Sunday Evening service or Football Playoffs

[Pete Vecchi]

OK, people can respond anonymously to this poll, so I am hoping for honesty here.

The poll question is:

If you had to make a choice between going to a Sunday evening service at your church or watching the NFL Playoffs, which would you PREFER to do?

I'm not talking about what people think is right or wrong, I am talking about personal preferences. And for the purposes of this poll, the two choices are mutually exclusive; i.e., you can't go to the church AND watch the games.

[Pete Vecchi]

Wow!

I put this poll question in, went to warm myself up a can of soup, and by the time I came back there were already four responses (and I personally have not voted in the poll).

I wonder if this is a popular topic in the making?

[Betty Bolerjack]

OK, I gotta make a comment! LOL Given our current church situation, I would definately take the football game. That is assuming I really had a choice! Not that I would really want to watch the game. :fav17 I do occasionally watch football, but I rarely sit down and watch a whole game these days. There are usually much more interesting things to do. Unfortunately, attending a Sunday evening service at our current church is not one of them. I endure them only because I have to. Now, if the church situation was to change, my answer might change. :basic03

[Steven Stone]

I would perfer the playoffs, but my opinion would not matter since we don't have evening service at our church.

[Brad Mercer]

I'm not a huge football fan, but we don't have Sunday evening services, so it's still a pretty easy choice for me to choose the game. ;-)

If we did have regular Sunday evening services, I'd have to go with that obscure clause in the Nazarene Manual that says it's okay to cancel Sunday evening service for the Superbowl, but not for the playoffs.

Brad

P.S. I just wanna be a blessing.

[Mark Metcalfe]

OK, people can respond anonymously to this poll, so I am hoping for honesty here.

The poll question is:

If you had to make a choice between going to a Sunday evening service at your church or watching the NFL Playoffs, which would you PREFER to do?

I'm not talking about what people think is right or wrong, I am talking about personal preferences. And for the purposes of this poll, the two choices are mutually exclusive; i.e., you can't go to the church AND watch the games.

Well, since you put it that way, I have to go back to when recording the
game was not possible; therefore (back then) I would go to church. However,
in the past few years, (recording or no), we have held a Superbowl party
for the college friends of our college kids. Church has since acquiesced to
giving over that Sunday night to the culture.

(Now with recording, I plead with people at church to say nothing about
the game's outcome, and hope that I don't get a phone call after church.
My mother blew the outcome of a game once in juat that fashion.)

Mark

[Betty Bolerjack]

Well, I see that our little group of ladies watching the game is growing. That means fellowship in addition to the game. Sounds good to me! :fav16

[Gina Stevenson]

well, Betty, I'll watch the game with you ... if we can play Scrabble at the same time, too ... it's hard to just sit and watch the tube without doing at least one something else! ;) Sometimes that "something else" is knitting ... sometimes it might be a book [hey, about half the time a program is on, there are commercials, so ....]

Then with a game there are all those time-outs to wait for ... might as well do something else while waiting.

Well, I see that our little group of ladies watching the game is growing. That means fellowship in addition to the game. Sounds good to me! :fav16

[Kim Hersey]

count me in for the ladies' playoff parties!

Scrabble and NFL... that'll work! Will there be food?

Kim :)

[Betty Bolerjack]

well, Betty, I'll watch the game with you ... if we can play Scrabble at the same time, too ... it's hard to just sit and watch the tube without doing at least one something else! ;) Sometimes that "something else" is knitting ... sometimes it might be a book [hey, about half the time a program is on, there are commercials, so ....]

Then with a game there are all those time-outs to wait for ... might as well do something else while waiting.

Scrabble would be ok, but I'd prefer Mexican Train (a domino game) or maybe Phase 10. Less brain power required and lots of fun! :fav08

[Betty Bolerjack]

count me in for the ladies' playoff parties!

Scrabble and NFL... that'll work! Will there be food?

Kim :)

Of course, there will be food! What kind of party would it be without food??? Finger foods, of course. Makes it easier to play and watch the game. Less mess. :fav18

[Wanda Van Winkle]

I could use a good evening nap. :)

[Betty Bolerjack]

I could use a good evening nap. :)

C'mon, Wanda. Join the party!

