Poll- Should Church Seats Have a Cushion?

Cruel Sun

What do you think?

Run_to_da_hills

Whose going to wash them?

Just bring your own.

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

Onesimus

No they should not have cushions except for those who need it.

In the byzantine Church we stand for the whole Liturgy ( sometimes sit if there is pews ) and this keeps us alert and focused on the Liturgy without causing lethargy and encouraging laziness. The same goes for the hard wooden pews. Sitting or standing it keeps your heart and mind focused on the Lord because the Christian life is not one of comfort. Because in comfort like the disciples in the garden of gethsemene, we are prone to falling asleep, not just physically, but spiritually too.

philologos

I don't think it particularly matters whether or not they

What is more important is what is being taught there (are they teaching the full Gospel? Are they preaching from the Bible or from mere human tradition?), the worship, and the fellowship between other Christians. Cushions or no cushions.

In our church we just have chairs lined in rows. No pews.

HamletOrHecuba

Until the 19 th century there were no seats in western Churches just like there arent today in Eastern Churches- that is something we should be going back to.

martinedwards

after 30 years of bare planks (OK, pews) we had cushions fitted as a gift in a will from a long time member who died.

HUGE improvement!!!

and as to Onesimus... sorry mate, I'm much more alert and able to concentrate when I'm comfortable, & don't have sore buttocks from sitting on a plank!!

and with limited mobility, I aint standing for a service either. I can't make it through a hymn as it is.

PDN

HamletOrHecuba wrote: »

Until the 19 th century there were no seats in western Churches just like there arent today in Eastern Churches- that is something we should be going back to.

That isn't actually true. You can view some fine examples of old pews in English churches dating back to centuries earlier. In 1622 the Bishop of Norwich lamented the practice of some churches having richly ornamented pews complete with curtains, inferring that the pew-sitters were getting up to sinful activities during church services!

We do know that people sat during church gatherings in the early apostolic church (1 Co 14:30) - but we don't know if they used seats or just sat on those cushioned seats called buttocks that God in His infinite wisdom has provided us with.

In Europe, pews in churches became much more common after the Reformation. This was because ther sermon became the central focus or many churches worship service. Long sermons mean a greater need for seats!

And, since I belong to a tradition where the sermon normally lasts 30 to 45 minutes, I personally prefer padded seats in church.

Doc Farrell

Martin_94 wrote: »

What do you think?

I think that considering the age and infirmity of the people in my local church that it would be deeply immoral and unchristian not to provide seats and cushions for them.
However leaving cert students are tough enough not to need either. Hopefully it won't lead them to be angry old men or trolls on Christian forums.

HamletOrHecuba

PDN wrote: »

That isn't actually true. You can view some fine examples of old pews in English churches dating back to centuries earlier. In 1622 the Bishop of Norwich lamented the practice of some churches having richly ornamented pews complete with curtains, inferring that the pew-sitters were getting up to sinful activities during church services!

I meant Roman Catholic Churches.

Onesimus

martinedwards wrote: »

after 30 years of bare planks (OK, pews) we had cushions fitted as a gift in a will from a long time member who died.

HUGE improvement!!!

and as to Onesimus... sorry mate, I'm much more alert and able to concentrate when I'm comfortable, & don't have sore buttocks from sitting on a plank!!

and with limited mobility, I aint standing for a service either. I can't make it through a hymn as it is.

Well I was not referring to everyone. I did state that for those who have a disability or limited mobility should always be provided for in any way possible.

In the Eastern Church where we stand there is chairs provided ( yes padded too ) for the OAP and anyone else who should need it such as pregnant women or those with a disability.

martinedwards

HamletOrHecuba wrote: »

I meant Roman Catholic Churches.

they have those in England too!

HamletOrHecuba

PDN wrote: »

We do know that people sat during church gatherings in the early apostolic church (1 Co 14:30) - but we don't know if they used seats or just sat on those cushioned seats called buttocks that God in His infinite wisdom has provided us with.

In Europe, pews in churches became much more common after the Reformation. This was because ther sermon became the central focus or many churches worship service. Long sermons mean a greater need for seats!
.

How can a sermon be the central focus of worship? A sermon is not worship.

