In a church near here, many decades ago, the town worthies used to meet in the crying room at the back of the church and discuss business and such like. Because the room was full, the mothers with crying babies had to stay in the nave.
A visiting priest, known for his forthright way of putting things, got bothered by the incessant wailing one Sunday, and said, “If the big crybabies got out of the crying room, the mothers with little crybabies could use it for its intended purpose.”
The men never met there again.
The pastor later–privately–thanked the visiting priest, because had he said it, he would have been in big trouble. But it needed to be said.
A little boy opened the big family bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.
“Mama, look what I found”, the boy called out.
“What have you got there, dear”?
With astonishment in the young boy’s voice, he answered, “I think it’s Adam’s underwear!”
Bmonk - I’ve heard that traveling evangelists often do the same sort of thing. They can say what needs to be said, even though some members might get offended.
Yes–the advantages of not having to deal with the fallout falling about your head–and the resident pastor can get the benefit of not having actually said it.
A four-year-old boy and his father went to the beach. There was a dead seagull lying on the sand. The boy asked his father, “Dad, what happened to the birdie?”
His dad told him, “Son, the bird died and went to heaven.”
Then the boy asked, ‘“And God threw him back down?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Little Johnny’s new baby brother was screaming up a storm. He asked his mom, “Where’d we get him?”
His mother replied, “He came from heaven, Johnny.”
Johnny says, “WOW! I can see why they threw him out!”
It didn’t mean that the congregation had to suffer because of the screaming kids? Seriously, while there is some pretty archaic language (and really bad writing) in the old KJV, I don’t think anyone ever misunderstood that particular phrase.
Actually it has only been with the advent of “Sunday School” and things like “Children’s Church” that the the family no longer studies and sits together as a unit. That is from first century though 19th.
In all the churches I go to, the families sit together for worship. It’s sad when we divide up our communities into little pieces and forget how to be a whole Body of Christ together.
If I remember right at the church we went to for a short time there was an early service, then groups got together based on age, etc., then there was a late service. There were no groups during the services.
It seems like most churches I’ve attended have nursery care for birth through about kindergarten for all services. Sunday mornings there is usually a “children’s church” for grades 1-6. Sometimes the teens are also in a separate service, but not usually every week.
I do see that as a downside - it seems like our churches are more interested in entertaining than instructing and encouraging. Once we knew our sons would behave themselves and not get too restless, we didn’t insist they had to join the other kids. However, there were years before our oldest, very active son could handle sitting still that long. If I needed to have him with us, I was so busy making sure he was quiet, that I couldn’t concentrate on the service. During those years, I was very thankful for the nursery.
I did find the best way to teach our sons apologetics and other subjects at a young age, was to buy tapes or CDs of the various speakers at a conference, and then play them at home for our children. They could play with Legos or other fairly quiet toys, while they listened. It was also helpful, since we could play the tapes/CDs repeatedly, so the boys had better retention.
As much as I think the family unity and children benefit from the children being in the service, sometimes Mom just needs some uninterrupted time to listen and worship. Each family needs the freedom to decide what is best for them, and it might be different each week.
Actually, I really don’t mind the little kids squealing and crying during the liturgies, since:
It means it’s a living, growing community. Would you keep the kids out of Thanksgiving Dinner just because they make a little noise?
Most parents have the good sense, when it goes on for a while, or is likely, to whisk the kid out the door or into a crying room. That’s what they are there for.
Besides, with the sound system, I can be louder than the little tyke almost any day…
kab2rb over 14 years ago
Typical children. The little ones don’t understand and miss their parents.
ted.hering over 14 years ago
How about 1 Corinthians 15:51 ? “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.”
freeholder1 over 14 years ago
Gnashing gums make an entirely different sound.
bmonk over 14 years ago
In a church near here, many decades ago, the town worthies used to meet in the crying room at the back of the church and discuss business and such like. Because the room was full, the mothers with crying babies had to stay in the nave.
