Posted on 12/12/2005 12:50:22 PM PST by sionnsar
One of the things that we are losing all over the Episcopal Church is the sense of the sanctuary as a place of silence and prayer. I have watched over my ministry the change from really absolute silence in church before service and for a decent interval after church change to whispering before and after, to whispering during, to cacophony in some places before the service and now to chatting during the service itself. I was recently in a church where two people were chatting away in the line going up to communion. When you once lose these norms something very precious has been lost which is difficult to reclaim. I predict that in those places where chattering in the sanctuary on Sunday is becoming the norm you will see fewer people dropping in to say a prayer in the sanctuary during the week.
I came across this very nice little bulletin blurb which I commend to you.
“Be thoughtful, be silent, be reverent,I would only add be attentive to others praying and try to make it easier for them rather than more difficult.Before the service, speak to God,
During the service, let God speak to you,
After the service, speak to one another.”
Oh Lord you wouldn't like my Baptist Church. We are a loud and vocal lot.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. LOL! But then your services are very different from ours, as that little note would indicate.
Noise in churh is the LEAST of the problems for Episcopals.
The Lord is in his holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence before him.
Keep silence,
keep silence,
keep silence before him.
(song I grew up with).
I love how the Morning and Evening Prayers always begin with "The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him"
Now if I could only get my Catholic pastor to speak about this portion of the General Instructions (or lead by example):
Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner.
Once we had a woman come up to the pastor while I was standing next to him after the service. She apologized for the noise her baby made during the service.
I told her, "The problem isn't when you hear children in church. A parish really has a problem when you don't hear children in church."
This is not to say that ushers should run roughshod over the congregation, but there are certain standards of decorum that should be maintained - gently and with respect, but maintained nonetheless. I recall one inner-city "yute" who objected when I asked him to remove his hat in the sanctuary. When I reminded him that it was the "house of the Lord" he calmed right down. A few years later, he became an usher. I've always tried to stay ahead of situations and acted pre-emptively. I remind people as they enter the sanctuary to turn off their cell phones, and refuse entry to those who try to bring in food and drink.
All that said, it is the pastor who sets the standards for behavior in church. He should be the one who communicates those standards to those charged with maintaining them, as well as to the congregatiion, and then standing behind his word.
This really happens?
Only until they've finished eating and drinking, Texas...Then they are welcomed.
In synagogue too, children are encouraged to play in the aisles.
Only until they've finished eating and drinking, Texas...Then they are welcomed.
Actually, what I was having trouble with was that folks would show up to church expecting to eat/drink during services...not that they would be refused admission under those circumstances. I don't think I'd have the patience to treat them as graciously as you were able to do.
It is a cultural thing, actually. Our church has a significant number of parishoners who come from South America. Evidently, the praise and worship services there are held in stadiums, or in large outdoor venues. Folks pack a lunch and make a day of it.
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