Whether they are meant to inspire, amuse or make a statement, the messages outside places of worship often get people's attention. Here's this week in church signs.
church
Ms. Ariana Grande did not have a good day at Aretha Franklin's funeral, which was held last Friday. Between being inappropriately touched by a church leader on live television (which we won't even get into), to being creepily stared at by former president Bill Clinton, it's safe to say that poor Ariana probably went through a pretty rough time.
That being said, pics of Bill Clinton staring at her have gone viral, and people have been making them into excellent memes that make fun of the former president's, shall we say, appetite for ladies that aren't Hillary?
Via agc4
In many ways, everyone on the planet would like to never hear the name Harambe again. We get it, ok? Dudes on Reddit think the gorilla getting shot is very funny. The joke is played.
But almost by divine providence, if you will, someone found a new way into the joke.
Reddit user agc4 is now the founder and first member of the Church of Latter Day Harambe, a new holy community that just received approval from the IRS.
As of now, we only have a letter addressed to the founder and not much more information on how to join the church because apparently the founder "lost" the letter. Not a great sign for the new religion.
via agc4
Another Reddit user chimed in without to create your own church, too.
via Al_Tilly_the_Bum
So as of now, we’re a little light on details about the Church of Latter Day Harambe. Until some more develops, enjoy this clip from Last Week Tonight With John Oliver from the time John started his own church, Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption.
Via The Local
Yep, a Pokemon monster got into hot (holy) water with a Russian-Orthodox church in Vienna. Raa666 made its appearance in the middle of the sanctuary.
Toni Faber, the head priest at the church pointed out that Raa666 (or any other creature in Pokemon Go) is not welcome in this church.
That's not very christian, if you ask me...
The photo of the locus delicti: Courtesy of St Nicholas Cathedral
Via LicuadoDePlatano
Looks like the Catholic Church is faster to punish a Priest for riding a hoverboard than touching alter boys.
On Christmas Eve, this Priest from the Philippines combined mass with 2015 hottest toy and the internet loved it. Unfortunately his diocese was not happy about it and have already taken swift action to condemn its use in the mass.
The Diocese of San Pablo wishes to address an issue involving one of its clergy. Last December 24, 2015, before the final blessing of the Christmas eve mass, as a way of greeting his parishioners, the priest sang a Christmas song, while going around the nave standing on a hoverboard.
That was wrong.
The Eucharist demands utmost respect and reverence. It is the Memorial of the Lord's Sacrifice. It is the source and summit of Christian life. It is the Church's highest form of worship. Consequently, it is not a personal celebration where one can capriciously introduce something to get the attention of the people.
The priest said that it was a wake up call for him; he acknowledged that his action was not right and promised that it will not happen again.
He will be out of the parish and will spend some time to reflect on this past event.
He would like to apologize for what happened.
Peace be with you 2k15 HoverPriest.
Via Carl Bouley
God paid a visit to Maine this week, and it was scary as Hell.
A high school student in Grand Isle recently captured the insane moment that lightning struck the steeple of a church.
Carl Bouley was filming the rain over St. Gerard Catholic Church from his porch across the street when it happened, and his volunteer firefighter father went over afterwards to check on the damages.
The church has has actually been struck before in August of 2007, according to the Maine Sun Journal.
“It kind of scared me a bit,” he told the Journal. “It felt like a small shockwave hit.”
A second camera was able to capture what happened on the ground below at the exact same moment.
Great Scott!
Via cogicminister2
No it's not a Vine magic trick, it's a miracle! Or something like that.
At the Church of God in Christ's 107th Holy Convocation last weekend in St. Louis, a man announced that he had been "delivered" from his homosexuality. He vowed to never carry a purse again or wear makeup, all the while speaking in tongues. Sounds pretty legit.
You can watch the whole video below, including the celebrational, post-deliverance dance.
By Unknown
Poor Photoshopping by the Russian Orthodox Church appears to be at the center of a cover-up gone wrong. A $30,000 Breguet timepiece, pictured on the church's website on the arm of Patriarch Kirill I, later went missing from the photograph; the watch's reflection on the table did not. Russian bloggers spotted the discrepancy and erupted over the church's flaunting its lavish wealth. The Patriarchate, who has denied wearing the watch, vowed to investigate the "technical mistake."
[boingboing / nyt]
