Church CLOSED for the Summer

[StMark]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

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

Just give the reasons in general terms

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by StMark

Just give the reasons in general terms

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

[StMark]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

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

I DEMAND THAT YOU TELL ME !!!









.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by StMark

I DEMAND THAT YOU TELL ME !!!









.

What are you 5 years old?

[StMark]

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

[StMark]

Originally Posted by True Believer

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.

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

[Mercy]

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...)

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by StMark

I was reading on a non denominational

where a church goer was lamenting that her

church was closing shop for the summer. what is up

with that?? Is that what churches are leading to?????

Is that the next step for Pentecost????




There were other people that said that their church

closes sunday school for the summer, mid week service

for the summer, share groups and on and on it went.



Is this another sign of the times or do you agree with this??

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.

[Baron1710]

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?

[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.