Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

I have never heard of it. But then again we have a lot of churches in our little town. I have only ever seen one shut down. And that was permanent. I hope apostolic churches don't shut down for the summer.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Sign of the times and also something to do with where in the country you live. I find it difficult to find a service on Sunday evenings. When I lived in NC. we had service on Sun Morn, Sun Eve, Wed Eve and Fri Eve.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Yep, a lot of churches are cutting away their
sunday night services


I talked to a pastor recently that said there are
several churches (including his) that are wondering
if their wednesday nights will even survive- they're
on a respirator at best

WHAT IS GOING ON ????????????????????????????????

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Well, Wednesday night services are my favorite services. My church does not have Sunday night services. Wish we did though.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Why not??

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

It's a tempting thought.




Sandy beaches, cool lakes, Bahamas in bermudas.




Ahhhhhhhh.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Is the church dying ??????????

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Who's church?

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

I have a lot of questions too Mark.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

In general

the commitment and dedication is not what it was

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Well it is a complicated story and not one I am willing to talk about on AFF.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

run them past me Ron

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

mark,
what is your source?

Has anyone ever taught or gone through "Exploring God's Word" home Bible study?
In lesson 11, chart 4 there is picture of a church and the sign on the church says "Closed for Summer Vacation" The caption under the picture is 2 Timothy 3:5. I've taught parts of that study, but for prophecy I normally teach on my own, nevertheless, when I saw that chart, I was like, "yea right, that is pretty far fetched, I doubt we will ever see churches closing down for summer vacation" Well unless this story is fabricated, I am shocked.

That's not to say the chart is prophetic, but it is in the least an interesting coincidence.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Jason, re-read my initial post. I've not heard of our churches
doing this but i was reading another forum where people were complaining about.

My question is this: Is this what we can expect in Pentecost in
the future?? I know pastors that are struggling to keep their
weds. nights going. several have let sunday nights go

This is the same progression that the denominational
churches took and where it seems to be leading to
eventually
their church doing this

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Wednesday nights are my favorite service! It's the most "Pentecostal" service we have.:bliss

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Basically, they are the same ones you have.
Is this a one shot deal?
Is it changing society?
Is it indicative of society in general?
Are we too "work oriented?"
Are we too "pleasure or entertainment oriented?"
Are we too calloused?

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

When I was young my friend told me her Baptist church would get together with about 4 or 5 other churches in the area because attendance was so poor that they couldn't keep them all open. So they would take turns which church would host the service. That was at least 30 years ago. So this is not a new practice for some churches.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

God will have a church.

The church is not dying.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

yeah, i knew what you were talking about mark. I was saying that the bible study has a tradional church closing doors, basically getting the point across that those who deny the power (Holy Ghost) of God would be apostate.
I thought it was far fetched, but perhaps I was wrong.

I don't see that happening in to many pentecostal churches. no doubt there may be a few who go the way of Laodacia, but overall I believe that Sprit filled believers are going to have great revival in the end times. The church thrives on persecution, and gets lack during times of excess and easyness.
It's ashamed we can't have a world shaking revival until they start cutting peoples heads off. In the meantime, several saints are more worried about their golf handicap than the sinner next door.

okay, I gotta stop.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Just give the reasons in general terms

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

I can't do that Mark. I am just hoping in the future we can have Sunday night services.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

I DEMAND THAT YOU TELL ME !!!









.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

What are you 5 years old? :toofunny

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

If you don't want to share that's fine

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

The united Methodist church is right down the street from
our church. They have a sign out front that says "Free Breakfast".
They have to use gimmicks now to get anyone to church.

This very church advertised that they were available to
perform weddings for gays when they voted in gay marriage
last week in CA. the pastor looks like he's got some sugar in
the tank himself

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

So I have a question:

I have been a part of churches that "take vacation". Maybe one week there is no weekly services during the summer (or around graduation time). Or like the church that I am visiting now will combine weekly services for the month of July, so instead of 2 they will have 1.

I dont see anything wrong with giving those faithful ones who are always in attendance a break to rest, spend time with family, go on vacation...without missing church. Life in general is different now because all our time is on demand. Most companies provide you with a blackberry so you can be available 24/7. We work longer hours...not just to bling...but to buy gas and $1.59 lettuce for our families.

I dont agree with shutting a church down for the summer (the original post) and I dont think that the true church of God is going to do something like that....but an occassional break to rest without getting 80 phone calls about why you weren't at service is not so bad.

So I said I had a question....I forgot it. (hehehehe) Oh!! In general, how do you feel about church vacations? (I know...it's early...)

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

I think it depends upon what the "church" is being used for. In many seasonal communities churches close for the "off" season to save money. Since the handful of people who may be staying in town could meet in a livingroom - why not meet in the livingroom?