[Wanda Van Winkle]

C'mon, Wanda. Join the party!

As long as there's a pillow on the couch, I'll be there :)

[Wilson L. Deaton]

My team (Packers) aren't in the playoffs.

My church has no Sunday evening service.

Wilson

[Barbara Moulton]

Since we don't have a Sunday evening service and I hate football I can't really choose either.

[Kim Hersey]

Barbara, just come to the party :D

Kim

[Wanda Van Winkle]

I'd like to play in real life since I've been practicing online for a while now.

[Cindi Hammons]

You forgot the response, "I don't care."

:)

Cindi H.

[Tina Daling]

Being one who is usually quite indecisive about anything, I'm glad to say this was an easy decision since I hate football and love our evening services.

The only time I ever loved 'football' was back in my high school days when it meant an afternoon off school. Didn't watch the games then either but the social aspect was fun!

This question does make me wonder how many of you do have evening services? Maybe we could have a poll on that sometime - or maybe we did have one and I missed it?

Tina - definitely not a sports fan!!! :eek:

[Stan Hall]

Well I seem to be out of the mainstream here. I'm not much of a football fan and I really enjoy our Sunday evening services. Very few of us go on Sunday evenings, sometimes as many as 15, sometimes only 3 or 4. But we have some good music, fellowship and preaching. It's great!

[Gina Stevenson]

hey, Betty! I love Scrabble, but Mexican Train is neat, too! 'Detested dominoes until learning there was something a bit more interesting than what someone taught me years ago [that I then never played again ;)].

Could we play Mexican Train after one game of Scrabble ... once our brain gets too tired to think of some words out of a rack of mixed up letters, maybe?

What is "Phase 10" ... no idea what that is, Betty.

Scrabble would be ok, but I'd prefer Mexican Train (a domino game) or maybe Phase 10. Less brain power required and lots of fun! :fav08

[Betty Bolerjack]

Could we play Mexican Train after one game of Scrabble ... once our brain gets too tired to think of some words out of a rack of mixed up letters, maybe?

What is "Phase 10" ... no idea what that is, Betty.

Sure, Gina! I kinda had that in mind, actually. I'm glad someone else knows how to play so I won't have to teach everyone. :p

Phase 10 is a card game from the makers of UNO. There are 10 phases that you have to get through and the first one to get through all 10 is the winner. The phases consist of such things as a set of 3, 4, 5, etc. or a run of 5, 6, 7, etc. Sometimes it's a combination of sets and runs. Cards come from either the deck or the discard pile after the initial deal. There are also SKIP cards which allow you to skip anyone at the table for that one round. It can really be a lot of fun.

This is gonna be a fun party! :fav17

[Jenny Mitchell]

Pete, I didn't vote cuz for me it depends on - what's planned that Sunday evening; and who's playing. My hubby is an ardent Steeler fan (and yes, we live in Colts territory), and last Sunday evening he was deeply appreciative of the fact that we showed a DVD and took down Christmas decorations and he discovered that our wireless router reaches the church basement, so he could periodically check the score over the internet. I'm glad this week the Colts/Steelers are the early Sunday game.

[Pete Vecchi]

Here's the thing. As a lifelong Chicago Bears Fan, I was really hoping that I could do both. I don't have Tivo, and since I have a satellite without local channel capability and an old VCR, that means that IF my tv gets reception, I might be able to record a fuzzy game (the picture gets fuzzier when going through the VCR than when the VCR is off).

But the game is now scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m., and our church's monthly NMI service is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Is this pastor tempted to say, "Oh well, it's only a Missionary service?"

My other favorite team is the Colts. And if you've read another thread, I have predicted a Colts vs. Bears Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl is scheduled for the evening of February 5th -- the same evening my son's select choir from school is scheduled to have a concert at our church...

