[PW] Christian Science and lotteries

[Reference]

If you're at all unsure, better to be safe than
sorry. Alternative gifts would be a small box of
candy, a Christmasy item like an inexpensive
decorative pen or pencil, a small picture frame,
a cute fridge magnet, a mini box of candy, a
small scented candle. You can pick things up in
your local dollar store, or go to a card or craft
store for more ideas. How about one of those
little personalized ornaments? Or - does she eat
fast food? do fast food places still sell those
coupon books?

Hope that answers the part of your question about
suggestions for alternative Secret Santa gifts.
When I have a minute I'll go check our shelves
and see if there's anything definitive re:
gambling and Christian Science. Right now I'm at
lunch and if I go out there now...well, you know
how it is! ;-)

Barb

--- Nina Gilbert <ninagilbert at yahoo.com> wrote:

> 
> Another seasonal stumper!
> 
> Short version:  Would a Christian Scientist
> appreciate a lottery ticket?
> 
> Background:  Our office is playing Secret Santa
> as part of our holiday festivities.  We've
> drawn names, and over the next two weeks, we're
> supposed to surprise our person with little
> presents, poems, etc.  A colleague tells me
> that lottery tickets are popular Secret-Santa
> gifts -- a fun way to give multiple gifts and
> stay under our $15 limit. 
> 
> My person is a Christian Scientist.  My
> question:  Does Christian Science accept
> lottery tickets?
> 
> I realize this could be an individual question,
> but we're supposed to keep this secret from
> everyone else around the office.  I can't even
> ask indirectly, because most of our colleagues
> don't know she's a Christian Scientist (so the
> question would be a clue about who her Santa
> is).
> 
> I've found anti-lottery articles in the CS
> Monitor and CS Journal, but they don't say that
> lotteries are actually forbidden.  
> 
> Example:
>
http://www.csjournal.com/tte/article_display.jhtml?ElementId=/repositories/shcomarticle/Jun2005/1118066545.xml&ElementName=What%20a%20horse%20taught%20me%20about%20charity
> 
> TinyURL version of that long link:
> http://tiny.cc/Lottery
> 
> 
> Quote from that article:
> 
> So on the night of the raffle, I called my
> uncle, who practiced spiritual healing, and
> confessed I had a ticket. He pretty firmly told
> me to �just forget it� because he
understood
> that no real good comes by chance�that God is
> the source of good. Divine law provides and
> cares for all without partiality or exception. 
> 
> 
> I Googled to see if any CS churches were
> holding raffles.  I understand that the actual
> Mother Church is in my town (Boston!), so I may
> try calling them.
> 
> I would love an answer, a clue, or suggestions
> for other Secret Santa gifts.
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Nina Gilbert
> Education and Community Programs Manager,
> Boston Lyric Opera
> 
> 
>
------------------------------------------------
> Nina Gilbert
> ninagilbert at yahoo.com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Project Wombat
> list at project-wombat.org
> http://www.project-wombat.org/
> 






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