Someone took my fleece jacket from the church cloakroom on Manger Sunday, the first Sunday in December, and they haven't brought it back. The coat itself was about $50 as were the cashmere lined leather gloves in the pocket, so I'm looking at $100 to replace these items. I can see making a mistake, especially if it was a child or spouse and they mistakenly took the wrong coat, but really, isn't a MONTH enough time to bring it back? Granted, more people come to Manger Sunday than just about any other church service, so it may have been someone who doesn't normally come to Sunday services, but STILL!
I'm trying to be Christian and forgiving, but I admit, I'm pretty steamed about this. What about "thou shalt not steal"? I'm thinking of taping a sign to the coat rack asking for my items back -- nicely, I can do nice.
Can you imagine taking someone's coat and gloves and not bringing them back?! From now on my coat stays with me, even if it clogs up the pew.
I'd be steamed too, especially with the cold you've been having. If you put up a notice, it will at least remind the culprit that the jacket belonged to someone, jog their memory or conscience, and maybe they'll return it. It's a sad commentary on life when you can't leave your coat in a church cloakroom.
Bummer!! It's one thing to forgive and give someone a second chance for one's mistake, or who is remorseful and is having a 'learning experience.' Deliberate theft is another matter, not that determined revenge is the rule, but that it is important for things to be righted. Theft can happen in a church. Once, while our church choir was singing for the congregation in the sanctuary, a teenager was going through the pocketbooks in the choir room. I don't know how this was rectified but as soon as it was known who did it, word shot through the entire congregation within 2 minutes. What an embarrassment! Probably the best you can do is post diplomatically correct public messages for whom ever 'mistakenly' took your jacket and gloves to please leave them at the church office anonymously or return them yourself. Include a description of your items. It stands to reason they won't be worn at your church, but they must have friends there. With a description published, they can't wear them in front of their church friends either. If the items are returned to you, it will be easier for you to forgive. At that point, it would be evident the individual was trying to make things right.
So sorry this has happened to you.
-- Edited by ruffles on Thursday 31st of December 2009 05:24:44 PM
I doubt it was intentional -- I remember laughing to myself because I hung it up next to a full length fur coat, so believe me, they could have done better, LOL! I had even cleaned off the dog fur for church -- my mistake, should have left it dirty. It bugs me because I think it's just plain laziness on the part of whoever took it. I'd feel differently if I thought someone needed a jacket, but with the demographics of my church I kind of doubt that's the case. I think it's someone who took it home before they discovered their mistake and has just never remembered to bring it back. It's the inconsiderateness that really gets to me.
It's possible that they went out of town for the holidays and haven't been able to return it yet- how lousy to need to go home in the cold, go to grab your coat and find yourself without any warm covering. Bad enough for that to happen without going all this time without it's return.
Let's hope that who ever has it has indeed been out of town for the holidays and that they took it by mistake. If they did, it seems there would be a coat hanging up there all alone? Certainly they didn't go out in the cold without something to wear and would have hung that up... and then forgotten what coat they took that day? I would write a note with the description of the coat/gloves, as suggested, and request they return it to the church office or the coat rack, no questions asked. But I'd not get too upset for another week, while waiting for them to return home from the holidays and get back to services.
Because I hate driving with a coat on, my coat usually gets tossed in the back of my 4Runner, not to be seen again until it gets really cold. When my daughter was smaller, she has been nknown to pick up things that didn't belong to her (accidentally?) and I didn't know about it. Maybe something like that happened? Isn't there a weekly bulletin/news letter at your church? Could you ask who ever puts it together to include an announcement? I would think the church would want to know if things are "growing legs" and walking off.
Far out, I know, but is it possible that someone outside your congregation was cold and slipped inside your church to get a coat?
I think the responses to your query have been interesting to read and show how we do try to find plausable reasons for such a disappearance. Do keep us posted if and when this mystery gets solved.But, do stay warm!
I'd either get an announcement put in the bulletin or post a very nonchalant note detailing your missing items and suggesting where they can return them. That way, it doesn't come across as accusatory, so if it was a mistake, the person won't feel awkward returning it, and if it wasn't a mistake, the culprit may see an easy way out of what is hopefully a very guilty conscience!
I'm sure it was a mistake and now plain laziness and forgetfulness are at fault. But it's so inconsiderate! I will leave a note. I'm ushering on Sunday, so I can pat people down, LOL!