[Mark Metcalfe]

Here's the thing. As a lifelong Chicago Bears Fan, I was really hoping that I could do both. I don't have Tivo, and since I have a satellite without local channel capability and an old VCR, that means that IF my tv gets reception, I might be able to record a fuzzy game (the picture gets fuzzier when going through the VCR than when the VCR is off).

But the game is now scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m., and our church's monthly NMI service is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Is this pastor tempted to say, "Oh well, it's only a Missionary service?"

My other favorite team is the Colts. And if you've read another thread, I have predicted a Colts vs. Bears Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl is scheduled for the evening of February 5th -- the same evening my son's select choir from school is scheduled to have a concert at our church...

Pete,

Get someone with clear reception to tape the broadcast of both games.
Regarding the Superbowl, Have the game taped and shown at the
church after the concert (if the timing works out).

Just a couple of thoughts.

[Russell Metcalfe]

Well...I am not a football prophet but the Superbowl this year will be the Patriots versus the Seahawks... I don't have the option of a Sunday evening service . . .

[Pete Vecchi]

Well...I am not a football prophet but the Superbowl this year will be the Patriots versus the Seahawks... I don't have the option of a Sunday evening service . . .

Of the 8 teams left in the playoffs, the only other two teams besides the Patriots and Seahawks who could play in the Superbowl that would cause me little or no conflict in my mind because I'd have no problem preferring to be at the concert would be Denver and Washington.

So, if it is Denver vs. Washington or Seattle or if it is New England angainst Washington or Seattle, I probably won't be all that interested.

I am just curious what you mean by not having the option of an evening service. Does that mean you don't have one, or you have one and you are required to go (as I am, as the pastor of a congregation whose board has specifically asked that we have Sunday evening precahing services)?

[Mark Metcalfe]

I'll be watching the Pats this Saturday on a 10-foot diagonal high definition
image in my barn. Anyone going to be in the area and want to join me?
I think the Pats are underdogs to go all the way, but we are healthy at
the end of the year, and wouldn't it be sweeter than sweet to have a
come from behind season to take the glory for a record 4 out of 5 years?

Woohoo!

[Pete Vecchi]

This is interesting...

Right now slightly more than 55.5% of those people who have responded say would prefer the football games, while slightly less than 45.5% say they'd prefer the church service.


Along those lines, the results of the poll thus far show that...

Most males would prefer the football games while most females would prefer the church service. However, what seems interesting to me is that thus far the poll results are showing that the number and percentage of females who would prefer to watch the football games is larger than the number and percentage of males who would prefer to attend the church service.

[Ron Davis]

I wonder how many of the males that prefer the church service are football fans that watch football on TV regularly but church is their priority.

[Billy Cox]

This is interesting...

Right now slightly more than 55.5% of those people who have responded say would prefer the football games, while slightly less than 45.5% say they'd prefer the church service.


Along those lines, the results of the poll thus far show that...

Most males would prefer the football games while most females would prefer the church service. However, what seems interesting to me is that thus far the poll results are showing that the number and percentage of females who would prefer to watch the football games is larger than the number and percentage of males who would prefer to attend the church service.

Just a gut feeling, but I suspect that the majority of those who would rather attend a Sunday night church service have some obligation or duty to fulfill at the church on Sunday night.

There are also people who feel compelled to attend church everytime the doors are open, but they are few and far between. Churches tend to take them for granted in appealing to as broad an audience as possible. (they're going to be there regardless, so why not?)

[Ron Davis]

I just noticed that poll doesn't ask what we would do but what we would prefer to do. When the Dallas Cowboys are down by three to the Redskins and in the middle of a drive in the 4th qtr. to win the game I might prefer to watch the rest of the game but would still leave to lead the teen activity that night.

[Pete Vecchi]

Just a gut feeling, but I suspect that the majority of those who would rather attend a Sunday night church service have some obligation or duty to fulfill at the church on Sunday night.

The key word was "prefer."

If a person is obligated, that doesn't mean it is a preference. My intent was to find people's "preferences," not what they would end up doing.

Maybe someone with an obligation at church wants to watch the football game. I'd hope that, for the purposes of this poll, they'd say "football game" even though they go to church.

