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For those unaware (because I don’t think they happen everywhere), some wards have “Linger Longer” potluck dinners, usually monthly but sometimes less often, after church. Our ward does (monthly), I have never been, and actually neither has my more orthodox wife. Other than not being there for meetings, I wouldn’t go any way – isn’t three hours long enough as it is? And, there seems to be a lot of work involved with it – set up, clean up, etc. – is that keeping the Sabbath? (I know that depends on your perspective.) Our ward tends to schedule things on Sunday (ward council, PEC, BYC, Addiction Recovery, etc.) just because it’s easier, despite counsel to try to not do so. They used to have early morning seminary on Sunday mornings (and took Fridays off). Linger Longer just fits in with that whole idea (hence there are rarely other ward activities). So, what do you outside the box thinkers (and outside the block) thinkers have to say about Linger Longer? Or just Sunday meetings and activities in general?
I would LOVE linger longer. I sometimes see our church experience as drudgery and sacrifice that must be endured for the sake of our beliefs. The linger longer would be the antithesis of this – just good food and good people. Of course I suppose that some could see it as another demand on their time. It helps for me that I don’t feel especially compelled to attend any church meetings that I don’t want to.
DarkJedi wrote:And, there seems to be a lot of work involved with it – set up, clean up, etc. – is that keeping the Sabbath? (I know that depends on your perspective.)
Especially if you see the Sabbath as Saturday.
:ugeek: I have only heard of these in the context of young single adult wards. Both my daughters who attend such wards have talked of “linger longers” usually done on fast Sunday (to break the fast.) I’ve never been in a ward that did one. I assumed that socializing is at least ONE purpose of the young single adult wards and is done to help meet that purpose. I agree with Roy. I would like to see & interact with members on a more informal basis. That way we reveal who we really are. We are not as “scripted”.
I don’t think there are enough of these opportunities.
For these types of events, I like to cook & give my wife a break.
I have been in a number of wards that do linger longer and yes those wards were young single wards… IMO they have never been branded as compulsory and really were just a time for ward members to get together and socialize in a none structured way. Personally, I do not like to stay to them and don’t because I do not socialize. That said, usually they take less than 10 minutes to set up for (non-cooking portion) and if everyone helps to clean up take even less time to take down. Compared to cooking your own meal on a per person basis the actual work involved is usually less. I have no issue with them. Like most programs they work for some and don’t for others. I do think in general they help bond a ward together as the wards I was in that had better chew and chows seemed less likely to have well defined clicks. Sorry for posting twice, but I forgot to respond to the Sunday meetings in general. My family and extended family doesn’t do them as a general rule ever since the first presidency said that Sundays were for the family and we aren’t afraid to tell people that. I have not been to a CES fireside in over ten years. (Note: there are exceptions to this general rule.) Oneofmany wrote:Sorry for posting twice, but I forgot to respond to the Sunday meetings in general. My family and extended family doesn’t do them as a general rule ever since the first presidency said that Sundays were for the family and we aren’t afraid to tell people that. I have not been to a CES fireside in over ten years. (Note: there are exceptions to this general rule.)
I obviously agree with you on this part. What if you were YMP or EQP? All the meetings you are supposed to be at are on Sunday mornings here.
We have them once a month but not on Sundays. Maybe with that in mind It’s not a linger longer so much as it’s a come an additional night. I think just eating together helps to strengthen bonds. It helps people get closer.
Recently I’ve heard a few complaints that there’s no agenda to the linger longer meetings. “People just show up and eat. We need to accomplish something.” I really, really smack my forehead internally when I hear this. I’ve bitten my tongue in the past but I’d like to point out (and possibly will the next time I hear the suggestion) that perhaps our linger longers are so well attended because there’s no other motive other than getting together and eating and socializing.
Sure, toss in some lectures on how we need to be doing our part on missionary work. Sure, toss in an activity or two that only a few people are interested in doing but all are obligated to participate in. Sure, drive people away.
I just don’t understand why the church can’t have a simple activity where people just get together. There’s always this itch to “accomplish something” which usually translates into an overly aggressive attempt to pressure the attendees into do something for the church.
[/rant]
I absolutely love the concept of sharing a meal in a relaxed setting where the only point is to socialize and enjoy food. I would love it even more if leaders would conduct more stuff electronically and do away with some meetings in order to have such meals more often. To me, that is one of the practical aspects of true religion. As for whether it is keeping the Sabbath Day holy, the Pharisees certainly didn’t think so – but Jesus didn’t seem to mind.
I lived in two different branches that covered large areas. We had pot lucks once a month after the block. Most of the people looked forward to them. Now I’m in an Idaho ward and I can’t wait to get home. The ward is experimenting with a linger longer. Not a full blown potluck though. We’ve had one but I missed it because of other commitments. I’m not sure how successful it was.
We have one every couple of years. We share our building with two other wards so it’s hard for us to spend any more than our allotted time in the cultural hall. I actually like linger longers. Despite spending three hours every Sunday with these people, I don’t really know most of them. I’m in YW right now and I was in Primary before that so my interactions with adults are fairly limited.
I haven’t been in a ward that did it for a long, long time, so my comments are hypothetical, but I would welcome it. I only go to SM currently, but I would likely (sometimes) stay for the whole block in order to have some social time. I find the social interaction to be a major factor in going to Church as it is, but as such, I only get a few minutes before/after SM, and in that’s it. I enjoy going to ward parties, but one problem that these can have is scripting. “OK, everyone, stop talking to each other while we now play an ice-breaker game.” Linger Longer would be all the good and none of the bad of a ward party.
I agree with you 100% that we have too many meetings. Viewing a party (or a common meal together) as a meeting would make it seem burdensome, so, from that standpoint, I see what you are saying. But for me, if the only “meetings” in the Church were a 1-hr Sacrament Meeting every week and an occasional party or common meal together, I’d be in Heaven. I think it would be awesome if the Bishop would do the LL in LIEU of the other non-3-hr-block meetings, one Sunday a month.
DarkJedi wrote:I obviously agree with you on this part. What if you were YMP or EQP? All the meetings you are supposed to be at are on Sunday mornings here.
As I said, there are exceptions to every rule. Depending on which family member. each responds differently in that regard. Personally, I am currently in an EQ presidency, we spend less than 30 minutes in meetings per week. (usually less, as in no meeting) Also, they are more amenable to meetings in the morning than afternoon and evenings.
DarkJedi wrote:So, what do you outside the box thinkers (and outside the block) thinkers have to say about Linger Longer? Or just Sunday meetings and activities in general?
I love the idea, but in our ward it would be a madhouse as it would start a little after 2:00 and include 50 kids. There’s no opportunity to linger, so people loiter during 2nd hour when they feel the need to socialize, I guess.
Oneofmany wrote:DarkJedi wrote:I obviously agree with you on this part. What if you were YMP or EQP? All the meetings you are supposed to be at are on Sunday mornings here.
As I said, there are exceptions to every rule. Depending on which family member. each responds differently in that regard. Personally, I am currently in an EQ presidency, we spend less than 30 minutes in meetings per week. (usually less, as in no meeting) Also, they are more amenable to meetings in the morning than afternoon and evenings.
What I was asking here was, if you were EQP in my ward, what would you do about Sunday meetings? As EQP you would attend PEC and ward council, both of which are held Sunday mornings.
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