Pastor's Column Week of January 24 2010

The following is from “Dear Abby,” January 23, 2010:

“Dear Abby, last Sunday I attended a church service, and the woman and her adult daughter seated behind me would not shut their mouths. All I could hear was the two of them catching up on the week’s gossip.

“I scooted as far over in the pew as possible to avoid hearing the conversation. I go to church for peace, quiet and reflection, and it’s frustrating to hear constant chatter.

“Would it be rude to turn around and ask these people to be quiet?”

“No. How else will they know they’re creating a distraction? This happens in other venues besides church. It is rude and thoughtless.”

Over the years I have heard rather few complaints of persons talking during church services. A few, not many. More so than this sort of complaint, all across America there has been a difference of opinion regarding noise prior to the service starting. Some people have wanted absolute quiet upon entering the sanctuary; others have wanted to visit with friends.

Several years ago, Rev. Herb Miller of Net Results, a well-respected church consultant, declared that this difference of opinion about noise prior to the start of the service had, in effect, come to an end. As he went around the country consulting with churches, he noticed that the only churches that were silent before the service were those having a fight. And why were the others noisy beforehand? America has changed.

Years ago church members used to see each other and visit throughout the week, say at the grocery store or PTA meeting or post office or while sitting on porches, which facilitated quiet prior to worship. This is no longer the case. Church members often go about their busy week-day lives without seeing one another except on Sunday mornings. They’re glad to see each other when they walk in the sanctuary and break into conversation.

But a bit of decorum can be maintained. Notice what we’re doing at Grace. We visit prior to the service but begin to quiet down during the organ prelude. Visiting comes to an official end during the Greeting when we stand and shake hands. A prayer, brief silent prayer, and choral interlude transition us into the official Call to Worship.