Maybe someone who doesn't like football but who attends a church that doesn't have an evening service will end up watching the football game, but would rather be at an evening church service. I'd hope that, for the purposes of this poll, this person would say "church service."

[Pete Vecchi]

...I see there was another vote from a male who prefers the church service. I wonder if it was a vote from a Redskins fan.

:-)

[Kim Hersey]

I already voted for the game... but I have to add...
GO SEAHAWKS!

Kim :)

[Pete Vecchi]

Well, my predictions for the playoff winners were perfect this weekend...






...I was 0 for 4!

That means that the two teams in which I was most interested -- the Bears and the Colts -- lost.

This is one reason why I haven't voted in the poll--if the teams aren't teams I'm interested in, there would be no conflict in my mind.

As it was, last evening at 6:00 I went to the services which has long been scheduled to be the monthly NMI service. I got to listen to the stories of Tentmakers in Romania, Saipan, and Papua New Guinea while the Bears were losing to the Panthers.

Maybe I should have added an option in the poll that said something along the lines of "It depends what teams are playing."

[Charlene Clevenger]

I didn't watch the Colts game, but it was the main topic of conversation before Sunday night's service. I think most people would have preferred to miss the first half. If only the Colts had shown up...

[Joel Merrill]

I'm not much of a football fan. If I was I would still rather go to church. I love my church and I have a VCR to record things that are on TV when I'm not able to watch it live.

Joel

[Steven Stone]

...and then there are those of us who will be having a superbowl sunday service. Our people are going to come dressed in their favorite sports team jersey. we are going to have a great celebration service and then there is a group of us that are going over to someone's house and watch the game and have good ol' fashioned Nazarene fellowship with lots and lots of food.

GO CAROLINA (THOUGHT I WOULD THROW THAT IN!)

[Charlene Clevenger]

For the last several years on Super Bowl Sunday we have had an early service at 5:00 pm, then a party, usually at someone's house, though a couple of times we met at the church. Since we are trying to shake things up on Sunday nights and have some different things going on, we are not having the service at all, just meeting for the party.

[Kim Hersey]

Actually the Seattle/Carolina game will be an awkward one to watch...

I'm a diehard SEAHAWKS fan!:basic05 :fav18

But, the one NFL player I know personally plays for the Panthers...

Ah, dear, it's a good thing I'll be in my living room for this game, alone... I can cheer for both teams and no one will know :D

[Gina Stevenson]

"schizo-fan," eh!? just kidding, Kim ... JUST kidding! :basic05



Ah, dear, it's a good thing I'll be in my living room for this game, alone... I can cheer for both teams and no one will know :D

[Pete Vecchi]

...does this make a difference?

In an interesting turn of events, the voting shows that the Sunday night service has edged ahead of the football playoffs 29 to 28.

The Super Bowl is scheduled for 2 weeks from today -- Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Seattle Seahawks.

Does this sway anyone's opinion one way or the other?

[Jenny Mitchell]

Pete, I don't know if it makes a difference in my opinion, but it sure makes my situation more complicated. Witness the following:

Our evening worship service is typically 3 or 4 seniors and my family, sometimes another couple too. The seniors who come are not football fans. The couple who comes, he is - but he's a Colts' fan. My kids and spouse, on the other hand, are big football fans and my hubby is a life-long Steeler fanatic. We had evening service this week at the nursing home at 4, and he came - leaving at the last possible minute and darting out the door as soon as we were done. My kids are begging me not to have service. I tried a party last year instead, and no one came. So what do I do? I'd like to see the game - it's a cultural thing, and a common source, either the game or commercials, for sermon illustrations. Plus, after 19 years of marriage to a Steeler's fan, I've become a bit of one, too.

Here's what I'm thinking, but this is just very preliminary.

The game starts at 6:18. Typically we have church at 6:00 p.m. I'm thinking about moving the service earlier, either 4:30 or 5 and having a missions lesson and somehow tying the game in to a fundraiser for the teen missions project. I don't know whether we want to assemble bags of goodies for the game or something else. I'd love some ideas if anyone has one. Just remember - we have 3 teens I can count on, so anything too labor intensive is going to end up on my plate. If we can pull this off - 1) I have a good excuse for moving the service early; 2) we manage to accomplish something we need to accomplish anyway; 3) I assuage my guilt at tinkering with evening service for a football game.

