I remember a cold Christmas Eve years ago when someone attending worship said, “Well, you’re busy now, but at least in the summer you get to coast.” I have worked at Resurrection for over 15 years, and I have yet to coast in the summer. In fact, I’ve come to realize summer is when the church can really kick in and play a pivotal role, not just in the faith lives of people in our community but also as a place to have fun. Of course, we can’t compete with Disneyland or a vacation in the mountains or on the beach…but we can offer the joy of a change of pace, a break from what we normally call normal!
At Resurrection, we purposely change the tenor of our sermons during the summer – aiming to be more playful and sometimes provocative – with regular series on gospel themes as found in popular, family-friendly movies, Broadway shows, or television series. Sometimes, after preaching on a movie, we’ll show the entire film and serve snacks at a convenient time for families and invite our members to bring their friends. We might preach a fishing expedition sermon series literally about fishing, maybe accompanied by a fish fry (and for those who don’t fish…a tuna donation drive for a local shelter). You get the picture.
People want to know the church is in tune with the world around them, that we understand what they are streaming or listening to and how they spend their down time. In turn, we want our community to know that faith and the church can be a part of it all. Some things will cost, but they don’t have to…potlucks are the best, and it doesn’t cost a thing to put a fun twist on them, like silly prizes for the best pie, the best salad, or the most popular store-bought item! You might have “Worship & Wings,” where you do the grilling and others bring the sides. Does your community still have a drive-in? What about a movie night where your music team opens the show? Is there a local public pool where everyone could bring a snack to share with anyone else from the community who is there? Or, if your budget allows, could you pay the entry for visitors to the pool? Check out the community calendar for your area and invite your congregation to meet you for a local service project. Or, reserve a shelter at your local park and rent the ice cream truck, then hand out tickets to everyone in the park.
The world can certainly seem complicated and overwhelming, but your church can be a place where people are simply enjoying life together with others who share a desire for connection. We can make things complicated by worrying about what to offer and how to make it showy and enticing…but the simple joys of a softball game made up of all ages or serve events where someone might feel comfortable inviting a friend to join them can all be done simply and without cost. Are these all simple, maybe not, but do they have to be complicated?
The fact is, summer may not feel as peaceful and carefree for you and your volunteers or staff. But watching the grumpy guy who always sits in the 4th row slide unnecessarily into 3rd base, or seeing the quiet gal who often sits in the back now chatting with a group serving fish sticks that tie into your fishing theme, will re-energize you knowing that you facilitated the joy surrounding you. You won’t necessarily be coasting, but you will be casting and catching an array of people who will see your church as home.
You get the picture!
Kelly Sisney is Lead Director of Operations churchwide for Resurrection. She and her husband David have been members for more than 30 years. Kelly left her former career as a comedian to help launch our Downtown location and has been part of our staff now for over 15 years.