Saving seats at church

[RadioNate]

We had this problem at my church. No one would make room for my 87 year old Grandmother and another woman using a walker. We were told several times that they were 'waiting for children.' Since we were standing, we saw the "children" was was about 16 and the other 12. The seat savers were middle-aged adults. After mass started a woman alone with a baby got up and offered my grandmother a seat. The teenagers continued to sit.

I was discusted by people's behavior in our church. I heard tons of "where are all these people the rest of the year comments." And there were pleanty of young healthy looking people sitting while the elderly and several very pregnant women stood.

Oh and for the record we left my house about 45 minutes early the church is 10-15 minutes away.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

My favorite (this applies year round), are the churches with the "aisle only" members. The ones that refuse to sit anywhere but the aisle seats. I use a wheelchair and that can cause a big problem when looking for a spot.

 

[Talking Hands]

My favorite (this applies year round), are the churches with the "aisle only" members. The ones that refuse to sit anywhere but the aisle seats. I use a wheelchair and that can cause a big problem when looking for a spot.

We actually have some wheelchair spots in our church but they are all towards the back. Since interpreting is in the front we would bring our one wheelchair depend deaf gentleman to the front and park him in the aisle by the first row. When I was wheelchair dependent for 3 1/2 months my husband would take my wheelchair after I transferred to the second row and park it off to the side and then bring it back when service was over. Front row seat in the deaf section is pretty much reserved for our deaf blind member and her guide dog so she can see the interpreter.

 

[tmt martins]

We went to 7:30 C-eve live about 2 blocks away always last one to arrive.Well by the time we were heading out the door 7:20 I went to get better standing shoes (tennis) knowing it was going to be standing room only .Well we walk in and seats are everywhere.1st for us for sure to sit for a mass with all the (OUTERTOWNERS).

 

[Toby'sFriend]

wow - I'm just shocked that this apparently happens in so many churches.
We got there at 10:45pm for the 11pm service and there was plenty of room. Our usual pew was taken, but we sat in the pew directly behind it. By the time the service started at 11pm, most of the pews were filled, but there was plenty of room for everybody in attendance to sit.

I just couldn't imagine seeing something like people refusing seats for the elderly or disabled in church of all places. I think in our church, people would be having knock down drag out fights over who would be the one to GET to give up their seat.

And we have plenty of once of year visitors at our Midnight Christmas Eve service. We start advertising it a couple of weeks in advance as a Public Welcome Christmas service.

 

[Mimi Q]

Well, I have never seen that in our church. It was packed out Sunday morning, but I didn't see anyone trying to save seats. All the regulars know to get to church early every week if you want to find a seat easily.

 

[Aidensmom]

I purposely got to church about 1/2 hour early so my son could choose where he wanted to sit, because he likes to be able to actually see everything. A lot of people save seats, but I don't see it as that big of deal, but maybe that is because it happens all year. A lot of time it is because some family members are in the choir or are speaking, or are handing out the bulletins.....or somehow otherwise involved in the service.

 

[yeartolate]

Count me for no saved seats. Where do these people think they are, Disneyland?

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Well I admit it, I save 2 seats at our annual Christmas children's program. But they are for my parents who are 76 and 73. My dad has serious back issues and sometimes uses a cane.
This year DD#1 and I got to church first and got about the 4th pew (I wanted to videotape). Soon after the "R." family arrives. This is a family of 8 kids who lost their husband/father in August 04. The 2 youngest kids were in the show. They aunts, grandparents, etc. with them. The church had reserved the pew in front of us for them, but when they got there the one older brother asked how much of our pew we needed. I told them we could get by with 1/2 a pew (but I kept the aisle so I could tape--hey, DD#2 was Mary!) When my parents and DH got there about 20 minutes before start, it became obvious that we did not have enough room, but I always feel so sorry for this family that I just handed the camcorder to DH and went to sit in the back by myself.
Now saving seats for teens is just wrong, but the elderly, hey, I think that's OK. My dad can barely sit for 45 minutes as it is.
Robin M.

 

[mom2boys]

We arrived at Mass 45 minutes early. We choose the 6:30 Mass because it was a "new" second family Mass - meaning last year there was only one family Mass, this year a second one was added. There were plenty of seats available when we arrived. There were several people saving pews for family members. Our ushers did a good job of finding a seat for every who arrived prior to the start of Mass. Our pastor is young & speaks his mind even in the midst of Mass - he frequently puts his foot in his mouth - he knows it. We all love him for it. He can't stand to see people standing & will ask everyone to scrunch together & raise their hand to signal the ushers that there are more seats. Apparently the earlier Mass was packed to the gills - people had to stand in the lobby. (DH said it smelled like armpits when we walked in.)

I don't get the personal pew thing. The church owns the pew, not individual parishners.