Summer Hours

[Thoughtful Monk]

Summer is almost here and as usual church ministries shut down for the next three months or so. The men's group at my church went on summer recess at the beginning of April. Anyone know the reason for this? I know turnout will be smaller but smaller isn't the same as non-existent.

[KingsGambit]

I would want an answer to that as well.

[Thoughtful Monk]

After reading KingsGambit's response, I realized I phrased my OP poorly. Take two.

In many years of church going, I've noticed they all shut down their ministries, small groups, etc. for summer break (May to Sept.). Anyone know the reason for it?

Maybe we're beginning to see the bad fruit from the practice? (#3 in his list)
http://thomrainer.com/2017/05/five-r...ec2a6-81520761

[Jedidiah]

The church I attended at the time did the same thing. The small group study I led decided to continue through the summer and we did so. I do not think our society is falling because we do not attend church seriously. I believe we are attending church more casually because of the failing values of society.

[Jin-roh]

Churches usually have families? Hard to compete with the summer vacation in the summer.

[Jedidiah]

Churches usually have families? Hard to compete with the summer vacation in the summer.

Who has summer vacation all summer?

[Jin-roh]

Who has summer vacation all summer?

Never one person, for sure... but... maybe key members of ministries drop off? Donations slump in August? General size of a group dies down?

I don't know.

My church is full of retired folks and everyone still slumps to one service during the summer.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Churches usually have families? Hard to compete with the summer vacation in the summer.

The response implies to me that a church is a convenience for families. My wife and I have no kids at home. We're also older and find it difficult to get out in winter (trust me, in Upstate NY that's not a trivial consideration) or driving after dark. Late spring, summer, early fall for us is the best time to be involved with church. And that's when the church goes away. Yeah, you'll get less attendance in summer events. But I don't know of any Biblical statement that the church stops ministry in the summer.

[Jedidiah]

When we had small children my wife and I rarely missed Sunday worship and had other things going on as well. Having children is all the more reason to be in church as an example to them.

[Cerebrum123]

The response implies to me that a church is a convenience for families. My wife and I have no kids at home. We're also older and find it difficult to get out in winter (trust me, in Upstate NY that's not a trivial consideration) or driving after dark. Late spring, summer, early fall for us is the best time to be involved with church. And that's when the church goes away. Yeah, you'll get less attendance in summer events. But I don't know of any Biblical statement that the church stops ministry in the summer.

Odd, where I live attendance was usually up during Summer. Especially with the "Vacation Bible School" program they did.