Soliciting At The San Francisco Theological Seminary Christmas Program
Apparently asking people if they would like a copy of the Ten Commandments is an illegal act at some Christian Seminaries in America
December 5, 2010, San Anselmo California
Last night I attended a Christmas program at the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California. This is a Presbyterian seminary, an elderly friend of mine is a member of the Presbyterian church next to the campus. Here is the news article about the program:
Lessons & Carols
What: Lessons & Carols
When: Friday, Dec. 3, and Saturday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m.
Where: Stewart Chapel, SFTS San Anselmo campus
The theme for the 36th annual Lessons & Carols service Dec. 3-4 at San Francisco Theological Seminary is “Rest, and Hear the Angels.”
The beloved carol, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, contains the text from which this year’s theme originates:
 | Look now! For glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing; O rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing. |
Just as this carol, written by Edmund Hamilton Sears in 1849, has traditionally been sung in churches around the world for more than a century, SFTS is once again excited to invite people from throughout Marin County, and Seminary alumni and friends to this holiday celebration. Held in Stewart Memorial Chapel at 7 p.m. both nights, the service traditionally attracts people from a broad spectrum of religious persuasions, making it one of the most popular campus events all year.
The candlelight service observes Advent's time of preparation and the coming of the Christ Child. Started in 1975 by SFTS Professors David Esler and Wil Russell, Lessons & Carols follows the pattern and liturgy of the Advent festival as presented in King's College Chapel at Cambridge University in England.
Over the years, the liturgy has been modified to include some contemporary musical compositions. However, the basic format of the service has remained unchanged from its rich original mix of selected scripture lessons, Advent hymns and Christmas carols. The program features inspired readings from scripture, special music from the Seminary Singers, the Dobbins pipe organ and congregational singing.
Admission is free, but there will be a freewill offering. Everyone is welcome, but seating is limited, so SFTS encourages those planning to attend to arrive early. Shuttle van service will be available from Kensington Road to the top of Seminary Hill. A reception outside on the Geneva Terrace will follow the service.
Source: link
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A friend of mine told me about it, and he was taking some guests to it. I brought my family, and a guest, and enjoyed the program. It was a series of hymns, and "lessons" related to the nativity. I decided beforehand that if I was going to take the time to go to this event, since it was after sundown on Sabbath, I would be prepared as a literature evangelist for any opportunities to share literature with the people there. I took with me several copies of the laminated Ten Commandments poster I have been distributing, and a copy in my pocket of "The Bible Guide". The poster is a beautiful rendition of just the ten commandments, Exodus 20:3-17 from the King James Version Bible, and a title "The Ten Commandments" on a yellow scroll, psoter sized, and laminated to last a lifetime. There is no other printing on the scroll, no commentary, no advertising, no information about the source, the back side is blank. While I've seen many other posters in Bible stores, I've never seen a poster like this one. I've thought about putting a small sticker on the poster with my contact info, but I have not done that yet. For several weeks, I have been sharing this poster in parking lots, at gas stations, and at Bible study groups. Often I give them as a bonus when someone buys a book from me, sometimes I just share the posters. Everyone remarks about the high quality and beauty of the poster. Not everyone accepts a ten commandments poster, but those that do are very pleased to receive such a nice poster for their home. For those that don't want one, I ask them if they know someone who would like to have the poster as a gift, and some people do think of a friend who they would like to share the poster with. Many people are happy to give a donation, but often I just give the posters away especially if someone seems interested but says that money is a problem. Jesus said "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15, KJV), so what better way to help people love Jesus than to share a copy of the commandments He wrote with his own finger on Sinai? At Chrismas time, I often to go services at other churches. For several years, it has been my custom to bring with me books like "The Desire of Ages", the best loved biography of the life of Jesus, or Steps To Christ. I often take them to parties and other events too when I am taking a break from the hustle and bustle. I take advantage of the relaxation time, even if just during a bathroom break, to read a few passages of the book for myself, and I ask the Lord to guide me to someone who I can share what I read, or that might like to have one of these books for themselves. |
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So I went to the Christmas program with about 8 copies of the poster. Afterwards, there was a reception outside with a wide assortment of cookies and hot cider. People were talking and having a good time.
