2 major Calif. churches going Back to Sunday Nights

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Is there some reason why we should care about this? Am I missing something?

I have enjoyed reading the discussion. I have been concerned for awhile about churches reducing the amount of services they have. In my time, I have watched as trends have continually gone downhill. Shorter services, fewer services, services with no meat or substance to them, seems like we are getting a little lazy folks. I am thankful however that, at our local church we are on the upward climb and we have been having great services, enjoying the presence of God and watching God work in many different forms.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by MrsBOOMM

I have enjoyed reading the discussion. I have been concerned for awhile about churches reducing the amount of services they have. In my time, I have watched as trends have continually gone downhill. Shorter services, fewer services, services with no meat or substance to them, seems like we are getting a little lazy folks. I am thankful however that, at our local church we are on the upward climb and we have been having great services, enjoying the presence of God and watching God work in many different forms.

I've read a lot on this thread about how we, i.e., the saved ones enjoy coming to church to worship. However, I haven't seen much about evangelism mentioned here. In other words, church is great if it inspires you to go out and reach your world with the gospel, but if it's just something we enjoy doing for our own edificaition, we've missed the purpose of church.

Church should not be a simply a social club where we come week after week, and fall into our routines, and enjoy our comfort zone - it should be a place of preparation from which we go out and preach the gospel.

School is great, teaches us basic skills. College is great, teaches us how to develop skills which will make us productive members of society in the professional world. But, eventually, we need to leave the training session and go out and put into use what we've learned. Nothing wrong with continuing education, but the education shouldn't become our focus - it's what to do with our education that should take preeminence in our lives.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by MrsBOOMM

I have enjoyed reading the discussion. I have been concerned for awhile about churches reducing the amount of services they have. In my time, I have watched as trends have continually gone downhill. Shorter services, fewer services, services with no meat or substance to them, seems like we are getting a little lazy folks. I am thankful however that, at our local church we are on the upward climb and we have been having great services, enjoying the presence of God and watching God work in many different forms.

Perhaps the UPC can pass a resoloution at GC that will require all pastors holding license with the UPC to sign an affirmation statement that they will have a minimum of two services on Sunday, each no shorter than two hours in length.

[revrandy]

Two Sunday Services is mostly traditional in a sense...

[Thad]

Originally Posted by revrandy

Two Sunday Services is mostly traditional in a sense...

so one service a week on sunday morning is enough ?

[revrandy]

Originally Posted by Thad

so one service a week on sunday morning is enough ?

I've often wondered if those who were paid to be in church might feel differently....if they weren't paid to be there???

Husband and Wives working 60+ hours a week.. at church usually Sundays.. and Wednesday Nights... and any other prayer night or task night during the week...

I think Sunday Evening is a great time for Family in my opinion...

I like One Service on Sunday.. The Pastor is not worried about preaching TWO sermons... the people don't get wore out...

I've talked with some local pastors that would love to go to one service on Sunday but are forced by the More traditional saints to two... but are looking to go to one...

[CC1]

Originally Posted by revrandy

I've often wondered if those who were paid to be in church might feel differently....if they weren't paid to be there???

Husband and Wives working 60+ hours a week.. at church usually Sundays.. and Wednesday Nights... and any other prayer night or task night during the week...

I think Sunday Evening is a great time for Family in my opinion...

I like One Service on Sunday.. The Pastor is not worried about preaching TWO sermons... the people don't get wore out...

I've talked with some local pastors that would love to go to one service on Sunday but are forced by the More traditional saints to two... but are looking to go to one...

DING,DING,DING!!!! We have a winner. Thanks for this post of sanity.

Two services is nothing but a MODERN DAY TRADITION.

If anything it certainly insures that Sunday is NOT a day of rest as God intended one day of the week to be.

Originally Posted by CC1

DING,DING,DING!!!! We have a winner. Thanks for this post of sanity.

Two services is nothing but a MODERN DAY TRADITION.

If anything it certainly insures that Sunday is NOT a day of rest as God intended one day of the week to be.

I agree, CC1. We really need to start a NEW tradition... one that REALLY serves the flesh... No services... you simply drive by and pick up your DVD/CD to play in your car as you drive or in your home as you sleep (subliminal conversion is the newest tradition). Thus we can more effectively accommodate the flesh. I mean really, it is ALL about me and my job isn't it? Who in the world thinks sacrifice has a place in Christianity any more?

Give me a break!

I have no problem with a church having a single service on Sunday but I do have a problem with someone using satisfaction of the flesh to justify it... saints and preachers included!

[SoCaliUPC]

Originally Posted by CC1

DING,DING,DING!!!! We have a winner. Thanks for this post of sanity.

Two services is nothing but a MODERN DAY TRADITION.

If anything it certainly insures that Sunday is NOT a day of rest as God intended one day of the week to be.

It also amazes me that when I have read others who have responded to this (and other threads of this genre) if a church went to one service they were then viewed as less spiritual...but if you had 2 on Sunday...one was spiritual. Does not make any sense to me. If you have one service...you have to make it count. I am sure those that have had one service have poured the "traditional" less enthusiastic (morning) and bombastic (evening) service into one.

[Thad]

Originally Posted by revrandy

I've often wondered if those who were paid to be in church might feel differently....if they weren't paid to be there???

Husband and Wives working 60+ hours a week.. at church usually Sundays.. and Wednesday Nights... and any other prayer night or task night during the week...

I think Sunday Evening is a great time for Family in my opinion...

I like One Service on Sunday.. The Pastor is not worried about preaching TWO sermons... the people don't get wore out...

I've talked with some local pastors that would love to go to one service on Sunday but are forced by the More traditional saints to two... but are looking to go to one...

mankind Aways puts his Time where his Passion is. If it's soul winning then he will not be able to get enough home bible studies. If it's car racing, boating, sports, whaever, then they will have a drive or a desire to be there as much as they can. I know people who are addicted to antiques and just about every weekend off they go to look at antiques. sure is not my thing but it's their passion.
I believe when a true revival comes, it will include a renewed passion for the the things of God. out of 168 hours a week, our church has church services 5-6 hours of that week. that's not too much. everything else in the course of the week is mostly optional