Quote:
Originally Posted by George Bieniaszek
My wife and I get a chuckle everytime we attend St. Timothy's. People start arriving almost 1 hour before Mass starts in order to sit in "their" seat. We are snowbirds and accidentally found out that we were sitting in someone's seat when they said loud enough for us to hear (maybe accidentally but probably on purpose) that we were sitting in their seats.
Anyway, people start arriving 1 hour early, and race out of church after receiving communion. I know that The Villages has many activities planned everyday, but there should be a little time set aside for some religious reflection. My wife and I have a friendly bet on how many empty seats are available in the section we sit at after communion.
In Connecticut, our pastor has made numerous comments about not leaving early, and now stands at the exits when he doesn't officiate the Mass to greet the "early-birds".  |
St. Timothy's is beautiful church -- first church I had ever been to that had the service broadcast on TV screens through out the church. My church in the Chicago area is much smaller, so no need for TV screens. When I went to St. Timothy's 2 years ago during my first visit to TV, I was quite impressed that there was a sign language interpreter signing the Mass.
I grew up Catholic, and I remember people deliberately sitting in the back few rows of the church, then making their exit right out the door after communion. The last few rows of the church I grew up in were usually 90% vacant after communion.
Since I have been singing in the choir for 20+ yrs. now, no early exits for me
. Looking forward to going back to one or more churches in TV when I am there next month.