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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It occurred to me that I think OP has the totally wrong attitude, although I don't fault her for it because holidays are stressful.  But on those days where new people are in church, you should take the opportunity to make them want to come every week, you should say hi to all the new people you see and greet them and make them feel GOOD about going to church so that they will want to come every week.  You should say hello to the families of people that you know and be kind and welcoming, not upset that they're taking up your precious space![/quote]

Yes, well, I suppose I should, but when I am packed in so tight into an overflow space I can barely move, and my knees are in the back of the person in front of me, and you barely have enough room to stand up, and your kid is whining because they are hot, and the children of the people sitting around you are whining too, and their parents are also frustrated, it's not exactly the ideal situation in which to chit chat socially.  And they bum rush you out at the end to make room for the next crushing crowd, so it's not like you're lingering after to socialize either.  Honestly, my church could be shut down for breaking fire code on days like today.  Great they're all there, I guess.....it's not like I was bitching at people or something. On a normal Sunday I am happy to welcome and get to know new people, because you actually can, unlike in today's zoo-like atmosphere.  [/quote]

In my experience, even the times when I go to church on a "normal Sunday," no one ever does anything to make me feel welcome or want to come back.  So much for fellowship.  And it does make it very hard to want to go back, feeling like an interloper.[/quote]

Well, I would agree in large part and it's really unfortunate.  This was certainly our experience when we moved here.  Part of the problem in our church is that it draws a huge number of families who are trying to avoid the Archdiocese of Arlington, which is too conservative for the majority of NoVA Catholics.  So people don't live close-by and don't really get involved in the church.  They just show up for services and then bolt to their cars to head back home for their kids' weekend activities and whatnot.  And honestly, I get that to a large degree.  They want to experience a more welcoming and accessible church service, and they have obligations back home they have to run back for.  But it is not conducive to a tight-knit community.  This is why I honestly do try on a average Sunday to be friendly and get to know folks as best I can.  And it's why we started volunteering - partly as a service but also a means of getting to know some people.  We found that we had to put in the majority of the effort, but once we did it was worth it.  I'll still maintain that Easter and Christmas are not exactly the right time to come looking for an entree to a parish.  It's just too over-crowded and zoo-like to even hope for that.  I really look forward to having older children I can take to the Saturday Vigil.  Very few C+E folks would sit through three hours on a Saturday night.[/quote]

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