“Shh,” she responded, trying to concentrate on the preacher’s sermon. Yet, she too, begins to fidget. I notice my own train of thought strays to dinner, afternoon activities, or other trivial matters before forcing myself back, but not before I notice others, also fidgeting.
Then someone’s watch chimes, informing everyone it’s noon. At that point, it seems, the preacher is all but forgotten. Even small children know the signal. Church is over. It’s time to go.
With all the hype about going “lite” today: lite yogurt; pancakes, milk, etc. I considered a “lite church.” Would we be happier with a 40 minute service, 7 ½ commandments (you choose which ones you’d delete), 3 ¾ Beatitudes, one minute hymn, 60 books of the Bible, a five minute sermon, 30 second prayer, ½ offering and no choir music. What affect would this have on our spiritual life?
Church service length preferences vary in opinion. Some parishioners say they don’t mind when the service runs over if the Holy Spirit is moving, whether it be through the message or other parts of the service. Others feel, however, if a sermon is longer than 15 to 20 minutes, it’s too long.
Time certainly affects children. If the church has a “Jr. Church” or “Children’s Church” children can be excused during part of the service. It gives them craft and song time, and lessons geared to their age. This works especially well where church services are two hours long. But there is a fine line here. What message are we sending to the children when we say it’s okay to miss church? Is it not important? Does this attitude carry over to teen or even adult years?
Summer worship services offer unique circumstances relating to the “lite church.” Some churches have an early morning worship service beginning at 8:00 A.M. from mid-June through early September, while not eliminating regular worship service at 11:00, for traditionalists. This provides for “long” Sundays to do other activities and to escape heat in an un-air-conditioned sanctuary. This might be defined as a “lite church.” It’s very informal, lasting an hour and song time is shortened. But perhaps the most “ideal lite church” would be the one where you pull up to an intercom, like the ones we used to see at movie theaters, and have church right in your car! I have never attended one of these, but suspect those who participate this way are very much in a hurry to have it done. Other ideas include watching television or an "attending" an internet service.
The “lite church” idea even carries over into Sunday School during the summer. Some churches completely eliminate it. Opinion is with travel and being busy on weekends it isn’t worth having teachers prepared for a class with only a few children or adults in attendance. This, too, sends a message. Do we only have to learn about God sometimes? Do we only have to go to church when we’re not busy and have the time? Do we attend only out of habit?
These factors directly affect what you get out of the service each Sunday. When people attend church for something other than Spiritual need, they miss the feeding they could get from God via the message, whether it’s fifteen minutes or an hour long; the music, which can be uplifting and be a message in itself; the prayer, direct communion with God; the offering, personal sacrifice; the Bible reading, God’s written instruction; or fellowship, the uplifting and encouragement we receive by being with other Christians.
We could have a “lite Church.” But how cheated we would feel. Our spirits feed on all that make up a service. Even children can learn and be fed from the service. We need, no matter what our age level, open ears, minds, hearts and souls, ready to be fed from the entire menu.
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