I walked up to one group of four individuals, showed them the poster, and asked them "Would you like to have a poster of the ten commandments for your home?" One of them remarked, "We have been studying about all the different versions of the ten commandments." I remarked to her that she could share with her study group how there was a misprinted Bible in the 1600's that said "Thou shalt commit adultery". We all chuckled at the unfortunate misprint. As no one was interested in the poster of the Ten Commandments without misprints, I left to get another cookie.
| Thou Shalt Commit Adultery: Bible Misprint It's in the Bible ... really. Well, its in "The Wicked Bible." Below is an excerpt from it.
A 1631 King James Bible, known as the "Wicked Bible," is on display through Sept. 6 at the Hardin Center as a special limited addition to the exhibit "Ink & Blood: Dead Sea Scrolls to Gutenberg." Meant to be a reprint of the King James Bible, the Wicked Bible contains an error in Exodus 20:14, where the Seventh Commandment reads, "Thou shalt commit adultery." The printers, Robert Barker and Martin Lucas, are said to have been fined 300 pounds for the offense, a huge sum at that time, and had their printers' license revoked. Many believe that the error was deliberate on the part of a typesetter to discredit the printer. A thousand "Wicked Bibles" were printed, but King Charles I ordered them to be destroyed, making the "Wicked Bible" one of the rarest English Bibles in history. It is believed that only 11 of the original 1,000 have survived. The remaining "Wicked Bibles" are very seldom on public display; the one in the rare books collection of the New York Public Library is almost never made accessible to the public. Source:link |
I showed the poster to another lady who got out her glasses, as she remarked "Let me see if I remember them". She commented on the fourth commandment about the Sabbath, "We don't remember that one much any more". She read the first part of the 5th commandment "Honor thy father and thy mother", and left it at that. I shared with her about families I've seen where the children are not very respectful to the mother, but the mother is also not very respectful to her father. I had told this mother I felt her children should be reminded of this commandment, but that the mother also needed to think about it for the way she relates to her father. I mentioned how I noticed another difficulty for today is that commandment doesn't have an exception for only needing to honor your parents if they were model parents. She agreed with me. I shared with her how that commandment is the only one with a promise, she put her glasses back on and we read it together, "that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." I told her that I don't understand exactly how the universe works to make this promise happen, but it seems like a good benefit. She agreed, but did not want the poster for her home. I wished her a Merry Christmas and moved on.
I shared the poster with a couple of young guys who were talking, and I offered them a poster. I told them today we can't have the ten commandments in the courts, and we can't have them in the schools, but at least we should still keep them in the home. They asked if it was free, and I said that it was, I told them I often give them as gifts when people purchase books from me. I showed them the Bible Guide book, and told them how I like sharing the poster with people who say they don't have time to read a whole book. It doesn't get much simpler than a single poster with ten sentences. Almost like God's ten "text messages" to us. We had a good chuckle over that thought, and how that makes it relevant to todays generation. I told them I enjoy having the chance to get out and share God's message, it's more fun than my day job of sitting in an office. I told them how I believe Satan is working hard to bury Christian ideas, and that we need to do what we can to keep God in everyday life and share Him with others. They agreed.
The fellow who accepted the poster was happy to keep it, I offered a second poster to his friend, but his friend said they lived in the same place and would be happy to share the poster.
While walking to and from my car, I shared the poster with several other people. All seemed to like my comment "Here is something we can't have in the courts, and we can't have in the schools, but hopefully we can still keep it in our homes." Some asked "Is it free?", and I said, "If you would like it", and they were very thankful and happy to take the beautiful scroll of the Ten Commandments with them as they left.
I walked up to another group where a man was intently manipulating his phone while showing it's screen to someone else. I asked a woman standing next to him, "Is he into text messaging?" She was a little confused, said he does text message, but that he was showing pictures to someone. I showed her my poster, and told her, "I just wondered, because I am sharing this poster, which is kind of like God's text messages to us." She took the poster, and seemed very impressed with it.
Just at that point a rather stout man with a suit, and a lapel pin, came up behind her, interrupted us, and asked to speak with me about what I was doing. I offered him a poster, "Here would like a poster too?"
He only glanced at the poster but was not interested in looking at it closer. He told me that he could not have me soliciting at this place, that this was not what the event was for, they don't allow solicitation on the campus. I asked him his name, and he said his name was "Peter Crouch", and that he was vice president of the seminary. I told him "I have not asked for any money from anyone, and I have not accepted any money from anyone. I am sorry for offending you by sharing the Ten Commandments with the people here."
The woman I had just given a poster looked at me in surprise. I told her "Well, I am glad that you accepted the poster before he came up. Merry Christmas, enjoy the gift."
At that point I left the campus.