This new “arrangement” was among the many little frustrations that prompted me to leave. The main objective of Christian meetings is to encourage on another, but how can you do that if you barely have time to talk to anybody?
When you have a family with small kids, by the time you are done with lunch, you have about 30 minutes remaining. And now that they expect everyone to sit down when the music plays, this leaves you about 20 minutes to reconnect with old friends and all. In the end, you don't have much time to talk. And if you do, now, you’re supposed to feel “spiritually weak”?
You want to appreciate the music? You can listen to it at home, in your car, while jogging, even at work! Their priorities are all wrong!
A lot of people who have “privileges” are too busy before and after the conventions to talk with anyone, hence, the best time to actually exchange is at lunch time. But they are yet again taking time off from that period. How are you supposed to have time to make new friends or reconnected with old ones?
You end up talking saying hello and goodbye, smiling, shaking hands with everyone and not getting to any serious conversation with anyone in particular. Taking away the substance of any meaning full exchanges.
It's not about people showing real love to one another, this “arrangement” is cultish at best.