14 v 15 said:
We had a sister in our congregation who refused to eat any foods at all associated with xmas, no matter what time of year it was.. very odd..🫣
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She may have thought she might stumble someone. I like mince meat pie so have learned to partake in the closet. Can't see me in there unless you happen to be sharing a piece.
 
jay said:
She may have thought she might stumble someone. I like mince meat pie so have learned to partake in the closet. Can't see me in there unless you happen to be sharing a piece.
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“What is done in the closet will become known in the open”. We can share Christmas pudding and mince pies without being in the closet! 🤣
 
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