Sunday Evening Services

[SippinTea]

Where I am from, Sunday evening services seem to be a thing of the past. Is it a dying tradition where you are, too? My church is one of maybe three churches in town that still has an evening service.

[Sister_Mom]

We have morning and evening services. I have heard that many churches are going to only one service. I would be curious to know what the most common reason for this is. Is it due to low attendance and high utilities costs for keeping the building open for 2 services, or just not enough attendance period, or are there other reasons? Just wondering. In the couple of years before leaving the Baptist church it was becoming common to have 2 morning services, one contemporary and one traditional, yet Sunday night attendance was usually less than 1/3 of the Sunday morning services. I was astonished the first time I went to a UPC service at night and not only were people there early, but it looked like the same crowd as Sunday morning.  That was only one of the many things I saw as being different about that church, but it spoke volumes to me.

[NessasMama]

We have both services. There may not be hardly anyone there, but, you never know when someone might be wandering by and see the lights on and stop.

[Bliss]

Most of the Pentecostal churches I have been to still have morning and evening services.

[RandyWayne]

We got rid of our Sunday night service many years ago.  Our view is that Sunday is mainly a "family" day and not to completely revolve around 5 hours of church services and all the driving/getting ready, involved.

[nicolejoy]

Here in Hong Kong, we only have one service. Sometimes there are other things later on Sunday afternoon, like prayer or leaders meeting... but actually, I quite like having only one service on a Sunday... particularly since Bernard is working 50-60 hr weeks... I think it's a good idea actually... I mean, I think if there was a conference or something, they can have 20 service a day or whatever - pack it as full as they can!! But when it comes to a weekly commitment, in some ways I think that less is more...

[not my will but thine]

I am all for two services on Sunday and even two throughout the week.  The church I was raised in would have Bible Study on Tuesday night,  Youth Service on Thursday night and then two services on Sunday.  My brother still goes there today.  They have changed to a Wednesday night service and one service on Sunday.  (the is temporary until the new pastor sells his house and moves from Indiana.)  My church now has two services on Sunday and one on Wednesday. 

I don't think attended church twice on Sunday should be considered a burden

[nicolejoy]

I think that it depends on a few factors - like occupation, culture, etc... For people who work LONG hrs - personally I believe it's more important to be able to spend their weekend (often Sunday is the only day off!!) with family, or resting, etc... That's much more important than getting "two ticks on the attendance chart".

There is a church over here that has services every day of the week - and NO ONE, not even the pastor, attends them all. The reason why they do that is because a high proportion of their church is domestic helpers who only get ONE day a week off - and it could be any day of the week. And so they go to church once a week, on whatever day they happen to have off that week.

Sometimes I think that church becomes more about attendance than about growth... And sometimes we forget that a part of growth is resting. Even naturally - when a child is growing through a growth spurt, they tend to sleep/rest more. Spiritually, sometimes I think that we are so busy "doing" that we forget what the Sabbath was about to begin with - it wasn't about running around like a chicken with it's head cut off - it was about being STILL and resting...

[MelodyB]

Although I agree that sometimes we have ALOT going on on Sunday and I feel over tired with all that is gong on, I dont know if I would be able to handle NOT going to church twice on Sunday. When I do miss a service, (like I did this past Sunday) I feel kinda Out-of-place when I go back, like I missed a whole lot, eventhough it was just ONE service. And if I dont have two services on Sunday, then on monday I think it is Thursday and it throws my week off.

I have heard that many churches are going to only one service. I would be curious to know what the most common reason for this is. Is it due to low attendance and high utilities costs for keeping the building open for 2 services, or just not enough attendance period, or are there other reasons? Just wondering.

I heard that a church in our area (that shall remain nameless) only has once service in the afternoon cause the Pastor is not a morning person and likes to sleep late everyday.

But that may be just section gossip..... 

[JoleneHeather]

We get the most visiters on sunday nights.  If we gave up sunday nights it would really cut into our growth.  And Sunday morning is important because as far as childern go, that is when we have the most visiters to sunday school.  And I have seen tooooo many churches start to fade after they got rid of their sunday night.  I would not feel comfortable going somewhere that didn't have a sunday night service.

