This is the around the 3rd or 4th Sunday that youth from Glenwood have come to sit with me in the “Big Service” at Grace after middle school Sunday school. I am so very happy that they are coming and can see that they are really learning about God.

But I have a confession… I feel stared at and sometimes embarrassed by their lack of “Church Manners.”

Now I may not have children of my own, but I think that I have a good taste of what it is like for a mother to be in church and her kids to keep squirming or her baby to start fussing. She wants desperately to hear the sermon and to worship yet she is worried her kids are disturbing others and embarrassed as the woman three rows up turns and looks to see where the disturbance is coming from.

Sometimes the chatter from the youth is just them talking and really that is not appropriate. This is a great time for them to begin to learn how to behave in different settings and to be respectful of others around them. Yet, other times the whispering is about the sermon… “Miss. Suzanne what does he mean by that?” “Will you look at my notes and see if I am doing this right?” “What is the meaning of the bread and grape juice?” “I can’t see can I move closer?” Notes are passed on a regular basis but 9 times out of 10 these notes are not mischievous the kids are simply sharing with each other what they heard the pastor say so that everyone have it all.

Dear Grace Members that sit in the lower level balcony,
I am sorry if we have been disturbing you these past few Sundays. We do not mean to at all. It makes me very uncomfortable when you turn around and look at me, as if to say…” Please get your kids under control.” If anyone has any helpful suggestions that would be encouraging and not discouraging to our youth in Glenwood I am open to them. Dear mom with the crying baby and squirmy kids. Stay in service! I feel your pain we should get together and share stories of people staring at us and laugh together. :)