2023 Summer Schedule
Despite it still being “sweater weather”, summer is nearly upon us. All the end-of-year events are underway. Proms are happening. Graduation parties are scheduled and prepped. The AWANA awards have been presented. Summer t-ball sign-ups are happening. Summer is close!
And with that, from May 28th (Memorial Day weekend) through August 27th we will down-shift to holding two Sunday morning worship services.
There will be our usual 8:30am Traditional Service, and then we will consolidate
to one Contemporary Service at 10:30am.
We will plan to resume our third service after Labor Day weekend on Sept. 10th. There will still be nursery options for the youngest kids and Children’s Church options for older kids during June and August.
So that will be our summer schedule. Two services. Traditional at 8:30. Contemporary at 10:30. Hopefully this balances the desire to maintain our expected service types, while accommodating the reality of summer schedules and attendance.
Now, that’s the practical information about a shift in services times. But as we head into this summer shift I want to leave you with a pastoral encouragement.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.”
– Hebrews 10:24-25
I know families whose summer schedules are just as busy (or busier!) than the school-year schedules. Summer sports, summer camps, vacations, extra jobs, camping trips, etc. All these good and fun things can really fill up the calendar and drain the energy of your summer. So, my encouragement is this:
Do not neglect coming to church this summer, even when you’re busy.
How do you cultivate love and good deeds in yourself?
By connecting with Jesus and His church.
How do you encourage others to pursue love and good deeds?
By being in church with them. Even when you’re all tired after a long weekend.
Our calendars are deceptive things. The value of the event is measured by how much of the calendar it takes up. Church can occupy an hour or so on our calendars while the baseball tournament takes up three days. This can deceive us in its value and allow us to minimize the importance of gathering. It also makes “church” just another thing on our list of places to be, which can make it all the easier to skip.
Connecting with Jesus and His church is how we are called to encourage one another towards love and good deeds. And standard summer events of sports, cookouts, camping, friends and neighbor parties, or community celebrations are prime opportunities for love and good deeds displayed in the name of Jesus. Those are not meant to happen in place of going to church, those are empowered because you’ve gone to church. So, let us not neglect connecting with Jesus and His Church to encourage one another in love and good deeds as we go about our summer schedules.
