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Post by 950nancy on Dec 26, 2016 3:54:25 GMT
It depends. Saving 16 seats for people who come to church every Sunday? Fine by me. Saving 16 seats for people who only show up on Christmas and Easter, thereby making the regulars stand, jerks. I hate the fact that regulars have to arrive half hour to an hour early just to have seats. Especially because the church I'm going to tonight has cut down from three services to two on Sundays because the Mass is half empty. (All of this being said, I'm one of those jerks that never attends Mass but will be tonight. Had my BIL not died last week and my niece and sister weren't going to Mass, I wouldn't be, either.) I used to think that way, but I've really had a change of heart. Like the Pea up thread said, it's not my house and not my place to decide who is and is not worthy of a seat. I'd like to think that the C & E crowd felt welcome and wants to come back again. Maybe for a few weeks, maybe fir a few months. That's ok. We went to mass last night at my parents house and the place was packed to the gills. I noticed how people were sliding to the middle to make room for more. This is the kind of place I want to raise my children--where we welcome others and make room for more. My pastor always comes out a few minutes before the service and asks everyone to do the "Lutheran shuffle." It is amazing how much space is found between families. |
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~Lauren~
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,876 
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Post by ~Lauren~ on Dec 26, 2016 4:00:21 GMT
Saving 16 seats is rude. Period.
I've been in a situation like this more than once and each time I've said, "I'm here and the seats are here. So, I'm sitting here. People who arrive later can find other seats.". And I do sit. If the person saving the seats is mad, I really don't care.
Now if a person was saving 2 seats or even four, I wouldn't do that. But I refuse to give up a good seat because someone is "saving" one or two rows of seats.
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Post by Jennifer C on Dec 26, 2016 4:11:01 GMT
I'm so glad that our church has ushers that start assisting people 15 minutes before service starts. If they come upon saved seats they tell the saver if the people aren't there 5 minutes before the music starts that they will seat people.
We have about a 2,000 capacity church. Midnight mass was overfull. I did notice a husband and wife show up with 2 kids an take up a long pew 2 pews in front of me that holds over 10. An usher spoke to them and let them know the 5 minute rule. I'm not sure if her people showed because at the 5 minute mark, they started seating people in saved seats, their pew included.
Jennifer
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Post by gmcwife1 on Dec 26, 2016 4:59:38 GMT
Saving 16 seats is rude. Period. I've been in a situation like this more than once and each time I've said, "I'm here and the seats are here. So, I'm sitting here. People who arrive later can find other seats.". And I do sit. If the person saving the seats is mad, I really don't care. Now if a person was saving 2 seats or even four, I wouldn't do that. But I refuse to give up a good seat because someone is "saving" one or two rows of seats. I agree, being rude or inconsiderate isn't ok just because a person is in a house of worship. We used to drive by a church where people parked illegally on the street and blocked traffic. Just because they were attending church didn't seem like they should be allowed to break laws or be thoughtless of others. I agree with the majority, saving one or two seats for driver or elderly that are there is ok. Saving multiple seats for people coming or on their way, inconsiderate. First come, first served. |
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mommastruedel
Junior Member
Posts: 53
Member is Online
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Post by mommastruedel on Dec 26, 2016 6:36:37 GMT
I don't know, I seem to be in the minority here, but my first thought when I read this was there might be something more going on with that family. The OP even said she hadn't seen that before. You never know what someone else's story is.
What if you found out that someone in that family was dying and their wish for that last Christmas was to get all of their family together for Christmas mass? Maybe they chose that very early noon mass because it was less crowded and they would annoy less people? What if a few family members were willing to get there early and start saving seats in the front row/ organize the rest of the family even though the others showing up weren't regular church members (and didn't "deserve" seats) but were only there to support their relative's wishes?
Kindness and understanding on both sides is needed. Just a different perspective to consider.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Dec 26, 2016 11:33:51 GMT
No...that's crazy rude. We would never save more than 2 or 3 seats. 16 people aren't really sitting "together" anyway... This! And yes, so, so rude to save a bunch of seats at any event that is first come, first seated. I was at my son's winter concert at school, and a mom held two whole rows (12 seats) right in the front. Well, don't you know it, the people she was saving the seats for showed up very late, and those seats were never even used! |
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Post by monklady123 on Dec 26, 2016 13:58:42 GMT
I'm still stuck on the part of this thread where it seems that people actually want to sit in front. 😜 Here's what's more likely to go on in a Presbyterian church. Lol. Except for a few over achievers who actually *like* the front pew. 😜  |
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Post by LisaDV on Dec 26, 2016 14:21:07 GMT
I'm still stuck on the part of this thread where it seems that people actually want to sit in front. 😜 Here's what's more likely to go on in a Presbyterian church. Lol. Except for a few over achievers who actually *like* the front pew. 😜 😂 |
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Post by *leslie* on Dec 26, 2016 19:15:22 GMT
No...that's crazy rude. We would never save more than 2 or 3 seats. 16 people aren't really sitting "together" anyway... This! And yes, so, so rude to save a bunch of seats at any event that is first come, first seated. I was at my son's winter concert at school, and a mom held two whole rows (12 seats) right in the front. Well, don't you know it, the people she was saving the seats for showed up very late, and those seats were never even used! This happens at my son's school performances too. We get there early to get good seats and the first two rows are saved by a few families with their names on paper taped to the seats. Then, of course, they all show up at the very last second. I don't mind one or two seats but whole rows is just rude. This used to happen years ago too when my older kids went to this school and I think parents complained because it stopped for a while but now it's starting up again. If someone wants to save several seats to sit all together for the experience, then go for it but why is it always the front rows. I mean, if you're there to be with family then why does it matter where you sit? You can easily sit all together in the back few rows, right? |
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AnotherPea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,970
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Post by AnotherPea on Dec 26, 2016 23:39:19 GMT
Of course the people show up at the last second, or even late. There is no reason for them to come early - their seats are already saved for them.
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My original pea date was November 1999 and my number was 1803