[natewasmundt]

No church on Sunday night??  Blasphemy!  You know God's more awake on Sunday night, than in just a morning or afternoon service . . .



I've been visiting various churches near where I live, both UPC and another organization, and most have either just two morning services (8:30 & 10:45am) or one 2pm afternoon service.

I agree with Nicole, rest and fellowship is just as important as having a service.  I like having either just the morning or just an afternoon service and having the evening to rest, meet with others or spend time with family.

How often during the week are families able to get together in today's hectic society?  Not much here at least.  Maybe in Smalltown, USA life is slower and families are able to spend time together.  But where I'm from the only time really to get together is on Sunday evening.  The weekdays are spent working, and saturday is spent getting things done around the home that was unable to be done during the week . . . so sunday is the only day to rest.

I've heard the dire warnings against killing the sacred cow (sunday evening service) and how churches would die out or lose out if that happened . . . I have yet to be in a church where that's actually happened.

The church my parents are in has one afternoon service.  They began last August from scratch and have between 75 and 100 on Sundays now . . . and most are new, fresh off the street converts.  There are about 4 families (13 people or so) that have transferred from other churches, the rest are visitors and newbies.  They've been having revival like crazy - and without having a sunday evening service.

[Melody]

My church does not have Sunday night services.  And revival is about to burst wide open!  I think it has helped the churches I've seen it in.  I grew up where there was church practically all the time, and that was great.  But I think that there is more going on these days than when my parents were kids.  When they were kids there wasn't so many different ministries, it was go to church and eat with everyone afterwards.  I have to admit, though that has it's wonderful points, their horizon wasn't and isn't as big.  These days it seems that with 2 services there is less fellowship and so not a day of rest.  But with one morning service you can actually have TIME with other saints and choir practice/other ministry meetings and such can happen at an easier pace later in the day if wanted.  While it's great to spend so much time in church, how much time do we really get with our spouse and children?  My grandpa was an Apostolic preacher and they had 8 kids.  Either one of those makes it hard to really have enough personal time with your family, add in 4 services or so and it's almost nearly impossible.

Most nights, my 3rd grader has homework, we eat and then it's bedtime.  My husband takes side jobs on Saturdays and or I help clean the church. (a 3-5 hour job)  So even though my kids are with one of us, our attention is not toward eachother. 

So I think plain ole life has to do with a lot of why some only have one Sunday Service.  And the rest I think is the way that time is speeding up in a way. 

Our walk with God is not a church service.  The service is there to help build eachother up but a lot of those services can become benign if there are so many and we lack time to spend on our personal walks and relationships.

[Melody]

LOL.. I was writing that while Chaotic was posting his.

one more thing though.  One thing I learned when a church I was in went through the transition of no evening service.  It was during God birthing revival.  We would give it all we had in the morning service and then people were just physically and mentally exhausted by time the evening service.  Now mind you morning service was lasting longer because God was moving so powerfully.  We all went through kind of a phase where we had to sort of pace ourselves in the morning because we didn't want to be fatigued worshippers later.  This was almost torture!  When you go to church you want to lay everything you have, worship with all you have, and when God responds to that He takes you even further.  Not only that but unity increased and the desire to fellowship after such intense services increased and we wanted to talk and share testimonies that there just isn't all place for in service when God's moving.  So it was decided to just having morning service.  The rest of the day was just like RESTING in the joy God had deepened that morning with other saints, eating and yes, ministering to eachother. 

Well, needless to say there were NO hinderances in worship then and God moved even more.  Then there was time to scoop up the new converts into the lap of the church family.  This is when I seen the importance of fellowship.  It's one thing for a visitor/new convert to see people respond to and feel the Holiness of God, but it adds a entirely needed element of faith when they see the people of God loving eachother, getting along and welcoming them into this precious family sincerely.  Guess what?  Some people come in and enjoy the presence of God they feel but don't know how they could ever have a place there, or how to live with that presence applicated.  That fellowship time is where they learn it!  When you can be leisure when eating and the kids can be kids. 

