Location: In two of the most beautiful states in the U.S.A
Posts: 1,676
Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
Quote:
Originally Posted by StMark
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
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.
Location: In two of the most beautiful states in the U.S.A
Posts: 1,676
Re: Church CLOSED for the Summer
Quote:
Originally Posted by bethola
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.
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.
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.
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/
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.
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.
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.
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
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?
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
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?
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?
I love both.
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
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?
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.
Linear Mode
