Sunday mornings

Dear Pastors

52 of them every year multiply by let’s say an average of 80 minutes per service = 4160 minutes OR 70 hours every year. So the question for today is, “what do you want to achieve in those 70 hours”? Have you prayed and thought seriously about this question, really?

Over the last 9 months or so I have personally visited 12 churches in the greater Waikato Region on Sunday mornings, unannounced, a bit like a ‘mystery shopper’. My goodness so interesting. I am currently writing a full report on my ‘findings’ which I hope to have finished within the next 3-4 weeks. I will let you and all my blog readers know when it will be available to be purchased.

I think we all agree that Sunday mornings is still our front door (though their maybe a few amongst us that may wish to debate this). As a result hours and hours each and every week go into planning, organising and preparing for Sunday morning services. When you add service planning, sermon writing, music, and children’s programmes you are dealing with probably around 35 – 45 hours a week by church staff and probably at least that again by all the volunteers needed by most small – medium churches. We can easily forget how much ‘people power’ we need to provide a really good ‘worship’ service for the whole family.

So given this kind of care and effort, what then do you want to achieve over the course of a year of Sunday morning services?

Here is what I have concluded¹. All attenders are essentially looking for meaning and relevance. Additionally all parents are looking for a ‘cool’ and safe programme for their children. Meaning. Here’s how the sentiment might sound:

1. “Pastor, I have had a hell of a week and I have had very little time to stop and pray let alone read the Bible. My head is in a whirl and I am not without an issue or two. Please, provide me a service for the next 80 minutes where you thoughtfully, respectfully and powerfully lead me into God’s presence-you have no idea how much I need a spiritual bath.
2. Relevance.
   “Pastor, I need you to help me make sense of the crazy world I/we now live in. Please show me how my faith and the Bible connect to my fast paced and crazy life and the myriad of complex issues that I and all Christians have to navigate these days. And above all please don’t……….insult….(sorry, I know this is a strong word) my intelligence by singing songs over and over again and saying or praying stuff that hasn’t been carefully thought about before it is spoken.
3. Children’s Programme. “Pastor, my spouse and I really want our children to love coming to church and to learn to love Jesus. Thankyou, for working hard to put on age appropriate programming for my kids. Keep it up! And besides, I really appreciate the opportunity this affords me to concentrate on ‘my’ stuff.
4. And if you get this right Pastor, I will happily ‘pay my tithes’.

So, 80 minutes of prime time each and every Sunday morning. May God help us all make the most of every minute.

Blessings

Alan
alan.vink@leadershipworx.org.nz

¹ I have ‘deduced’ these sentiments from my reading about the Dones. These are Christian people who have left the church but not Christian faith. There is a lot more to say about these folks.

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.