Sunday Evening Service? Yes or NO

[Shellie]

We went from having Sun. night service to not having Sun. night services to having special groups Sunday nights. Out of the three, I like the way we do it now best.

1st Sunday evening is a men's fellowship and I don't know what they do over there.

2nd Sunday evening is a ladies fellowship which is light and spontaneous. We have been known to show movies, eat dinner, or just sit and talk.

3rd Sunday evening is just a praise and worship night which is set up kind of like a "jam session".

4th Sunday the youth attend an event offsight called "Oldsmar United" which is a meeting of the Tampa Bay area's youth groups and held at another church.

Because of this, you aren't there every Sunday night and so you tend to enjoy it more.

[dawgs10]

a very large church in my city stoped sunday night services. we gained two families from that church because we do. nuff said!

[jdavis]

We stopped having Sunday Night Service several years ago when it became, as Rambo alluded, to being just the faithful few. For me, I was relieved and happy. I won't say that I'll never have regular Sunday Night services again (it would depend on the culture of the church) but I wouldn't want to. A confession: I always hated Sunday night church. I wanted to watch "Walt Disney" and "Bonanza" and later as a pastor I enjoyed and anticipated Sunday Morning preaching but struggled with Sunday nights.

john

[Jennifer Smith]

We went from having Sun. night service to not having Sun. night services to having special groups Sunday nights. Out of the three, I like the way we do it now best.

1st Sunday evening is a men's fellowship and I don't know what they do over there.

2nd Sunday evening is a ladies fellowship which is light and spontaneous. We have been known to show movies, eat dinner, or just sit and talk.

3rd Sunday evening is just a praise and worship night which is set up kind of like a "jam session".

4th Sunday the youth attend an event offsight called "Oldsmar United" which is a meeting of the Tampa Bay area's youth groups and held at another church.

Because of this, you aren't there every Sunday night and so you tend to enjoy it more.

I like this idea, this is the way we did sunday nights in Palm City, although we were still there pretty much every sunday night. But each group had the chance to lead/speak/worship etc. on that sunday night. It worked really well and generated a little more excitement about Sunday nights. Currently, the church we attend doesn't have Sunday PMs unless there is a guest speaker but that does happen at least once a quarter or more often..

[Jennifer Smith]

We stopped having Sunday Night Service several years ago when it became, as Rambo alluded, to being just the faithful few. For me, I was relieved and happy. I won't say that I'll never have regular Sunday Night services again (it would depend on the culture of the church) but I wouldn't want to. A confession: I always hated Sunday night church. I wanted to watch "Walt Disney" and "Bonanza" and later as a pastor I enjoyed and anticipated Sunday Morning preaching but struggled with Sunday nights.

john

I'm shocked!

On the other hand, I understand, we had shorter services on Sunday nights growing up, so it was always a special time because we went home and watched Galactica or Chips and ate popcorn after church- it was family time. And sometimes, when the HS really moved, which mostly seemed to happen on Sunday nights, it would be a longer service but we came home on cloud nine anyway. So Sunday nights have always been special to me, but it is harder when you're the leadership and people aren't consistent about coming and helping. I've been there too.

[Pastor Bill]

When I first came to New Life we did not have Sunday evenings, I had a few older members ask me if we'd start them up again, and we didn't for a long time, but about 6 months ago did start having Sunday evenings again, and I wouldn't trade them for anything right now.

They are small services, with alot of time interacting one on one with each other, praying together and while it's been only a dedicated few, those are growing by leaps and bounds from the more individual attention and deeper messages.

We also dedicate the first Sunday evening each month to the youth (something we just started), and that's went well even though we've only done a couple that way.

[rspastor]

I pastored for 15 years and always had Sunday Evening services. I now serve in a secular job and value the rest and relaxation of being at home hours before I have to be back at work. I value the added time with my wife and children.

Often those that attend Sunday evening are the aging, who may be retired, those who are unemployed, or again the regular faithful. I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting the extra evening time with family.

My church has something available on Sunday nights (evangelism, youth, etc.) and there is no stigma if you do not come. I like that approach.

[Pastor Bill]

My church has something available on Sunday nights (evangelism, youth, etc.) and there is no stigma if you do not come. I like that approach.

Actually it's our youngest members that attend on Sunday nights, and there is no stigma if someone doesn't attend. What originally pushed me to restart them was a few who worked Sunday mornings, and the need for a smaller more informal service for those who were just stepping out to feel less intimidated as they learn.

FOR US, AT THIS TIME, it's been a great blessing, but it all depends on your church and what the needs are.