Feels Odd This Morning

[Steve Epley]

Growiing up we had church Sunday Morning & evening, Saturday & Thursday night. And on most weeks we found somewhere to go to church on every night but Mondays unless revival was going on someplace. I am 60 now thus I don't have the energy to keep up with that. But church has been my life for nerly 50 years I don't fit it into my plans I fit my plans into it. Been happy doing that all these 50 years. Our Sunday morning services are given more to teaching but our Sunday nights are more evangelistic and jubilee type service. We love both.
I am glad I pastor saints who complain when we let out services. Church is our life.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

One service? On that slippery slop...need me to preach a revival? ha....

I believe he does, sis!!!

[Nitehawk013]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Growiing up we had church Sunday Morning & evening, Saturday & Thursday night. And on most weeks we found somewhere to go to church on every night but Mondays unless revival was going on someplace. I am 60 now thus I don't have the energy to keep up with that. But church has been my life for nerly 50 years I don't fit it into my plans I fit my plans into it. Been happy doing that all these 50 years. Our Sunday morning services are given more to teaching but our Sunday nights are more evangelistic and jubilee type service. We love both.
I am glad I pastor saints who complain when we let out services. Church is our life.

I know it isn't what you meant, but for arguments sake...shouldn't Christ be our life, not church? They aren't the same, but neither are they mutually eclusive.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

I know it isn't what you meant, but for arguments sake...shouldn't Christ be our life, not church? They aren't the same, but neither are they mutually eclusive.

It was at the church I heard about Him and met Him and have fellowshipped with Him these 50 years. Christ purchased the church with His own blood. He is the Head of the Church. They cannot be separated.

[Nitehawk013]

Yes, but again...we (you and I and the people) are the church. By extension, that means when we take time with our families...are we not still spenidng time in church?

Not forsaking the gathering of yourselves together is biblical, but let's also be honest enough to know that some folks abuse even the good things. Many a man has found his family on the verge of destruction because all he ever did was go to church and neglected the MORE important things like his Family.

See, while I can't understand those who say you don't need to go to church, I also don't understand those who think you should be at church all the time, even to the extent of cancelling family things to go to yet another church function.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

I read somewhere that about half of UPC does only one service, or two back to back services in the morning.

NoW... I just need to find myself in that half...

I am surprised the percentage is that high but it makes a lot of sense for a number of reasons.

First of all the cost of building new and larger sanctuaries every few years has become out of reach for many congregations. That means the way to grow is to add services which typically means two or more morning services with the same content to handle two different groups of people.

Some churches like Christ Church in Nashville still offer an optional Sunday night service for those who want one or for those who work on Sunday mornings. In the case of CC it has been held in the smaller sanctuary that seats 300-400 vs the main auditorium that seats 2200. They also geared it toward a younger crowd with more contemporary music than the two main Sunday services in the main auditorium.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

Yes, but again...we (you and I and the people) are the church. By extension, that means when we take time with our families...are we not still spenidng time in church?

Not forsaking the gathering of yourselves together is biblical, but let's also be honest enough to know that some folks abuse even the good things. Many a man has found his family on the verge of destruction because all he ever did was go to church and neglected the MORE important things like his Family.

See, while I can't understand those who say you don't need to go to church, I also don't understand those who think you should be at church all the time, even to the extent of cancelling family things to go to yet another church function.

I was also raised in a very conservative home where you did not miss church unless you went out of town or were sick. When my Dad pastored, we had church twice on Sunday and on Wednesday night. However, when he sat under another minister for a time, we were in church twice Sunday, Tuesday night, Thursday night, and prayermeeting for an hour on Saturday night. On a very rare occasion we would miss a church service for a family occasion (mainly things like Christmas, Thanksgiving, or New Years). I can remember one time that we went to a Bill Gaither Homecoming instead of a Sunday School Seminar. However, generally when we would go on vacation, if it were possible, we would be in church Sunday morning and Sunday night (it was funny because we were in Maryland visiting D.C. and went to the same church for both services, and it was commented on by the young assistant pastor).

[Nitehawk013]

This ideology is going to be tested somewhat next month. With Christmas falling on a Sunday, and so many Pastors not willing to cancel to let their church spend the day with their families, we will see some who have to decide what is more important to them.

[Dagwood]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

This ideology is going to be tested somewhat next month. With Christmas falling on a Sunday, and so many Pastors not willing to cancel to let their church spend the day with their families, we will see some who have to decide what is more important to them.

It's sad, too, because some churches are having their mid-week service tonight instead of tomorrow night. Just GOTTA get that mid-weeker in, right?

I think it's a sad matter considering those who break tradition, in the sense of not going to church around a holiday, feel so alienated. So, as a result, they feel obligated (by what, I have no idea...maybe the congregants) to have church tonight, or even tomorrow night.

Strange...

[Nitehawk013]

My wife and I aren't going on Christmas despite there being service. Getting to spend the morning watching my boy open gifts and be a 5 year old on Christmas morning is more important than going to church just to sing a few Christmas songs and hear a sermon about...you guessed it...Jesus' birth.

I will hear those sermons and songs my whole life. Seeing my boy really enjoy Christmas morning and get giddy over "Santa" leaving him gifts will only last a few more years really.