Memorial Applause

[Zebra555]

To applause or not to applause? that is the question!

 

After our Memorial talk there was no applause, to me that was quite fitting for the occasion, in fact as far as I can recall no one has ever applauded after the Memorial discourse.

 

What happens at your Memorial?

[rocket]

No Applause.

[50gumbys]

Ditto

Even though the talk itself was superb.

Really described the feelings of anointed, and what they experience.

Wish I'd recorded it.

[Fiona]

We had an applause.. To be honest I don't think anyone even thought about it.

But I think no applause would have been dignified.

[bogartd]

No applause...Tonite for the life of me, I thought do we applause at the end ? Don't know why this came to mind.  i agree with brother Dennis. It was fitting there was no applause.

[Beggar for the Spirit]

We also had applause at our Memorial.

Some of us may remember that back in 2008 a "Question Box" appeared in the "Kingdom Ministry"

because many congregations were clapping/applauding for everything at

regular meetings - a brief demo, a talk on the school, etc.

 

So the Governing Body stated that we don't want applauding to just become "perfunctory",

if it happens spontaneously because it was a person's 1st talk for example, then that is fine of course.

But notice here below what they said about when are times that we should applaud.

______________________________________________________________________________

*** km 5/08 p. 3 Question Box ***
It is a fine thing for us to express heartfelt appreciation for the efforts of our brothers and for the material they present.

For example, we normally applaud talks and presentations at special gatherings, such as assemblies and conventions.

The parts presented there have required additional time and effort to prepare.

Our applause shows appreciation not only for the hard work of the speaker but also for the instruction that Jehovah provides through his Word and organization.—Isa. 48:17; Matt. 24:45-47.
_______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

How thankful we were at this 2015 Memorial for the Governing Body and especially Jehovah who provided this

special occasion and the instruction!

And would we not consider the "Memorial" a special gathering where the brother asked to give the Memorial Talk

had to put in additional time and effort to prepare?

So applause would be a "fine thing"!  )'>

Edited April 4, 2015 by Beggar for the Spirit

[sunshine]

No applaudes for us.  

 

 

 

For example, we normally applaud talks and presentations at special gatherings, such as assemblies and conventions.

The parts presented there have required additional time and effort to prepare.

Our applause shows appreciation not only for the hard work of the speaker but also for the instruction that Jehovah provides through his Word and organization.—Isa. 48:17; Matt. 24:45-47.

 

No applauds from us.  I think that is appropriate.  

 

I notice that the brothers choose NOT to give the memorial as an example of  "special gatherings" where applauding would be appropriate.  I don't want to read too much into that omission but the brother did highlight that this is a solemn occassion and in our culture one doesn't applaude at funerals or memorials.  

 

In any case if they wanted to establish a "rule" not to it would have been done, so it is probably left to individual congregations  to decide for themselves.

[maladee]

we applauded ,I think it was because we had a speaker come from bethel IDK, but it was respectful

[stuagu]

None

[Mykyl]

None although a couple tried to start.

[pholmes38]

I had the priveledge of giving the talk. We had no applause, which is what i think was probably the right thing.

In preparing the talk, i listened to about 9 or 10 recorded versions of recent memorials. Only one had an applause.

[Áine]

Definitely no applause. ....ever

[jayrtom]

We usually had... But not this year

[bohemian]

Nope. Fitting, in my view.

[niall]

We had applause at the end of our Memorial and it certainly didn't feel out of place or inappropriate. I don't remember what has happened at other Memorials I have attended.

 

I notice that the brothers choose NOT to give the memorial as an example of  "special gatherings" where applauding would be appropriate.  I don't want to read too much into that omission but the brother did highlight that this is a solemn occassion and in our culture one doesn't applaude at funerals or memorials.  

 

In any case if they wanted to establish a "rule" not to it would have been done, so it is probably left to individual congregations  to decide for themselves.

 

 

I searched the WT Library and the only reference I could find to a situation where applause would not be appropriate was in the case or reinstatement. The reason given was to avoid hurting someone who had been affected by the repentant person.

 

 

*** km 2/00 p. 7 Question Box ***

“We must remember, however, that most in the congregation are not aware of the particular circumstances that led to a person’s expulsion or to his reinstatement. In addition, there may be some who have been personally affected or hurt—perhaps even on a long-term basis—by the wrongdoing of the repentant one. Being sensitive to such matters, therefore, when an announcement of reinstatement is made, we would understandably withhold expressions of welcome until such can be made on a personal basis.”

