Saturday, May 16, 2009

Summer slump or retreat??

I have always thought it strange that the church “slows down” (some churches almost stop) during the summer.  Shouldn’t our faith and ministry be a year- round proposition?  This spring I have a little different perspective on that.   Read Ecclesiastes Chapter 3

 

There is a time for everything, 
       and a season for every activity under heaven:

 2 a time to be born and a time to die, 
       a time to plant and a time to uproot,

 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, 
       a time to tear down and a time to build,

 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, 
       a time to mourn and a time to dance,

 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 
       a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

 6 a time to search and a time to give up, 
       a time to keep and a time to throw away,

 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, 
       a time to be silent and a time to speak,

 8 a time to love and a time to hate, 
       a time for war and a time for peace. (NIV)

I used to fight the summer slump.  When I was in youth ministry I worked and worked to make sure we had programs almost as often and almost as big as during the school year.  It never made sense to me that the church would shut down during the summer.

Look around you. The trees are blooming, the grass is greening, and the rhubarb is sprouting (YUM).  Why wouldn't the church sprout too?  I got to thinking this morning, what had to happen for the trees, the grass and the rhubarb to sprout new?  They had to have a time of dormancy. (For everything there is a season)  In spirituality we call a period of dormancy "retreat." (For everything there is a season)

If the trees had never lost their leaves and gone dormant, if the grass hadn't slept under the blanket of snow and if the rhubarb hadn’t refreshed itself all winter where would we be?  If the church doesn't take some time to refresh itself occasionally, where would we be?  I'll tell you. . .  burned out.

As a preacher I need a change once in a while. . . As a Bible Study teacher I need a few weeks off occasionally. . . .As Sunday school Teachers you need a break . . .  the choir, the band, the confirmation class, Wednesday night live and everyone else needs to have a break.

But it is useless if you don't take advantage of it.

Here are a couple of rules for our summer retreat

1.  If you fill the "extra" time with "extra" stuff and are just as busy as you were during the school year you are violating the spirit of the retreat.  Give yourself time to renew!

2.  Do something different.  If you are a Sunday school teacher, read for your own growth rather than your students.  If you are a choir or band member listen to music for your own health rather than performing for others.  

3. Don’t' be afraid to program your retreat.  Committee chairs, can your committee take a month off this summer?  If so do it.  

Bible Study participants; can you spend extra time reading scripture for your own growth this summer?  Do it.

Choir members; if you hear of a concert that sounds like it will renew and refresh you, go hear it.

As a leader in the church I am really looking forward to the School for Congregational Development to renew and refresh my own vision of who we can be and how we can get there.

3.  Take retreat from program and project, not prayer and praise.  Don't slack off on worship and devotions just because we are letting our programs slow down for a season.

 Blessings on our summer retreat.  For everything there is a season.

 

Terry

 

 

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