Submitted by Pastor Cathy Riggins, Good News Church and Westboro Methodist Church

I get it, I really do. Every Sunday as I step into the sanctuary and see a pared-down group of believers that have come for worship I take a deep breath and remind myself that it is summer and attendance always drops during these three months. Vacations, family reunions, camps, travel ball, and late nights catching fireflies with little ones make it tempting to sleep in or skip town on Sunday mornings. Now I’m not saying all such reasons or trips are wrong or even sinful. But as is the case with so many issues, there should be moderation and balance; yes, even when it comes to missing church.

So, this week I want to encourage you to make the the adjustments and effort to join your church family this Sunday morning. Here are three reasons why you and your family should be in the pews for worship:

1) Because you may miss a message that may change your life. God speaks to us in so many ways and what a better time for God to speak than when two or three are gathered in His name? By joining in worship you are ensured to be in God’s presence and may just encounter him in a life-altering way!

2) You might miss the prayer request for which you could make a major difference. We are called to pray for one another constantly, and Sunday mornings are a time set aside for us to not only spend time worshipping God but in fellowship as well. This time is when we can share our joys, victories, and testimonies, but it is also a great time to share our struggles and ask our brothers and sisters to be prayer warriors for one another.

3) And lastly because scripture tells us not to, Hebrews 10:24-25 says “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” If anything compels us to come together as a church, scripture should be it. The author of Hebrews understood the necessity and the benefits of routinely meeting together as the church to build one another up and support each other in our faith lives especially as the day of Christ’s return comes closer. 

By God’s design, summer is a season of growth and fruitfulness. Let us not waste this season, or even a single moment that can be used to grow and become more fruitful in our walk with Christ. Many summer blessings!