Featured Attendance and Chronic Illness

Our auditorium will hold about 350 people, and is configured so that the back pew is less than 75 feet from the pulpit. A glass partition is right behind that last row which separates if from the foyer. There are speakers in the foyer (and in the nursery) for those who need to leave the auditorium for any reason. There is a long pew in the foyer. One can see the platform and hear what is being said (or sung).

If somebody needs to move around, our setup will work very well, and will not be a distraction in the auditorium (except for the preacher, who can see everything).

 

The Growing Baby Boomer Age Will Mean More of This!

Great question...

As a Baby Boomer, and a person with several chronic illnesses, I am unable to attend church on a regular basis. I used to feel guilty, but there was a day, that I was there before the doors were opened, usually because they needed me to unlock them!

However, time, illness and an ever decreasing in to control my neurological pain levels, without morphine, has made it nearly impossible for me to be at church! I do listen to podcasts [not the same; I need the shoulder rubbing fellowship], and always communicate with the pastor and others within the church through cyber messaging!

Unfortunately, degenerative disk disease, and bi-lateral neuropathy have taken a lot of wind out of my sales, and it has ended a once active music ministry! I feel that I still contribute to the Kingdom through my cyber ministries, and the ability to work with people that, like myself, are growing older and living as shut-ins!

We never know what tomorrow will hold for us, Gina, but if we believe as the Apostle Paul and tell our self that He remains more than sufficient to meet our needs, and find a new and exciting way to stay on the saddle, then we will live a productive life in the ministry, the Kingdom and our self not be trampled down by the defeat we are confronted with when we lose the ability to attend church on a regular basis!

I am more than comfortable with my situation, and learned to rise beyond the limitations this old body has set in front of me! With God's help, I will continue to minister, and that is really what it is all about!

Currently, more than a few hundred people, from around the globe, call me their pastor...and that is satisfying! I am there for them, and I've learned to make sure they are being ministered to, even in their own limitations to get to church regularly!

Again, this is a great question, and I look forward to others giving input. Shalom! :type:

 

Due to my deployment induced problems, I can't stand crowds. I don't go to concerts, sporting events, or even restaurants during busy times. I discussed this with my pastor, and we decided that I'd wait outside in the car until my wife texted me that handshaking was over. Then I'll come in, sit in the foyer (there are speakers) for the message, and then step out again during the invitation. I am going to start this next Sunday. (I'm on duty right now and won't get off until midmorning).

 

Dude....sermonaudio has live web casts on the Lord's day....look in the left hand column and it will offer a schedule of churches that do it.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/webcast.asp

 

Thanks!

I appreciate this. I actually listen to several different pod casts. I watch the service and message during my recumbent bike exercise. That gets me to a church service at least four times a week. I really love the broadcasts, as they allow me to stay current with the Word, something I missed terribly when it became evident that getting to church was no longer possible.

I should explain that my neuropathy reaches it peak pain levels in the early-morning hours [between 6 and 9 am]. This means that I have had to change how I live, and I call it permanent Graveyard shift living! Because the pain builds up slowly, and reaches a peak in those hours, I have had to adjust how I live, dramatically.

I'm blessed to have a wonderful helpmate, lifetime friend and wife. She has bouts of insomnia, so my trouble with sleeping normal hours, fits her just fine!

The only problem we have is that any doctor appointments must be made in the very late-afternoon hour, and again, God has blessed by giving me favor with my doctors!

When the pain is not raging within, we do go to evening services, but like Gina asked, I am up and down, as my back is painful, and I need to stretch the legs to keep the neuropathy from coming on earlier than normal!

Life is what we make of it, and with his help, and the miracle of cyber space, getting sound teaching is no longer a problem!

If anyone on the board is suffering from similar physical problems, I am here to help. I've gotten used to it, and I know you can too! It is just making a life out of what life gives you!

Again, Icon, you are a good brother [even though we've bumped heads on some issues] and I appreciate you for sending the link! I will be adding the link to places where I can get fed! It looks like a great place to go to for nurishment! :wavey:

 

Brother....

....as I said in the response above this one...life gives us challenges, and life is what we make of it! It sounds like you are starting to get a good grip on how to handle what life has laid at your doorstep. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Actually, you are in my prayers, as I give thanks for men and women like yourself, willing to do what many won't in order to protect our freedom and way of life [although the way of life is crumbling]. I've always surrounded you with prayers and angels to protect you when in harm's way! God bless you! :wavey:

 

I just sit in the back cause I get antsy and need to walk around or go outside ..... I can just as easily stay home. I think for shutins that sermon audio and live broadcasts are the way to go.

 

Years ago in our country churches there was a intermission between Sunday school and church so everyone could go to the outside toilets or take a smoke to settle their nerves. :laugh: I bet in your modern churches people have never seen a person listening to the preacher take out his pocket knife and start whittling on a piece of cedar, I have.

 

"that handshaking was over." Getting out of that has to be a blessing

 

we had a lady who had back surgery. she couldn't sit in a pew for months. but she'd be there, standing during the whole service.

 

Thanks fer da idees!!!

Was in a large church with low sitting pews when the pastor told the guests to remained seated and told the congregation to stand and shake hands with the new folks. Suddenly dozens of hands everywhere

 

If anyone in New Jersey took out a knife they would call the cops! :laugh:

 

If the person is not distracting the service it is fine which may be possible in a large church. Otherwise they should think about others and not attend or Many churches today have a tape minitry or some other area where they will not disturb and still hear the message.

 

I have always had difficulties with the hand shaking and "pre -worship" jabbering.

Both are out of character for true worship in my opinion.

The hand shaking always has some over zealous person who has to crush my arthritic hands, and honestly, I find no expectation of worship when I am being abused by such.

The pre-worship jabber is so distracting. If you want to laugh and tell jokes - do it elsewhere. I want to read the Scriptures and listen for the impulse of the Holy Spirit guiding me into confession and wisdom.

Thankfully, I am not yet consumed with such a plague that I have to avoid assemblies.

I do think I will look into what Sapper Woody does.

I can sit in my car, read the Word, and wait about 20 minutes into the service - avoid much distractions and problems.

But then some jerk will come bang on my window and startle me awake.

 

Agedman is the service just for you? In your post you used "I" six times. Too many people are selfish in the church. They want it their way while forgetting that corporate worship is a shared experience. Perhaps if many would stop worrying about what others are doing or aren't doing true worship might actually become a possibility.

 

Yea.....a Yankee no doubt.