A paean to the First United Methodist Church of Delmar, from an atheist

[rug]

August 16, 2012 at 2:57 pm by Sarah Rain

I am thrilled to live a five-minute walk from a place that provides me with used goods I want AND a place to drop off my own used goods. The Methodist Church’s once-a-week thrift shop, Treasure Cove, is a primary source of clothing for my kids and occasionally for my husband and me as well. Last month I picked up four pairs of kids’ shorts, two pairs of men’s shorts, and a like-new Lands’ End swim shirt (total= $6). Besides being a fantastic deal, it keeps this stuff out of landfills and keeps me from having to go to the mall, which greatly improves my quality of life.

In the fall (first Saturday in November) the church hosts an enormous tag sale. It’s an utter zoo but everyone is friendly, half the town is there, and there is So Much Stuff that my family has taken to postponing purchases until after it because we can usual find what we need there. And I’ll confess to doing a good amount of birthday and holiday gift shopping too.

- snip -

The church accepts donations of in-season clothing and miscellaneous other salable items in a shed in the parking lot. My family seems to have a near-constant stream of unused/outgrown clothes, toys, etc. and I appreciate having an outlet to encourage their re-use.

I have no idea how much money Treasure Cove and the fall sale bring in for the church, especially when the amount of volunteer time spentsorting and staffing is factored in. I hope it’s a meaningful amount because they are providing a real community service.

http://blog.timesunion.com/bethlehem/8015/a-paean-to-the-first-united-methodist-church-of-delmar-from-an-atheist/

[MineralMan]

1. Sensible people use the resources around them.

Nothing interesting there. I support the Union Gospel Mission in St. Paul. It's religion-based, too, but it also is the very best organization in this community for helping the homeless. So, they get my donation. My atheism doesn't mean that I avoid all contact with religious organizations. As long as the organization is not engaged in immoral activities or in discrimination against classes of people, then I don't care what they do. Now, if they do those things, they won't get my support. They'll get my enmity, instead. I can think of examples of both types of organization. Can't you?

[rug]

2. Actually, no, I can't think of a single pure organization.

Can you?

[MineralMan]

3. I'm not talking about purity, rug.

That would be hypocritical of me. I'm talking about active evil and interference with others that is supported by religious organizations. I do not support such things. I do not support organizations that support such things. Do you?

[rug]

4. "active evil and interference with others that is supported by religious organizations"?

That's a mouthful. I never answer ambiguous questions. Does that matter to you?

[MineralMan]

5. Does it matter to me?

No, not really. I say what I think and assume others will do so as well.

[cbayer]

6. It's great to have one of these in your neighborhood.

In Chicago, some of the churches in the very wealthy northside area would have yearly *garage* sales.

As a kid, I would buy the most outrageous things. I remember getting an exquisite wedding gown for $5. I wore it as art for several years.