Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Sunday, May 24, 2009 1:56 PM

Grace Church exists to glorify our Heavenly Father by
 continually making more disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

PASTOR'S PENS 2007

Grace Church of Burlington September 23, 2007 “Etiquette means behaving yourself a little better than is absolutely essential.”Will Cuppy Some years ago my good friend, Pastor Scott Ziegler, was invited to speak at a new church plant in Central Wisconsin. Several people in this small congregation were from a facility in town for assisted care of cognitively challenged adults. Most of these people worked jobs and some were married, but they lived together in a dorm-like apartment building with caregivers to aid them. While Scott was speaking, there was a lot of noise in the auditorium. He had been forewarned by the pastor so he had expected some of it. What he wasn’t ready for was the woman in the front row, when half-way into his message, announcing quite loudly, “Whew, I’m tired!” She then turned, put her feet up on the armrest of the pew, laid her head on her husband’s lap (at least Scott hoped it was her husband ☺) and went to sleep. A few minutes later, she was breathing heavily!             Now the situation was understandable in that this woman was cognitively challenged and probably was never taught etiquette for church gatherings. She didn’t understand the concept of respect for the proclamation of God’s Word. I fear, however, that God’s people in America, in general, struggle with respecting God, His family gatherings and the teaching of His Word.             At the Carson home we periodically have family meetings because we just start getting a little sloppy about the things that we know that we should do. And I think that is the case here, so this is just a soft reminder. It does seem lately that there have just been a lot of people coming and going during our worship services, particularly during the message. Now some of it may be due to an emergency, such as suddenly feeling ill or a parent being asked to come to the nursery. We need to be careful that going in and out is an exception. Needing a drink of water or using the restroom during the middle of the service really isn’t typically an emergency. Obviously, pre-school children may need to go to the restroom yet school-age kids should be able to sit through an entire service. Let me also say, how appreciative we all are of parents of very small children! You folk are just so sensitive and conscientious when a child begins to cry or becomes noisy, and take them out right away. Thank you!!             Recently, too we have had a problem with children wandering the halls during the service. Parents, we really need your help. Our church is responsible and liable for anything that happens in this building when we are here. We are also guests of Cooper. If a child is not in the worship service, then they must be either in the nursery or in children’s church.             If you’ve ever attended a play then you know that if you go to see a professional theater  performance, ushers will  not allow you to  enter the auditorium once the show begins until during an intermission, or possibly while a scene or song is being performed when your entrance would be least noticed. There are reasons upscale theaters have this policy. Movement and noise is distracting to both the performer and the audience and for the theater, it interrupts the realism of the performance. In these same theaters those who leave the auditorium during the performance are also required to remain in the lobby until an intermission.             While a worship service is not a show, it’s far more important than any theatrical production. We are looking for God’s Spirit to work and move in people’s hearts while we are singing praises to Him or His Word is being preached. Sometimes the most important part of a sermon is interrupted by unnecessary movement or noise. It can also be distracting to the speaker and his train of thought. I’m not writing this because it’s my sermon and I demand undivided attention. I am writing this because it is God’s Word that is being taught and sometimes those whom God is dealing with the most have their thoughts disrupted, again by unnecessary distractions.             Most of us also do not have a problem getting to work on time. If we’re going to a game or some other sports event, we typically arrive very early. Please, let’s have at least that same respect for worship. Let’s determine to be a little early so that we can fellowship with other believers and also prepare our own hearts before the service.             And just a reminder that at Grace we have a policy that folk please wait to find their seat during prayer, Scripture reading or special music. Extra movement during those times can be particularly distracting. Also, if more chairs need to be set-up, please allow the ushers to take care of it. That’s part of their ministry responsibility.             God has designed us for worship. It’s a vital part of our Christian life. Let’s make sure that we are truly giving the Lord Jesus our best in this area. We want to be known as a church of excellence! Thank you so much for your help and cooperation!!