Why can we have silence when we go to Church?

here in singapore, i don't really encounter such problem. I do understand when you say that you just want to be in the church, pray in silence and maybe to experience the peace of being in the church. Whenever I want that, i will try to go to church earlier. Sometimes, I find it so quiet that when you cough, i think everyone heard you too :)

As I have never visited the States, I don't know how churches are there. Only by movies. I know that in Europe some churches, the ones that are most visited by tourists, are quite noisy. Here in my country, you can enter a church and will find it in complete silence, unless you arrive at the time of mass. I like a quiet place to pray or just to think or reflect about something.

That is the very reason that I prefer Quaker meeting. Many people have said to me "What do you DO for an hour in silence? What do you think about?" It's really quite difficult to answer them, sometimes, or to convince them that it IS possible - and comfortable - to just lay one's head on God's shoulder (as it were) for a while. Of course, meetings aren't always quite silent. Very often someone will get up to say something short and interesting about where their mind has been travelling. It is strange how often that ministry will be like a key to open the answer to a question that had that moment been troubling you! I know that Catholic and Quaker seem to be thought of as being at 'opposite ends' of the Christian tradition, but I have known Catholic silent worship as well, and it is just as beautiful. "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there also am I."

I think the "meet and greet" should be kept out of the sanctuary and in a gathering place. I'm with you. People go to church to pray and to spend time with God...not see who did and didn't come this week, (though, it is always nice to notice that also. LOL) There is no excuse for noisy gatherers to make those who want to pray before service feel guilty or fanatical.

I find the same here, I like the cheerful singing and clapping but there should still be a time of silence and prayer. Years ago when my children were young they were quite and sat on the seats and read or coloured in, now days the kids run all over the church and nobody seems to care, although I know that a lot of the elderly do care and get quite upset but the message never seems to get to where it needs too, I know that creches etc in the church are good, but how will the next generation of children ever learn that the church is to be treated with respect and also the people in it. I remember an old lady friend saying to me one day that if you want to be a nurse you put nurse training in if you want to be in government, put government training in, so how will our young people be people for God if the people of God training is never put in. Bring back prayer in the church.

I think at certain times the church is very quiet, but just before a mass or during mass there is too much activity for silence. Whenever I want to take a moment for prayer I stay after mass when I have the church to myself. I like to take a little extra time and talk to God in the quiet. The masses have progressed to a stage show at some churches so it takes a lot of prep time, and of course there is a ton of noise!