A visiting priest, known for his forthright way of putting things, got bothered by the incessant wailing one Sunday, and said, “If the big crybabies got out of the crying room, the mothers with little crybabies could use it for its intended purpose.”
The men never met there again.
The pastor later–privately–thanked the visiting priest, because had he said it, he would have been in big trouble. But it needed to be said.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
Bmonk ~ That is funny!!! (laughter)
In honor of Mother’s Day
A little boy opened the big family bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.
“Mama, look what I found”, the boy called out.
“What have you got there, dear”?
With astonishment in the young boy’s voice, he answered, “I think it’s Adam’s underwear!”
Smiley Rmom over 14 years ago
Bmonk - I’ve heard that traveling evangelists often do the same sort of thing. They can say what needs to be said, even though some members might get offended.
bmonk over 14 years ago
Yes–the advantages of not having to deal with the fallout falling about your head–and the resident pastor can get the benefit of not having actually said it.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
WARNING ~ Heaven Jokes
A four-year-old boy and his father went to the beach. There was a dead seagull lying on the sand. The boy asked his father, “Dad, what happened to the birdie?”
His dad told him, “Son, the bird died and went to heaven.”
Then the boy asked, ‘“And God threw him back down?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Little Johnny’s new baby brother was screaming up a storm. He asked his mom, “Where’d we get him?”
His mother replied, “He came from heaven, Johnny.”
Johnny says, “WOW! I can see why they threw him out!”
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
HolySmoke
Make the children suffer, or the children make us suffer?
ottod Premium Member over 14 years ago
It didn’t mean that the congregation had to suffer because of the screaming kids? Seriously, while there is some pretty archaic language (and really bad writing) in the old KJV, I don’t think anyone ever misunderstood that particular phrase.
DerekA over 14 years ago
Actually it has only been with the advent of “Sunday School” and things like “Children’s Church” that the the family no longer studies and sits together as a unit. That is from first century though 19th.
bmonk over 14 years ago
In all the churches I go to, the families sit together for worship. It’s sad when we divide up our communities into little pieces and forget how to be a whole Body of Christ together.
Ooops! Premium Member over 14 years ago
okay then
If I remember right at the church we went to for a short time there was an early service, then groups got together based on age, etc., then there was a late service. There were no groups during the services.
Smiley Rmom over 14 years ago
It seems like most churches I’ve attended have nursery care for birth through about kindergarten for all services. Sunday mornings there is usually a “children’s church” for grades 1-6. Sometimes the teens are also in a separate service, but not usually every week. I do see that as a downside - it seems like our churches are more interested in entertaining than instructing and encouraging. Once we knew our sons would behave themselves and not get too restless, we didn’t insist they had to join the other kids. However, there were years before our oldest, very active son could handle sitting still that long. If I needed to have him with us, I was so busy making sure he was quiet, that I couldn’t concentrate on the service. During those years, I was very thankful for the nursery. I did find the best way to teach our sons apologetics and other subjects at a young age, was to buy tapes or CDs of the various speakers at a conference, and then play them at home for our children. They could play with Legos or other fairly quiet toys, while they listened. It was also helpful, since we could play the tapes/CDs repeatedly, so the boys had better retention. As much as I think the family unity and children benefit from the children being in the service, sometimes Mom just needs some uninterrupted time to listen and worship. Each family needs the freedom to decide what is best for them, and it might be different each week.
bmonk over 14 years ago
Actually, I really don’t mind the little kids squealing and crying during the liturgies, since:
It means it’s a living, growing community. Would you keep the kids out of Thanksgiving Dinner just because they make a little noise?
Most parents have the good sense, when it goes on for a while, or is likely, to whisk the kid out the door or into a crying room. That’s what they are there for.
Besides, with the sound system, I can be louder than the little tyke almost any day…
marvee over 14 years ago
That booming voice is probably scaring them. LOL