Welcome

 

Most congregations expect that their attendance will decline for the summer.  On any given Sunday a number of regulars (and less than regulars) will be out traveling or vacationing or engaging in some outdoor activity.  It would be nice to think that with all these people at other areas, the churches in other towns and especially those near vacation destinations must be packed with these people, so that while the worshipping community at one congregation is down, another somewhere is up, thus meaning that the total of worshippers across the nation remains at least constant.

Sadly, this is not the case.  We tend to regard worship as optional for this type of travel or activity.  We think that in the long range of things, a few missed Sundays will not hurt us.  For now, I am not going to dispute this.  But I believe that it does hurt the Church's witness and evangelism.  It says to those looking at us from the outside that God sort of matters, but not as much as having fun.  It says that worship is sort of important, but not more important than these other activities.  Our actions are a louder witness than our voices.  What do our actions say?

This summer, when you make plans, include worship in them.  It is a part of the witness of your life to others.

Martin Horn