THOUGHTS FROM SYBIL

I can't believe that it is already September!

And as we begin to get church newsletters from other congregations, I read that we all have the same challenge —what to do to get our members back in the pews!

I can remember when I was growing up that Sunday was truly a day of worship and rest. You went to church and that was about it. There was only the local drug store opened for a few hours in the afternoon for people to get needed medicine (and of course kids could visit the soda fountain for a treat!). No malls, no sales, just a day for family to spend time together.

But somewhere along the way, Sunday became the day to cram in all of the extras we could find. And at the same time "going to church" became the thing to do "if we don't have anything else to do."

I recently saw another church sign! It said:

Home Improvement Tip:

Take Your Family To Church

I want to challenge each of us to put Christ Church back as the "first priority" on our list for Sunday activities, and begin the week with Christ and our church family.

"Families that pray together stay together"—

SO —let's make a date every Sunday morning to worship together as a family in Christ, and then we can have the rest of the day to watch the ballgames, shop, take a nap, or whatever else we wish to do. With Christ at the beginning of the week, our families will be strengthened by that unconditional love that Christ gives to all of us.

SEE YOU IN CHURCH!

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!