It seems there are people in every church who don’t quite understand why they are at a church to begin with. I found this cartoon image while looking for something else on Google Images, and immediately thought about a lady I’ll lovingly refer to as “Just Gracie.”
I was the new youth minister at BARFUM Church (BARFUM is an acronym…if you figure it out…good job, if not, that’s somewhat intentional.). It was the week before I was to start my new job. I was already in town moving in, so I thought I’d go ahead and attend services. I walked in and sat down. I was happily reading my bulletin to find out what lovely hymns I would have the joy of singing when Just Gracie came and tapped me on the shoulder.
She said…
Young lady, that’s my seat!
To which I looked around and said…
Oh, I’m sorry mam, I didn’t see the reserved sign. I’m new here. Where do visitors sit?
And…do you know what Just Gracie had the audacity to say?
Anywhere but here.
I immediately got up, and went to the balcony. I figured nobody needs an assigned seat to sit in the balcony.
Now…forgive me if I’m wrong here, but aren’t churches supposed to welcome visitors…to be the hands and feet of Christ…to be kind…to be gentle…to be loving…to be caring?
Well, I guess that’s why church membership is declining. Perhaps we’ve forgotten how to be a church…perhaps we’ve forgotten that the church isn’t the building, the steeple, the expensive new carpet somebody spilled Koolaid on, the pews…The church is the people!
Pew You!
Well said! May I use it? Thought we might put it in the church newsletter, if pastor agrees.
Of course! Glad to be of service.
If you need me to e-mail the image to you, I think I still have your e-mail address. Just let me know.
La-La-LaVE it! I never would say anything, but I do think, HEY that is our spot when the CEO show up (Christmas and Easter only)
Hey You, I think you may have missed the point. It wasn’t an accolade for Just Gracie (and people like her). It was a call to end the “assigned seat” mentality in most churches.
In my church, most of the CEOs choose to either sit in the balcony or in the back downstairs, so that’s not ever a problem. Plus, I sit too close to the front for it to ever be a real issue for me, because most people don’t really want to sit in “spittle” range.
No I got the point. I was being sarcastic, I will try harder to be more earnest in the future. phffftt.