Hot Days!

I tend to avoid the annual message that reminds the congregation that the church is important even in the summer. I’ve always believed that it is important for people who have worked hard all year, for families under all the pressures and stress that our society puts on them to take some vacation time. Basically, my attitude has always been, “Go ahead, enjoy yourselves.”

But (you all heard that “but” coming didn’t you) the attendance and offering information the last couple of Sundays makes me want to remind you that it is good to remember that God is God all the time. Most of us don’t get or at least don’t take more than a couple of weeks of well-earned vacation.  Maybe we get a few extra opportunities to spend some “quality family time” on a weekend, opportunity that we don’t get very often perhaps. And living in Maryland the summer is just about the only time we can enjoy the beach or the mountains. But as we avail ourselves of these wonderful summer gifts, God is there with us. We shouldn’t forget about God. The summer calls for a special kind of spiritual stewardship.

Even on vacation we should worship. When visiting far-off family or friends it is worth the effort to make a point of stressing the importance of worship. It is a witness to our children, a witness to those we visit that the public worship of God is important to us. I know that a lot of people go places and do things that make it impossible or impractical to attend a normal Sunday service, but have you considered family worship services? Many campgrounds will have a service at the camp and hotels and campgrounds almost always have information about local churches available to their guests.

Of course for most of us, the vacation is the best part of the summer but it seems like the shortest time as well. How will we deal with the rest of the summer? Before and after our vacation we should regularly attend worship. Do we really think we need a “break” from gathering with the people of God to praise God? I’ve always considered those gatherings a privilege and in themselves they represent a “break” from the work and concerns of the week. Don’t tell me you want to take a break from the break.

As you might guess when the attendance figures plummet so do the financial figures. At Calvary we’re just getting ourselves on solid financial ground we can’t very well afford this year a summer financial slump. Let me encourage you to bring your offerings to church often and if you are going to be away for an extended period mail them or make other arrangements to get them to us in a timely fashion. If you’ll make that effort it will be a great help.

God deserves our worship and commitment all the time. The salvation he offers is full-time. Discipleship is full-time. Faith shouldn’t take the summers off.

Go ahead, enjoy yourselves this summer. I know I intend to, but let’s all continue to worship and serve God even as we enjoy the summer blessings he has given us.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Rob