Now, if they were saying, "let's not be Christians for the summer..." or some such a statement, then I'd have to question what's going on.

I guess I've seen too many tourist towns and the like where just about everyone is a transient to be too bothered about the "Closed for the Season" signs.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Closed for the summer is over the top. However, I am not put off by churches cutting back on the number of services per week. I think there are a number of issues involved. In many areas its not possible for people to attend a midweek service, in areas like DC you may spend an hour or more in traffic after work and then if you don't live close to the church you have to fight traffic to get there, its not practical and many times not possible.

It actually could be a good thing and not the doom and gloom everyone is predicting. Maybe people are making a relationship with Jesus Christ more important than church. Going to church is a good thing but maybe it has been over done.

When did American churches begin having multiple services a week anyway?

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Our church dismissed service on Wed. nights during the summer about 6-8 years ago. As a result the "habit" of Wed. night was broken and some people STILL don't attend on Wed. night because of that incident. My friend said "If it wasn't important then....why is it important now?" Saaaaad.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Mark, I don't expect all our churches will go in this direction. I attend two UPC churches, they are alive ald well. Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday nights. In one of the districts where I attend they do cancel Sunday nights at some of the churches on major holidays. Mainly because of poor attendance and to save money on utility costs. Both churches have many other activities for those who want to attend . Our Wednesday nigh services are well attended.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

One of the churches I attend got so big several years ago they said everyone whose name began with A-M would attend morning services and those with names beginning with N-Z would attend evening services. We could attend either if more convenient though. As a result many people got out of the habit of attending on Sunday night.

I attend two UPC churches because I live in two different states during the year. They are both fantastic churches with the greatest pastors.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

ive been pushing gently for us to get rid of Sunday morning and evening service and put all our energy on having one really quality 2pm Sunday service and in another 12 months or so doing split repeating services at 1pm and 3:30pm if we continue to grow at our current rate.

the whole tradition of sunday morning/evening worship comes from a agricultural society. People would do their morning chores, let the cows out and then go to church. They would come back home have lunch, bring in the cows from feeding and then go to evening service. it just carried over into our traditions as we mastered our food supply and had the industrial revolution due to surplus food allowing for economic specialization.

Besides, its better to have a afternoon service anyhow since you can have more preparation time in the afternoons for sunday school, music, and ministry team meetings beforehand. plus everyone gets out before dinner time anyhow. i think we forget how hard having 3 services a week is on bi-vocational pastors and how much energy it saps from since saturday is usually a work day to clean up the house and do chores and sunday just becomes another one but for church works instead of being a day of rest like God intended it to be.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

Check out this book. It deals with our preconceived notions about church and the real meaning of relationships and Christian interaction. This book really changed the way I looked at church. You can download it in pdf and print it out.
http://www.jakecolsen.com/

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

I don't think the church is dying nor do I think everyone is uncommitted.

My dad just dropped his Sunday night service because hardly anyone was showing up. Most of his saints are on a fixed income and they cannot afford the gas. Most don't live near the church.

The offerings have dropped down to almost nothing. These people have always been giving people so I think it is totally because of the economy. Not only is gas higher but also groceries and everything else.

After church on Sunday morning, people will usually stick around for choir practice, sign team practice, etc. that way they don't have to drive all the way home and come back.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

I would prefer an afternoon service on Sunday myself. I could attend church more often if we did. It is really hard for me to attend a morning service.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

The trend in the AG is dropping Sunday PM services. Started many years ago, when there wasn't nearly as much concern over fuel prices as there is now. I think folks just lose interest in having church, church, and more church. Got better things to do with their time?

A formerly largish church I know in Austin has languished and finally folded.

One church I belonged to dropped Sunday School several years ago (as well as Sun PM). Not sure if that reflects a trend or not.

Another trend is the reduction in the use of supernatural "gifts" in services. Many AG churches you wouldn't even know were Pentecostal, on a random visit.

So. How's the UPC doing?

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

OK I will stir the pot- Why do we have church ???? I know the Bible says "forsake not the assembling of yourselves together"-but that was during a time when there was not the printed word, and I wonder how many people could read then. I enjoy going to church - I love to worship with a group- but what is the purpose of getting together and worshipping as one? Can't you stay at home and study the Bible and have a devotional and worship time at home?

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

I love both.

Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
 

If prices continue to rise or stay this expensive, I think this is going to lead to major changes in how and when we do church.

Some people just can not afford the gas to come to church as often as there is church.

It seems once it was merely priorities that kept people from coming to church on a regular basis, now it seems there is a legit reason keeping them away.

It's just ironic, they used to do "other things" instead of go to church, but now they may not have choices they once did.