Do you skip church if you have guests?

[TheOrigFV45]

Just that - if your guests are not church goers do you still go?
We are the guests, leaving for home at 11am.
DS2 said he doesn't want to go to church and it got me wondering what people generally do.

I didn’t know about is being a mortal sin not to attend mass! I went to scouts with loads of catholics and they all came to weekend camps... surely this wouldn’t be allowed?!

I used to be picked up early from (venture) scout camp in time to make Mass. There wasn't really a feasible Sunday night Mass nearby. And even as a teen, I would rather have missed camp than Mass. Luckily when I was younger I'd gone to a Catholic based brownie and guide company, so Mass was built into the programme.

I take my kids to 6.30pm Sunday night Mass, if they've been on camp. I doubt they tell their friends that that is what's happening.

My gran still hours to church when we stay with her, we just meet her for lunch afterwards. Her services are only once a fortnight so I'd rather she go if she wants to than miss it for a month. She's never tried to make me go though I would if she wanted the help for mobility. If we were leaving during the service time she would offer to stay to see us off but I'd assure her there is no need.

It depends. Do you want to see the guests again? Or is your religion more important than real friendships and relationships? If I visited someone and they cleared off out for an hour mid weekend, I’d not be inclined to return to someone who seems church/football/swingers voluble more important.

That’s like saying your guests are more important than Jesus , the man who died to save us.... who is more important than him??
Remember the story of Mary and Martha

No because God is in the heart of all. When you have guests you have God in your house you don't need to go church. Look after guests and God is happy. Look at it like God came to you for once.

Have stayed with a couple of friends who are church goers. We don't stay with them often and only see them infrequently - around once a year or less, just due to ice getting int he way, clashing commitments, etc. They always missed church if we were visiting. They'd invited us, and it was only for 1 or 2 nights. We always had a leisurely Sunday brunch before the journey home, with them.

I guess I'd be surprised to be invited to stay for the night and then we were left home alone in the morning, and to let ourselves out or leave pretty much as they returned home. I guess I'd feel different if it was someone I visited often, or a close family member for example.

My FIL would still go to church when we visited. Was great actually as it meant we could have a lie on - he gets up very early!

I’m a Catholic and attend church most Sundays. I would miss it if the guests were only with us overnight or a day or two but if it’s longer I would prob head off to Mass just to give us all a break from one another. I’ve never suggested anyone attend with us but occasionally younger guests ask to come along. I think they are curious to see what it’s like as so few people attend church nowadays. Over the years most of DCs boy/girlfriends have come along once or twice - except oldest DDs current BF. He is simultaneously fascinated and repelled by the fact we are churchgoers and makes no secret of his disapproval of our outdated habits. I have no idea what he imagines we get up to. The rather dull reality would disappoint him I think.

As a guest I never expect my religious hosts to skip church for me. My mother still goes but we appreciate this as it gives us a break from her. My closest religious friend doesn't go, I wouldn't mind if she did but I like that she doesn't cos her church is of the very happy-clappy, tell us how you had an image of God in a leaf, sing a million songs school and a service lasts bloody hours so I would be a bit sad to miss that time with her.

My mother would need a very, very good reason not to go to church. Having a guest would not count. In fact, I remember when my then boyfriend came to stay she told him he had to come to church too, even though he was atheist. I considered that to be rude.

Probably the wrong person to ask*, but if I had guests who were visiting on a non-regular basis, then yes, I would skip something where my lack of presence would not be deleterious. Friends are precious, and you can go to church any time you want. Anyone asking a Pastor or Priest about this and being told that missing church is potentially sinful and not showing commitment needs to look at their church very hard

• as a non-Christian, non- churchgoer

I wouldn’t skip church for guests. Anybody who’s a close enough friend to be staying over would know that I go to church on Sunday mornings so it wouldn’t be a surprise.

In practice guests have either been friends/relatives of mine, in which case they come to church with me and DD. Or else a relative of DH, who doesn’t go to church at all, so they’d stay home with him.

Also, I’m not Catholic, and there’s nothing at church that says I have to be there every week (TBH most people are 1-3 times a month attemdees) but it’s an important space in my week and it would have to be pretty major for me to miss it (I’ve only missed two Sundays in last three years - one of those I was on the labour ward, the other in SCBU!).

"Friends are precious, and you can go to church any time you want. "

I only really go Easter and Christmas so I wouldn't miss those. I can't do that any time I want.

Depends,if it was just a routine Sunday I would skip it unless I thought the guests would like to go too. At Christmas and Easter we are always staying with someone and usually go with them but if we’re worn out from the journey and decide not to would never expect them to not go.

As a Catholic I attend mass every Sunday regardless of visitors. We are really fortunate that there are numerous services of different times in our local area. My DH parents are anti-church and my DH was raised this way (although he is extremely respectful of my/our children’s beliefs and attends with us each week) so I always find it difficult to say we are going to mass when
We are staying at my in-laws house!

In the highly unlikely event of me finding myself a guest of people who regularly attend church, I’d be perfectly happy with them going off to church. As an adult, I’m quite able to amuse myself for a few hours.

Likewise if they had any other regular commitment. Some I might choose to go to (if invited), others not.

I don’t expect their entire weekend, or whatever, to revolve around me.

As for a church/minister/whatever that you have to ask permission from not to attend...no way. Absolutely no way. That’s just ridiculous.

Anyone who would rather visit their imaginary friend over and above a guest ( who they presumably like) is completely and utterly unreasonable.

KillJester
So i'm assuming you would miss work in order to look after your guests? Because obviously if not the message of your boss has totally gone over your head!
Church for many is only 1 day a week & something many look forward to. Faith comes before everything else for a lot of people and to dedicate just 1 day out of the rest of your week isn't asking much and many don't want to miss it.

Anyone who would make their friend choose between them and their religious beliefs is completely and utterly unreasonable.

It's an hour not a religious retreat.

WhatisFreddieDoingNow When I feed a homeless person or care for someone, that's the actions of the Catholic church as well

I was raised in a Catholic family. I am now an atheist. I feed homeless people, care for people, help charities in various ways, am a good and caring person. That is me, as a person, not in any way part of the actions of the Catholic Church. Our local priest was a nonce, my own heavily Catholic Grandmother was a very nasty person. I feel I am a nice person, in spite of my Catholic upbringing.

To get back to the OP - If your guests are church-goers, they should go to Church, of course they should. It is what they want to do. If you are the guest and are not religious, then you should not be forced against your will. And that is what you wish to do. Just say - "I'll peel the potatoes whilst you're out" … or something.

I’m an atheist but would mostly be happy to turf out to church with hosts on a Sunday if that was their usual habit. I quite enjoy the community, love the buildings, and am never one to turn down a brew afterwards.

Anyone who would make their friend choose between them and their religious beliefs is completely and utterly unreasonable
It's an hour not a religious retreat

I agree with that Freddie

PS - in that, it works both ways. You cannot force religion on anyone. Surely friendship and caring company is worth more than any fictitious non-existent being.

unknowmstuntman - since scientists can’t currently explain how the ‘Big Bang’ actually occurred, it is no more believable a concept that “it just happened” than there was a creator who caused it to happen (or imaginary friend if you will ).