 

While I do agree that not applauding would be more appropriate, I don't think that we should condemn anyone for showing their appreciation in this way.

[SUNRAY]

Our speaker came from the Palm Coast Bethel to our assembly hall in Daytona Beach, Florida..We gave our seats up twice to late-comer handicapped friends, so we ended up in the Csfeteria. At the end those sitting there clapped..I couldn't hear whether ones in the main audience applauded, and only one monitor was on which was too far away for me to see!

[helenrose70]

We did

[CHecker]

Nope, I felt it was dignified and respectful not to. 

[jpcook]

No applause!

[Shawnster]

Nope.  No applause. Never have I heard applause at the memorial.

 

We applaud after the end of assemblies and conventions, though.

[trottigy]

We clapped after the talk. Our speaker was very animated - he even had the audience involved - lots of visitors.

It was a wonderful night. I feel like clapping again! :clap:

[Musky]

We also clapped after the talk. It was at our assembly hall with five congregations and we had a Bethel speaker.

[Daniela]

We also had applause at our Memorial.

Some of us may remember that back in 2008 a "Question Box" appeared in the "Kingdom Ministry"

because many congregations were clapping/applauding for everything at

regular meetings - a brief demo, a talk on the school, etc.

 

So the Governing Body stated that we don't want applauding to just become "perfunctory",

if it happens spontaneously because it was a person's 1st talk for example, then that is fine of course.

But notice here below what they said about when are times that we should applaud.

______________________________________________________________________________

*** km 5/08 p. 3 Question Box ***

It is a fine thing for us to express heartfelt appreciation for the efforts of our brothers and for the material they present.

For example, we normally applaud talks and presentations at special gatherings, such as assemblies and conventions.

The parts presented there have required additional time and effort to prepare.

Our applause shows appreciation not only for the hard work of the speaker but also for the instruction that Jehovah provides through his Word and organization.—Isa. 48:17; Matt. 24:45-47.

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

How thankful we were at this 2015 Memorial for the Governing Body and especially Jehovah who provided this

special occasion and the instruction!

And would we not consider the "Memorial" a special gathering where the brother asked to give the Memorial Talk

had to put in additional time and effort to prepare?

So applause would be a "fine thing"!  )'>

 

We applauded too.

The Memorial is a special occasion indeed.

 

 

*** km 3/11 p. 1 par. 4 Let Us Show Our Appreciation ***

Appreciative servants of Jehovah will not treat the Memorial observance as just another meeting. It is the most important meeting of the year!

*** w13 12/15 p. 26 par. 19 ‘

Do

This in Remembrance of Me’ ***

Jehovah’s Witnesses around the earth prepare for this

special meeting

. Weeks in advance, we will participate in inviting as many as possible to attend.

Even if we commemorate Jesus death, this is not a funeral.  It is a solemn occasion, but in my opinion, the applauding does not reduce the solemnity of this celebration. 

On the invitation is writen: "Jehovah’s Witnesses warmly invite you to be present with them on this important occasion. You will learn how Jesus’ life and death can benefit you personally."

Jesus is alive. He is a glorious king. The talk mentioned the blessings  his death made possible for us. For the honesthearted ones that attended for the first time and heard about those wonderful  blessings the applause was a sincere way to show their appreciation. And not only for them.

We applauded also for the special occasion we had to organize for the first time the Memorial in a small village with 17 brothers and sisters and has 82 in audience. I think Jehovah and Jesus applauded too! )'>

[Sheep]

We had applause at ours, since the speaker did do an excellent talk. But I was also wondering if it was really appropriate.

 

I remember once an elder did a funeral talk, and, unfortunately, those in the audience applauded at the end. I thought that was crass. The speaker looked at the audience and said: "That wasn't necessary."

[dongray9]

We had applause at ours, since the speaker did do an excellent talk. But I was also wondering if it was really appropriate.

 

I remember once an elder did a funeral talk, and, unfortunately, those in the audience applauded at the end. I thought that was crass. The speaker looked at the audience and said: "That wasn't necessary."

Applause at a funeral really?  Well i guess it all depends on how you felt about the one being buried. There were a few in my lifetime i was not going to miss much after they left us.