Published on
June 1, 2005
Planning summer worship can be seen as a challenge or an opportunity. Here's an index of resources and ideas for planning worship in July and August.

Planning Ahead: 91 in July and August

Planning summer worship can be seen as a challenge or an opportunity. On the one hand, , "Most churches do go through a slump period in the summer: the pastor and the choir go on vacation; the Sunday School doesn't meet; and church attendance drops dramatically."

And yet, the open and flexible summer schedule offers opportunity for creative thinking about themes and Scripture texts for your church's worship and growth. It's an ideal time for a series with a theme that shapes your preaching and music. Summer may also be a time to consider holding an outdoor worship service, perhaps a service celebrating the beauty of God's creation.

In addition, as Smit notes, "summer is also the time when the greatest number of visitors (and potential new members) come through most churches." So summer is a crucial time for worship and hospitality in your church. 

Related Articles
 
(Reformed 91) 

Introduction to Ordinary Time

The name "Ordinary Time" sounds rather mundane, but as Alfred Fedak in Reformed 91, "This designation is not meant to imply that these weeks represent an unimportant part of the Christian year. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Ordinary Time is a valuable reminder that the Christian life is an everyday vocation and is not reserved simply for special occasions. The very word ordinary derives from the Latinordo, (“rule” or “order”); thus, these Sundays are numbered consecutively to mark the passage of time, which, like life itself, is a gift from God."

This season after Pentecost is also a season for growth—and in fact some churches use the name "Growing Time" for this season—as we celebrate our spiritual growth as individual believers and as the body of Christ. 

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by Dennis Bratcher  
by Harry Boonstra (Reformed 91) 
Lectionary Readings

for these Sundays from the Vanderbilt Lectionary Project
from TextWeek.com 

Summer 91 Service Ideas

• (Reformed 91) 
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• (Reformed 91) 
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• and  from the Center for Excellence in Preaching