Any ideas?

Grace and peace,
Jenny

[Charlene Clevenger]

Here's what I'm thinking, but this is just very preliminary.

The game starts at 6:18. Typically we have church at 6:00 p.m. I'm thinking about moving the service earlier, either 4:30 or 5 and having a missions lesson and somehow tying the game in to a fundraiser for the teen missions project. I don't know whether we want to assemble bags of goodies for the game or something else. I'd love some ideas if anyone has one. Just remember - we have 3 teens I can count on, so anything too labor intensive is going to end up on my plate. If we can pull this off - 1) I have a good excuse for moving the service early; 2) we manage to accomplish something we need to accomplish anyway; 3) I assuage my guilt at tinkering with evening service for a football game.

Any ideas?

Grace and peace,
Jenny

Jenny,
For the last several years we have met at 5:00 instead of 6:00 on Super Bowl Sunday. Then all that were interested went to someone's home for a party. We missed the kick-off, but we're usually able to see most of the game. Most people leave after half-time. We didn't have anything special for the service. As I said in an earlier post, we're not having a service this year, just the party. We'll see how it goes.

One year I found a cartoon where a couple of guys said they should challenge their pastor to write a sermon based on a certain scripture, and center it on football. I wish I could remember the line. Anyway, I showed that to Pastor Stirratt and we laughed over it. A half hour later he came into my office with a sermon outline fitting the requirements. :fav18

[Betty Bolerjack]

Pete, I don't know if it makes a difference in my opinion, but it sure makes my situation more complicated. Witness the following:

Our evening worship service is typically 3 or 4 seniors and my family, sometimes another couple too. The seniors who come are not football fans. The couple who comes, he is - but he's a Colts' fan. My kids and spouse, on the other hand, are big football fans and my hubby is a life-long Steeler fanatic. We had evening service this week at the nursing home at 4, and he came - leaving at the last possible minute and darting out the door as soon as we were done. My kids are begging me not to have service. I tried a party last year instead, and no one came. So what do I do? I'd like to see the game - it's a cultural thing, and a common source, either the game or commercials, for sermon illustrations. Plus, after 19 years of marriage to a Steeler's fan, I've become a bit of one, too.

Here's what I'm thinking, but this is just very preliminary.

The game starts at 6:18. Typically we have church at 6:00 p.m. I'm thinking about moving the service earlier, either 4:30 or 5 and having a missions lesson and somehow tying the game in to a fundraiser for the teen missions project. I don't know whether we want to assemble bags of goodies for the game or something else. I'd love some ideas if anyone has one. Just remember - we have 3 teens I can count on, so anything too labor intensive is going to end up on my plate. If we can pull this off - 1) I have a good excuse for moving the service early; 2) we manage to accomplish something we need to accomplish anyway; 3) I assuage my guilt at tinkering with evening service for a football game.

Any ideas?

Grace and peace,
Jenny

Our church board actually decided at their last meeting to move the service up. The feelings were mixed about the game and for some, it did depend on who was playing, but everyone was in favor of the change. It will be a regular Sunday evening service, but at about 2:00 instead of 6:00. In between the two services, we will have a church dinner. As soon as we are done with clean-up, we will go back into the sanctuary for the service. We did this last year and everyone seemed to enjoy it. If I remember right, the pastor invited those who wanted to, to watch the game at his house. I don't remember what we did, but probably came home. That's most likely what we will do this year, too.

[Kim Hersey]

Awww baby... just one thing to say:

GO SEAHAWKS!

There oughtta be an "intensity" factor in the poll... so that those of us who REALLY, REALLY want to watch the game (Or have the church service) can vote more than once, or something :basic05

So, seriously, my sr. pastor knows I'm a Seahawks fan, and then asked me Sunday after church if I would come to worship team practice to do our power point slides (5:00 p.m./ game started at 3:35).... I think I must've given him the saddest puppy dog look ever before I caught myself and said, "Yes, I'll do it."

