Tuesday 27 May 2014

Do you attend church regularly? How “regular” is being redefined.



Do you attend church regularly?  What does “regular” mean to you? 


  • Every week, without fail, rain or shine
  • Most weeks, so long as there isn’t a NOFO (non-optional family outing) or weekend getaway planned
  • Once or twice a month.  I have a lot going on after all but I still want to feel connected.
  • Every once in a while I actually go the building, but I listen to the message online and interact with church folks through social media, text, and email.
  • I rarely go on Sunday morning, but I belong to a small group/book study/service group/other mid-week program and that’s church to me.
  • Christmas and Easter.  Is the church open between those dates?


It is likely that you can find yourself somewhere on this list.  It is also likely that you are surprised by one or more of these definitions of regular church attendance.  Many Millennials and Generation Xers will marvel at the commitment of our older members who carve out that precious hour every Sunday morning without fail.  Those from the Greatest Generation may be surprised that someone could rarely if ever attend a Sunday service and yet still consider themselves a consistent participant in the life of a local congregation. 

But they do.

More and more our congregations are talking about shrinking attendance. “Where did everybody go?” we ask scratching our heads as we survey empty pews on Sunday mornings.  However,  before we can get far down the road of understanding this unique time in the life of the North American Church, we need to first understand how culture has shifted, and how that affects our understanding of being the Church. 

If what we mean by Church growth is directly correlated to Sunday attendance then no wonder we are frustrated because it doesn’t really mean that anymore.   Does it?  More importantly we might be missing out on a huge opportunity.  Being the Church in the 21st century is so much more than the number that the ushers hand in to the Church secretary each week.

So what about you?  Do you attend church regularly?

Rev. Alton J. Ruff

www.knoxmidland.ca


Thursday 20 March 2014

 "They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.  Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,  come down from the cross and save yourself!" In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself!" Mark 15:27-31  

Didn't they know that He could save himself, but He wouldn't? 

Why?

Because He was too busy saving them.

A

www.knoxmidland.ca