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The Preacher’s Corner
By Rev. Dr. Milton Winter Ministry on back pews of church building While
on vacation, I found myself at a church where I have worshiped before.
It is in a town of about 20,000 people — just large enough to be a
“big” church, but small enough for the clergy to know everybody. The
church was filled for the morning service. I was a bit late, so I had
to take a seat on a back pew. My embarrassment over arriving late
quickly turned to amusement, for I know all too well how much my own
parishioners covet those back seats. That morning I resolved to take
part in the service from a “back pew” perspective. I
was not the last to arrive for the service. For quite a while people
came tumbling in. The ushers had given out all the service leaflets,
but the clergy were not announcing hymn numbers, etc. So
I took advantage of my pretty good ability to “name that tune” and
looked up the hymns in the index and shared the numbers with those
around me. Three times people came in and the rows being filled I gave
them my seat and moved to a row further back. Eventually I was sitting
at the back door in a folding chair beside the head usher! Soon
I heard the cries of a baby as a woman threaded her way from the middle
pews back to our area, carrying a shrieking toddler. The
usher rolled his eyes and whispered to me, “This happens at every
service. All the child wants is to walk a bit outside.” The child
continued to scream and the mother seemed oblivious. She plopped down
about ten rows ahead and let the child amuse himself uttering cries and
enjoying the echoes of the large, stone room. I
am a great believer that children ought to be in worship, but I do not
think it is kind to a baby too young to be reasoned with to keep them
in the room against their will. The mother in this case seemed to be
disregarding both the comfort of her child and the other worshipers as
well. However, something then occurred that
warmed my heart. There was a woman acting as a greeter with the male
usher I was sitting beside. When she saw the crying baby and mother,
she picked up a little bag and made her way forward, moving in the side
aisle. In the little bag were toys, colors, and candy. These items
immediately captured the infant’s attention and the rest of the service
passed without further unhappiness. I thought
this was a beautiful example of Christian hospitality and
resourcefulness. It is the sort of ministry that can go on so helpfully
from the back pew. I found myself really enjoying the service from this
back row perspective and I thought to myself that the most fulfilling
kind of ministry may come at that place, and not necessarily from the
pulpit.
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