I didn't come until halftime though!

:) Kim:basic07

[Shawn Flynn]

I think about 2 things in situations like this (I am a big time UK fan):

1) Who is watching me? Will I lead someone astray and place ideas that may make their priorities fuzzy?

2) If Christ came back during the game, where would I want to be?

Now, saying this, I think churches should take this opportunity to use it as a fellowship and outreach. There was a large church here in Louisville that did this anytime UofL played a game on Wednesday night. They would have a devotional and fellowship and showed it on several big screens.

This kind of thing helps bring church into people's everyday life. It helps create a family and like relationships.

Shawn

[Michael R. Gentry]

In the early 1990's having moved to Paris, Texas and the Dallas Cowboys made the Super Bowl. I decided I did not want to be the only man in the evening service ... so, since then we do an early service.

This year for Super Bowl Sunday we are having normal morning schedule ... eating a soup and sandwich lunch ... going straight into the "evening" service at 1:00 p.m.

The first year we did the early service (normally at 3:00 pm) it was the largest attended evening service of the entire year! It still ranks among the largest, though not usually the largest.


Just a thot.
Michael R. Gentry

[Jenny Mitchell]

After reading your posts, I am leaning toward having a lunch fundraiser for the teen mission project on Super Bowl Sunday and then having 'evening' service immediately afterwards. Now I need some ideas for a menu for that lunch. Please keep in mind that I will probably only have 3 teens to serve maybe 30 people. So we need something fairly simple, and something we can prepare ahead. Ideas anyone?

Grace and peace,
Jenny

[Charlene Clevenger]

Look what Nampa College Church is doing for their Super Bowl Party: College Church (http://www.collegechurchnampa.org/page.cfm?id=1156). They are even bringing in an entertainer to do a show during half-time. They run about 800-900 each Sunday, I think.

[Carol Lombard]

Chili is an easy one - we serve michigans sometimes. Have people bake cookies - they can be frozen. Soda, coffee, and dont forget tea. Some of our kids like spiced cider (an instant).Instant hot cocoa - easy.

[Gary Swartzlander]

Maybe you can do something like a tailgate party. Chili and hot dogs would be good, or maybe tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Simple but nice and warming.

For your fundraiser have you thought about taking bets on the Super Bowl with all winnings going to the mission project?*

*(Just Kidding)

[Jenny Mitchell]

Carol, forgive my ignorance, but what are michigans?

Grace and peace,
Jenny

[Jenny Mitchell]

Gary,

thanks for the fundraiser idea, but I think I'll skip the betting. I'm hoping to be ordained someday!

Thanks for the good giggle. My sons laughed with me.

Grace and peace,
Jenny

By the way, chili and hot dogs (tailgate food) has distinct possibilities....Thanks!

[Carol Lombard]

Jenny - michigans are hot dogs with a special sauce served over them. It seems that the north-country in NY is where you find them. Sauce can be made ahead - frozen - reheated. It is a big item up here. I still the the chili is the easier way to go. Also nachos - great and easy item - put the cheese dip in the crockpot.

[Gary Swartzlander]

I think you are thinking of Coney Dogs, which do have a meat or some call a chili sauce on them. They usually are served with the sauce, mustard and onions. Hmmm, sounds like lunch today.

That's not was I was thinking though. I was thinking traditional chili soup with hotdogs and ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, etc.

Coney Dogs are very popular in our area, several greasy spoon type places have evolved from Coney restaurants from the 40's and 50's.

Many families have made their living selling coney dogs around here.

[Carol Lombard]

No, Gary, I am not thinking of coney dogs - michigans are slightly different. Never heard of them until I moved up here. At first I would say to others that they were meaning coney - but then discovered there is a difference. Come on up sometime and discover the north country's meal:basic03

[Pete Vecchi]

UPDATE --

Suddenly the evening service has surged past the football playoffs.

