Does no one know how to act in church?

Once upon a time, and not that long ago, people knew how to behave in church. Now, many don’t.

For the second year in a row, President Trump received a standing ovation, cheers and applause before he and wife Melania, were seated for the Christmas

Eve service at Bethesda-bythe-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach.

And for the second year in a row, I’m writing to address that.

For those who don’t know any better, it is totally inappropriate to give anyone a standing ovation, cheer or applaud them when they are coming to a church as part of the congregation. The policy at Bethesda-by-the-Sea doesn’t approve of that behavior and the ushers tried to stop it.

Throughout the decades, dignitaries have attended services at Bethesda-bythe-Sea — all arriving quietly and without hoopla.

I talked to Judy O’Hara Vetrick, who grew up in Palm Beach and attended St. Edward Catholic Church when President John F. Kennedy was in office and frequented that church, and asked whether the congregation stood up and applauded when he was in attendance. “No,” she said almost laughing. “He came in quietly and the only way anyone knew the president or his family was in church was by the Secret Service guys there wearing dark sunglasses.”

So for those who need a church-behavior reminder, that means, Mr. President, you need to quietly slip into the pew and keep your thumbs up gestures to yourself. And to those in the congregation, there will be no standing, cheering, picture- or video-taking.

He is, after all, only a man. And you, after all, are in church to celebrate the birth of the Christ child. Not the leader of the Republican Party.

DIAN VUJOVICH, WEST PALM BEACH