Also how do you get that people sat in the early Apostolic Church from this-

"But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God." (1 Corinthians 14:28.)?

HamletOrHecuba

martinedwards wrote: »

they have those in England too!

Being English and Catholic Im well aware of that fact.

PDN

HamletOrHecuba wrote: »

How can a sermon be the central focus of worship? A sermon is not worship.

A sermon can be the central focus of a worship service - do try to read more carefully.

Also how do you get that people sat in the early Apostolic Church from this-

"But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God." (1 Corinthians 14:28.)?

And how do you get 28 from 30?

And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. (1 Corinthians 14:30)

The Greek word is καθημένῳ - it means to sit. (Later the same word gave us cathedral - the place where a Bishop had his seat)

homer911

Personally I'd be more interested in a lumbar roll than a cushion - actually come to think of it, whenever I find a thin cushion, I roll it up into a lumbar roll!

Brer Fox

It's a real penance to sit on the pews in my local church. They are truly backbreaking.

Doc Farrell

HamletOrHecuba wrote: »

Until the 19 th century there were no seats in western Churches just like there arent today in Eastern Churches- that is something we should be going back to.

There were seats in roman catholic churches before the 19th century. A quick google will help you in your information.

Joko

Onesimus wrote: »

No they should not have cushions except for those who need it.

In the byzantine Church we stand for the whole Liturgy ( sometimes sit if there is pews ) and this keeps us alert and focused on the Liturgy without causing lethargy and encouraging laziness.

HamletOrHecuba wrote: »

Until the 19 th century there were no seats in western Churches just like there arent today in Eastern Churches- that is something we should be going back to.

Isn't mass supposed to recreate the last supper, i.e. the alter is the table and you sit around it and then have bread and wine. I doubt they all stood 2000 years ago. Forced standing kind of moves away from the whole point of the thing.

Onesimus

Joko wrote: »

Isn't mass supposed to recreate the last supper, i.e. the alter is the table and you sit around it and then have bread and wine. I doubt they all stood 2000 years ago. Forced standing kind of moves away from the whole point of the thing.

Christ said ''Do this in memory of Me'' he did not say ''Sit around a table in memory of me''. Therefore whether we sit around a table or not it wouldnt matter.

Joko

Onesimus wrote: »

Christ said ''Do this in memory of Me'' he did not say ''Sit around a table in memory of me''. Therefore whether we sit around a table or not it wouldnt matter.

Would you go into a friends house and stand and eat a meal while your friend sits at the table.

Onesimus

Joko wrote: »

Would you go into a friends house and stand and eat a meal while your friend sits at the table.

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is the one commemoration of the Lord’s Supper in the liturgical year. The regular daily and weekly masses, while they may echo the Last Supper, are not primarily a commemoration of the Last Supper. The Mass is first and foremost a commemoration of Calvary. Through the holy sacrifice of the Mass the one, full, final sacrifice of Christ, both priest and victim, is brought into the present moment and it’s eternal benefits are applied to our needs here and now.


When we go to Mass therefore, we stand at the foot of the cross, we do not sit down with Jesus at the Last Supper. To be sure, the Mass is a “fellowship meal” but it is a ritual meal into which the Jewish Passover is echoed and the sacrifice of Calvary is made present. The Last Supper was the bridge between these two–a bridge between the Passover and the death of Christ the Lord.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2012/04/sacrifice-or-fellowship-meal.html

neuro-praxis

I'd never even considered having a bed at church before. Gonna start lobbying my elders asap.

emuhead

martinedwards wrote: »

after 30 years of bare planks (OK, pews) we had cushions fitted as a gift in a will from a long time member who died.

HUGE improvement!!!

and as to Onesimus... sorry mate, I'm much more alert and able to concentrate when I'm comfortable, & don't have sore buttocks from sitting on a plank!!

and with limited mobility, I aint standing for a service either. I can't make it through a hymn as it is.

I agree, it's much easier to focus when you are physically comfortable. We have pews and free floating cushions in our place.

bonniebede

Given the obesity epidemic of which i am a part:o can i make a plea for wider seats.
Many of the churches I attend have pews clearly designed for a smaller breed of people.

I don't mind no cushion, but i hate it when the pew is so narrow one, or the kneeler so designed that one has to sort of wedge oneself in place.:D