Still Blushing

I love Wednesday night church.  Many churches have opted to forgo Wed night services due to busy schedules and over crowded lifestyles.  Some use Wed evenings to create space for small groups and I suppose that's legitimate.  But not for me.

I still cherish ever time we gather as a cooperate group of people to worship, interact and study God's word.  It's not an option for me nor do I take it for granted.  Call me old fashioned (yeah, I'm the guy with a Marshall stack and two electric guitars in his office!  LOL!  Very old fashioned eh?).  But I value every opportunity I get to rub shoulders, fellowship, encourage and just "do life" with my spiritual family.  I need my church family to make it as a Christ Follower in this world.

Is our culture becoming increasingly busy?  Sure.  Is our time margin being eaten up with over commitments?  Yes.  Is the pace of life picking up, even in smaller communities?  Seems like it to me.  Since when did we as a people i.e. Disciples of Jesus, ever bow to the waves, whims and pressure of culture?

I thought that by our very nature as followers of the Nazarene we were supposed to be "counter-cultural."  1967's "Summer of Love" shouldn't have anything on the Church of Jesus Christ.  That generation claimed to be "tuning in, turning on and dropping out" in order to go against the grain of their current cultural context.  It seems to me that we were challenged by Paul to do the same, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."  Rm 12:2.

Back to the beginning of my "loving rant."  I love Wednesday night church.  It's not an option, it's a need for this Christian.  No, for now anyway, we will stubbornly but lovingly hold the line on this one.  We will continue to gather on Wednesday evening to do life, grow together and love one another.  I have come to this conclusion about "church:"  Left alone and to ourselves we are dangerous, but when we come together we become something beautiful... we become the Bride of Jesus.  A chord of three strands is not quickly broken, nor is a gathering of a 138 on a cold  December Wednesday evening.

Loving You,
Pastor J
Tilted Halo Society

Comments

[Chuck Warnock]

I'm with you. We have thought about ditching Wed night, but even with a small group it is a good time to eat together, talk at the table, and do some stuff together. Last night we assembled 100 candy bags for our Boys and Girls Christmas party today. Everybody pitched in and had fun doing it. If we didn't meet on Wed night 3 or 4 of us would have been the only ones to put the bags together. I saw a small church site the other day that said we do 2 things -- we worship together and we eat together. Good things to do as God's people. -- Chuck

[Bill Stevenson]

I agree with you on the value of Wednesday night. We also have continued a Sunday night gathering and currently the only church in town with a Sunday night service. I believe that both services, Wednesday and Sunday PM give us a true time of sweet fellowship. (we eat before each service.) I was pleased to read your comments on outreach and look forward to reading more for encouragement. I minister in a small resort gaming, Mormon community.
God bless you
Bill

[Jimmy Pruitt]

Thanks Bill. Great to hear from you. I appreciate the comment. I also appreciate your heart to minister in a small community. It seems with all the coverage of mega churches these days, that the rural communities have been all but forgotten. Of course, we know better. I look forward to hearing from you again.

Jimmy