I agree with you on the idea that anyone, at anytime, should be welcome at any church. That said, my problem with "latecomers" is that (1) they are usually habitual latecomers...the same people every week. I'm not talking about a visitor who is checking out a church for the first time. I'm talking about established members or those who have chosen to be affilliated with a congregation, and still choose to arrive 20 to 30 minutes after the services begin. And yes, I believe it is a CHOICE to arrive that late that often. They know when services begin, and know how long it takes for them to get there. (2), I have a problem with the ones who insist on sitting up front or in the middle of pews... we try to keep the back rows or aisle seats open so that those who are late do not disrupt the service. Despite that, we have those who still make their way past the other attendees, halfway through services, to get to the front or be in the center... and then proceed to ask about what they missed!!!

I have been late to church, or visited a church and been mistaken about the starting time for services. But I was considerate of those who were already there and sat in the closest spot to where I entered, or wherever the usher sat me.

I have four boys, and often get them ready for church on my own (my husband goes early to church to help set up). I know from experience how much time it takes for me to get myself ready, my children ready, and drive to the church. I plan for that, and get up in time to get everything done and get to church before services start. Those who are habitually late need to adjust their priorities... if after months of attending you still can't get there on time, there is a real problem.

Susan

You have a good point. A church should be a place where grace abounds and love gives room for all stages of spiritual growth.

I was thinking about this on Sunday when I arrived late for church - again! Dh thinks that's disrespectful. I don't mean to be disrespectful - but I do realise there are all sorts of reasons why people arrive late. Perhaps they have to catch a bus and there isn't a better-timed one. Maybe they have small children and one needed help at the last moment. Perhaps (like me) at some point they learnt they could minimise difficult situations by not arriving till after the socialising time was over, and it has spilled over into being late for things in general. Perhaps they just don't have the life-skills to get organised. Maybe a number of other things.
There is a church I visit often where plenty of people are there on time, but others drift in or out throughout the service. I think that's to do with the people that church is reaching out to. They have a fair amount of contact with the less-privileged people around - the people who may not have a job to get up for, have little sense of being valued, aren't used to structure and so on. It's good that the doors are open for these people to come in or go, rather than being denied a chance to come closer to the Lord.
Yes, it can be distracting for others, but ideally we should set aside out comfort zones for the sake of others. Not easy, though.
Just my opinion :-)
Alice