As we move into the summer months, in many churches there are significant changes in programming and activity. Many churches have no choir in the summer. Some churches go to an alternate form of Sunday School or have no Sunday School at all. Attendance drops significantly in almost every church and therefore the giving also goes down. I always wonder about these things. Of course, we might say that the church is simply adapting to the realities of the summer; teachers who have taught all year need some time off, people go on vacations, the choir needs a break, etc. I understand all of those but I'd like to make a few comments and/or raise a couple of questions.
Does God take the summer off? I know that sounds like a stupid question, but don't we imply by our reduced activity and programming that the churches act as if its so? I try to imagine what we're teaching the children of our Sunday Schools when we say by what we do that its just not as important to learn about God in June, July, and August.
Of course people need breaks from what they're doing from time to time. No one would argue that, but can't we find ways to let the children know that Sunday School is important in the summer?
As to church attendance, is there really a reason it goes down in the summer as much as it does, in nearly every church I've known? Sure, people take vacations, but they don't all take them at the same time and most people don't get to spend the entire summer at the shore. For most, its two weeks at a time. So where is everybody all summer? It used to be that churches weren't air-conditioned but now most are, so the arguement that its too hot to come to church doesn't hold water anymore.
I suspect that its more a matter of people making choices to do other things rather than come to church. That says to me that there is something amiss in many peoples' priorities. Over the years I have passed the homes of church members who were out mowing the lawn, or getting a tan in a lounge chair in their yard, or doing other things instead of coming to church.
Somehow, we have failed to instill in our members an awareness of the importance of worship and fellowship that they can so easily do other things just because the weather changes.
The summer slump...the frustration of every pastor.
What are your thoughts?
All Are Welcome
Annual Conference May 29-31
The United Methodist Church
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
2 comments:
There will probably always be a "slump" of some degree, since people often change their general schedules around from their usual activities to other ones. A lot of kids go to camp in the summer, even when their folks are not on vacation, so many of them will not be around for Sunday School. I believe that "Vacation Bible School" was invented partly to bridge the gap between regular Sunday School seasons, as well as to draw in new children who might otherwise not come to church and to give children a fun weekday activity. Also, people travel and visit more in the summer, so families visiting from out of town may choose not to attend church with their local relatives, and the whole family may end up not going to church as it usually does.
Commitment is paramount! Sure people go away and kids go to camp. But if we stay as committed in Summer as we do the rest of the year, we go to a church where we vacation or whereever we are (even on business). The kids go to church at their church related (any denomination, etc) camp. Vistors from out-of-town are invited to attend with us and bring their kids to Sunday School. If all these things happen, a large part of the slump would disappear. The out-of-towners would at least partly offset those who go off on vacation. And, we might even encourage others who are uncommitted to become committed by our zeal in inviting them to attend with us.
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