Picture the scene. I think the description of the church layout is a hemicycle. D shaped, with the pulpit halfway down the upstroke of the D, with the congregation sitting in the curve. There is a balcony above, stretching all the way around. I believe the induction loop for hearing aids is attached to the lower part of the balcony, so if you sit downstairs below the balcony then you will be able to use your hearing aid.
Attendance was low this past Sunday, a combination of school holidays and my supervisor being off. Those who attended sat in the back rows at my extreme left and right. As I looked out to the 180 degrees of the D, I had people sitting from 0-30, nobody from 31 to 149, then the remainder from 150-180. There was nobody at all in front of me. So if I wanted to make eye contact with the congregation, I had to turn my back on half of them.
And then someone had the audacity to complain that they couldn't hear.
Perhaps if they sat that little bit closer, where the speakers and the induction loop (if applicable) could help, then they might be better off. But of course, nobody will ever consider moving. And it's always my fault if they can't hear.
Rant over.