In my case (again, I still have not voted, and don't know if I will or not), I know that of all the teams that made the playoffs, I wanted to see Chicago and Indianapolis be in the Super Bowl. My interest waned significantly when both of those teams lost in the Divisional Playoff rounds. The only thing that mildy piques my interest now is that Pittsburgh is in the Super Bowl -- not that I'm a Pittsburgh fan, but I am interested in the career of Ben Rothlisberger simply because he came from a small University not far from here (Miami of Ohio in Oxford, OH) and I like to see people from smallish-type programs do well in the pros -- especially if the school is not too far away from where I live. I don't know specifics, but I've also heard that he comes from a Christian family (although I can't say I've heard one way or another about his personal testimony). Also, when it comes to players I enjoy watching play football, I really enjoy watching Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward. It just happens that all three of these players are on the Steelers, ergo my slight interest in the game.

Anyway, I'm guessing that as the playoffs have been narrowed down to 2 teams, some people who were on the fence decided that they'd prefer the service because they aren't interested in either of the teams.

Just a theory.

[Gina Stevenson]

Carol, from the recipes I found through dogpile.com, it sounds a lot like what we've mixed up here (tho' long ago), thrown on hamburg buns, and called: "Sloppy Joes." 'Guess sloppy joe filling wouldn't be bad on top of hotdogs ... similar to chili, tho' a wee bit different ... sort of a sweet/sour taste to it.

Interesting ... [searched: Michigans +"hot dogs"]

[edited to add: Here's a link to one of those sweet ones w/brown sugar; some recipes didn't have it: http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1615,149165-236207,00.html

Hmmm ... after finding that one, found one with Worcestershire sauce, too (a fave of mine) ... also, haven't found one thing the sloppy joes here usually had ... sweet pickle relish, instead of brown sugar, sometimes.

No, Gary, I am not thinking of coney dogs - michigans are slightly different. Never heard of them until I moved up here. At first I would say to others that they were meaning coney - but then discovered there is a difference. Come on up sometime and discover the north country's meal:basic03

[Pete Vecchi]

Right now it's 36 - 25 for church!

[Bob Evans]

I have another option to this whole question. My mission is throwing a Super Bowl party for the homeless. We are recruiting church people to sit with the homeless to befriend and witness to them. Any takers?

[Gina Stevenson]

Well, Bob, you'd find a "taker" in Danny, were he still alive. When we were here for a year before returning to Phoenix, went with him downtown; played piano while he ministered.

HOWEVER, were he alive, we'd not be in MI now, anyway, I don't think; it's waaay too cold, after getting used to out west. ;)

I have another option to this whole question. My mission is throwing a Super Bowl party for the homeless. We are recruiting church people to sit with the homeless to befriend and witness to them. Any takers?

[Mark Metcalfe]

Well, Bob, you'd find a "taker" in Danny, were he still alive. When we were here for a year before returning to Phoenix, went with him downtown; played piano while he ministered.

HOWEVER, were he alive, we'd not be in MI now, anyway, I don't think; it's waaay too cold, after getting used to out west. ;)

I would be interested in Danny's story (in a thread of his own), if you'd like
to share it with us.

Mark

[Pete Vecchi]

Just a note -- this poll is scheduled to end in a few days. Vote soon if you are interested in registering your opinion!

[Gina Stevenson]

... we got a call about the small group that usually meets at 6:00pm.

It was moved up to 4:00pm for you-know-what! :basic05

'Think we'll email this survey to a couple of folks, for their perusal ... they might appreciate it. ;)

[Jennifer Cluckey]

I know the poll is closed but I thought I would share what our church does. We have "Soup-er Bowl Sunday". Every Superbowl Sunday we have a carry in dinner after morning services mostly soup and sandwiches. Afterwards, we have a Singspiration until everyone is through with what they want to sing or read. It is awesome to feel the spirit move in a more relaxed atmosphere. This year our Pastor sang "He's Still Working On Me" It was great. And we were home to watch the game which was great because my husband is a HUGE Steelers fan.

[Rebekah King]

New Member/Late Reply
Since the Seahawks were in the Superbowl - we chose to have an outreach and just showed the game in the Sanctuary - didn't have to choose this time!