OK, I'm feeling all mushy inside...lol 

[natewasmundt]

Our walk with God is not a church service.  The service is there to help build eachother up but a lot of those services can become benign if there are so many and we lack time to spend on our personal walks and relationships.

Good point.  I used to go to a church where people seemed to just come and mark their church attendance card.  They had Wednesday midweek and a Sunday AM and PM service and in all of 2006 baptized less than 10 and less than that received the Holy Ghost.  It was more a cemetary than a birthing room.  Barely any outreach; no push for home bible studies (best way I've seen at reaching people); just complacent.  Sad, but true.

I definitely agree that fellowship with saints and visitors outside of services is very important and has been lacking in our churches.  Most of the time all we see of each other is at church - and we don't spend much time together fellowshipping then because of the service.  We tend to arrive right before it begins and leave moments after it ends.

[Melody]

you know, it's interesting.  Anytime these conversations come up the ever present question in my mind from those on both sides of the discussion is how many people are getting saved and discipled.  I think if it's pretty low, something, maybe not the topic at hand needs re-evaluated.  And if the # is low to nill, how can we argue against a different method?

[Nelle]

Our church still has the two services.

While I was in Chicago visiting Brannon and his family,  I LOVED that they only had one service on Sunday. It was nice to go back to the house and relax.. knowing I would have to get right back up and get ready. lol.. Maybe that's a bit lazy and selfish, but it's true.


If it weren't for a nap on Sunday afternoons sometimes, I don't think I could make it through the day, haha. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Sunday church. If it weren't for my church HAVING service on Sunday night, I'd only get one service a week ALL semester long seeing how I teach Sunday School every other Sunday and I'm unable to go to Wed night service due to a class.

I'm so involved in every OTHER area of my church that I still feel like I'm getting my interaction and of course, through a daily life/walk with God, I'm not really missing out on an opportunity to worship Him.


A local church here in Jonesboro only has one real service in the morning and then has a "Friends & Family" kind of thing that night.

[Melody]

I need to say that adjacent to my last post that if a church is experiencing people getting saved and discipled then obviously what their doing works for them and the idea of changing would be irrelevant.

[Envelope]

we have Sun AM and PM service.........Tuesday night prayer meeting and Thursday night church services...........

sharon

[myhaloisintheshop]

We have in our church back home had one service.  It was great to relax on Sunday but as soon as we got a new pastor we went to 2 services.  That went sooo much better for our church and we really saw growth!

Here at my new church we have 2 services on Sunday.  It works.  The dynamics of each service is different .

[Backseat Radio]

My current church has sunday morning and sunday evening services.  I have been to a church that had only Sunday morning services and about once a month would have a special sunday evening service.  I've also attended churches that did Sunday afternoon services.  I figure go with what works best for the area your in.

[AmberMarie]

I ~LOVE~ Sunday night services!!! I've been without them before and greatly missed them!  At my church, we have about the same people at every service....We run about 350 for the sunday services and I'd guess 300 for Wed night. No boring services here. 

Jesus is my passion...therefore, I want be doing something that involves him as much as possible. It's easy to be at church that often when one is passionate about revival and learning/growing/ministering etc. 

[natewasmundt]

Jesus is my passion...therefore, I want be doing something that involves him as much as possible. It's easy to be at church that often when one is passionate about revival and learning/growing/ministering etc. 

Awesome!  Jesus is also my passion . . . but I've learned that He can be outside of the church also.  At home.  Relaxing with friends and family.  On mountain hikes, bike rides, card games, etc.

I'm just messing with ya.  *grin*

On a more serious note, it's important to note that Jesus didn't spend much time at the "church" of His day - the Temple.  Instead, He was most often with his friends (Disciples) and everyday crowds.  I could be wrong, but I don't believe Jesus performed one miracle in the Temple.

I heard a message again by Rex Johnson, "Storm Walkers."  What an incredible message.  Listen to it here.

[Chseeads]

You're often wrong, MS.


He might not have done miracles in the Temple, but He did in the synogogue.

9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

[natewasmundt]

Okay . . . so ONE!  Wooo hooo!  Compared to the rest of them outside of the Temple/Synagogue . . .

[Chseeads]

I didn't say that was the only one.