In the good old summertime

Attendance was down at church yesterday. It was probably due to two factors. First there were several families away due to the holiday weekend. Second there were some families who started the summer break because Sunday School is now over for the year.

Every year we lose some families once we hit summer. Life becomes much busier and between Little League, family picnics and the heat, they take a break. Years ago the minister used to take August off and the church would literally close down. Even when they did hold services attendance was very sparse. When I came in 1985 we met downstairs in Fellowship Hall and had an average between thirty and forty in July and in the teens in August.

We started growing again in the late 1980's and summer attendance began to rise. I used to joke that we weren't telling the new people that they could take the summers off. Anyway we began to have special Sundays and plan events during the summer and it became a fun time to be at church.

On Sunday we sang America and remembered those who gave their lives for our freedom and those who served so bravely. The choir sang a great anthem entitled, "Shine on Us" and I preached about being faithful and sharing the Gospel in our every day lives.

It was a nice day and a good start to what I hope will be a wonderful summer. Next Sunday we will have the first of our special days as we celebrate the Big 50 Party" and recognize our fifty year olds, our fifty year members and our fifty year marrieds. I hope you will join us if you are reading this. It is going to be fun.

Cal