Church nursery

As some of you are probably wondering what prompted the recent poll about church nurseries...I would like to share my recent experience. A few Sunday's ago it was Consecration Sunday and Micah's church was only having their later service at 11:00 with a luncheon and games for the kids to follow. We hardly ever go to the later service because it cuts our day in half, it's right before lunch and about the time Devin takes a quick cat nap. But we didn't have any other choice this particular Sunday. We got there on time and sat in the back on the end so we could easily exit with Devin if he was too fussy. As the first few minutes wore on, more people were coming in late and they needed more chairs. So they added to our row and then added more rows behind us. Then because the entire congregation was going to be in attendance they opened up the dividers so the entire space was open-and there was no place to retreat to with a crying baby-nor could I easily get out of our isle without further distraction. So needless to say it was a rough service for us...but one we felt we couldn't avoid.

The next Sunday as Pastor was dismissing the older kids to Children's Church (CC), he made a reminder that the Church had a nursery, and that everyone was free to use their services...for the sake of others. Now it was this last part that both Micah and I had some real disturbing feelings about. "For the sake of others". I completely understand that it is distracting to be listening to a sermon and have a screaming child disrupting. And I personally have no problem taking my son out if he is being too fussy. And we have! But I do not feel it's appropriate for MY family to be put in the nursery. My viewpoint is that we are there for Christ and our spiritual enrichment. How is a child to understand that if they are put in a nursery to play the whole time-and then at a certain age be expected to sit still and pay attention? And we are there to worship as a family, not be segregated. Don't get me wrong-I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I'm not saying it's not appropriate to have a cry room or nursery, however I feel that it's not the place for my family.
So when Pastor said this, I was really uncomfortable especially since it seemed that we were the only family present with a baby at that time. Micah also expressed his distraction for the remainder of the service when we were leaving.
We decided to give it another week to see if the same comment would be made. As we walked into the church, the first thing the greeter said after "Good morning" was "we have a nursery". And then pastor again mentioned it as he dismissed the older kids to Children's Church. But this time left out the "for the sake of others". I felt a little better about this, but still got the feeling that it was being force fed to us.
I'm not sure what we are going to do-if anything- about all this. One of the reasons we chose this particular church was because we thought it was very family friendly. The church we left when we had to move was very much family orientated, and even had the Pastor comment to us that he enjoys hearing the babies cry because that means that the family is there. And that everyone is welcome, however if someone happens to find it too distracting than maybe that church wasn't the right fit for them. And as Micah made note of...Jesus said "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." Luke 18:16-17.
I cannot say for certain that those comments were pointedly made to us, but it really made us feel very uncomfortable. I feel that we may have to address it with Pastor if something more direct is mentioned to us, but right now I'm trying to take it with a grain of salt and let it roll off my back. I just felt I needed to explain the poll a little, and I appreciate the votes that were cast.
On a side note, we also have not sent Aiden back for CC. At my old parish I actually led the music for our version of CC, and it was literally a juvenile version of our Liturgy of the Word, with a reading, psalm, reading, Hallelujah, Gospel, and then homily. All of this was in language and message children could understand better. I thought it was great, and then the kids went back to their parents in time for the Liturgy of the Eucharistic. The CC at Micah's church now seems to be a time for the kids to go back-maybe hear a message and then run around and play until its time to return to the parents-at least this is what Micah observed. A few Sundays ago the kids came back with bags of Doritos. Now to me that was distracting! Again, we don't feel that church is the time for play-unless in a structured and/or liturgically meaningful way. So we have not felt comfortable sending Aiden back.
I hope and pray that we can again feel welcome with open arms-no strings attached.