Posted on 05/31/2007 7:08:34 AM PDT by ensignsj
SOUTH BARRINGTON, IL – In perhaps the most extreme example to date of churches halting ministries during the traditionally slower summer months, Willow Creek Community Church – one of America's prototypical mega-churches – has decided to close its doors until after Labor Day.
(Excerpt) Read more at holyobserver.com ...
Good. Perhaps someone will be saved.
A precursor to “churches” that only open their doors on Cristmas & Easter...
I forgot, which verse was it that tells us to take a vacation from telling others about Christ?
Whoops - that would be Christmas.
No it is’nt.
Do know how thin the margin gets for Mega-Church, Inc. when the congregations goes on vacation and is’nt there to “tithe”? Or decides that paying down the plastic used on vacation or putting some dough aside for the vacation is more important than dropping the usual check into the offering basket?
Sounds like a smart business decision to me — cut down on payroll, overhead, and the possibility that parents might want you to have some kind of summer program to badysit their kids now that the publik skool’s are out.
unbelievable indeed
Can't they just use a smaller room during Summer, instead of shutting down the weekly services?
It just shows where their hearts are, with the money. Its all just a business.
Yes, I think Judas was the one with this same attitude. What happened to the belief that God would provide?
This is an urban legend that goes around every summer. Went around last year as well.
This is not good no matter how you spin. It is a sin not to keep holy the lord’s day. If I miss Mass, I must go to confession. This should not be looked at as a business. What happens if someone needs some salvation or something? This is selfishness. I wonder if they also will not take a paycheck through the summer.
OOps, you’re right, I see the article was from 2004.
This is true for ALL Churches. What this particular community has forgotten is one of the Ten Commandments.
Perhaps the Willow Creek ministry should tone down its mega productions and limit itself to preaching God's word.
Of course, if you look at the site closely, you will see a link to a disclaimer at the bottom of the page. This is a site of mostly fabricated stories.
This piece reeks of satire.
Already posted: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1629232/posts
But still every bit as funny (and provocative) as it was the first time!
I have a few thoughts but first as a Caveat, as a Catholic (and therefore being one of the rare Christians who have religious services available every day), I have a different Theological concept of Mortal Sin as it relates to Church attendance.
1. How does he justify “Keep Holy the Sabbath Day” if he is a Sola Scriptura Christian (or did he add “except when it’s hot outside” like another fellow I heard about added “alone” to a certain passage).
2. This, I think does smack of a trend, just look at all the Catholic Parishes that have Confessions 3:45-4:00 on a Saturday (some are only by appointment) and how difficult it is to find a Catholic Parish that has traditional devotions that working people can attend (i.e. outside 9-5).
3. From and entirely secular standpoint: I work in fundraising, and one of the big things is you need to keep people “in the habit” of giving, once out of the habit it’s tough to get them back. I would assume Church works the same way whatever the Faith Tradition.
They’ll loose people that will never come back.
On the bright side, if anyone lives in the area and is lookig to recruit, get crackin’ these folks will be looking to go somewhere!
It does to me too, and makes me think that these churches are more a business than a church. We Catholics worship all year round, coming together every week (at least) in the common practice of praise, thanksgiving and glory. We do this because we are called to the Lord's table by his Word - to take the body and blood in his Name. Money don't enter into it. There are rich Churches and poor ones. It happens in Manhattan and New Mexico; marble floors or dirt. Summer or winter somebody is home to set the table.
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