So, I imagine you’re all keen to see the proper results for last week’s poll. I have had a lot of fun looking at these. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
As you can see, the main concerns are about others in the congregation – their presence or absence and whether you need to speak them later. A good thing I think, as church is a family and we need to look out for one another. I obviously missed out a major category, as many of the ‘other’ comments indicated that people worry about their children in church. This is certainly true for me. I mean, how many times do I have to tell the Joker that drumming his feet is not helpful? And is there any chance that the Queen will actually be in the church building at the start of the service? I think concerns over children also count as concern for others – both the kids themselves and those who might be distracted by them.
| Answer | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Who is there/missing and why |
32
|
21%
|
| Other |
25
|
17%
|
| Who you have to speak to after the service |
21
|
14%
|
| Music |
16
|
11%
|
| God |
14
|
9%
|
| What people are wearing |
13
|
9%
|
| What you are rostered for & whether you’re prepared for it |
12
|
8%
|
| The Sunday lunch |
10
|
7%
|
| Nothing at all |
4
|
3%
|
| Sport |
2
|
1%
|
| How you’re going to catch the Vicar before he leaves for lunch |
1
|
1%
|
And here are the ‘other’ answers, categorised (vaguely):
Children
- How many breadsticks it is safe to feed a toddler during one service
- Sometimes thigs my adult children wil be doing at their churches….pray 4 them.
- How to keep my kids quiet
- Keeping our kids under control (why do we always sit at the front)
- Where’s my son gone?
- wait, only 6 kids today?
- how much longer the children will behave themselves for ! 🙂
- how to stop my baby crawling on the altar!
- What my children are getting up to
- is my young son behaving/keeping him happy until the peace which is his fave bit
- The baby (feeding/sleeping/keeping quiet etc)
- work, children, visiting parents later
Thoughts about the service
- Additional comments on sermon to make to husband/vicar later
- wishing there was more silence before the start of a service!
- Numbers of communicants!
- What is this song supposed to mean?
- Will the songpro and sound desk work this week?
- Wow, such and such is here again, praise God.
- How amazing churches are and the astounding effort that went into building them
The Week Ahead
planning what I’m going to shop for this wk?
To do list
Work
Away with the Fairies
- the bird table outside the church window!
- Daydreaming
Thanks all for participating. Next week’s poll – best ways to keep children quiet in church 🙂
The Vicar's Wife 
[…] So, I imagine you're all keen to see the proper results for last week's poll. I have had a lot of fun looking at these. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. As you can see, the main concerns are about others in the congregation – their presence or absence and whether you need to speak them later. A good thing I think, as church is a family and we need to look out for one another. I obviously missed out a major category, as many of the 'other' … Read More […]
I’m not sure what to make of those results lol. I guess I am one of these that just gets lost in the worship. Though I will confess I relax more when the girls have headed to upper crew xx
For next week’s poll please also include not just how to “keep kids quiet in church” but also how to help them enter into worship, take part, receive – not just in a “family” service or in Kids work but every week before they go out to groups. This may not be “quiet” but Jesus called the children to him when the disciples wanted to keep them from him, let’s not exclude them.. a challenge I know but one worth thinking about.
I shall certainly be looking at the discussion on kids in church with interest. It was a major issue that came up at a recent conference called “Mend the Gap” – the gap between old and young in church, and the church/christian community and the young in general.
In my own church it is certainly a friction point, though people try not to show it. New/occasinal families often insist on taking kids out, despite the pew bags and children’s corner. Others use these, but often the toys prove noisy. The older folk (well some) feel that parents and children should at least tidy up at the end (and do more in the church generally) and also that child-friendly worship and all-age sermaons etc are patronising to them.
They are convinced that they always made their kids tidy up, and did loads of church things as well as work/family care. I can’t comment as I was severely disbaled when my kids were little, and have no relevant experience of life, or worship, with young kids .
lol… love it… especially the bread sticks…
Can’t wait to get some ideas on how to keep the kids quiet – it’s like herding cats wth my 3!!