I remember well Wednesday nights growing up. If you think there was ever ANY question of what we’d be doing — regardless of homework, baseball practice, exhaustion, or anything else! — you’re wrong.
We were going to be “at church.”
We’d start in our classes. Forty minutes. Then the bell rang. We assembled in the auditorium, where we sang a few songs, the preacher delivered a five minute sermonette, and an invitation was offered. The final prayer was said. And then the fun began.
Today it isn’t quite that simple. Activities at the church building compete with exhaustion. Some adults can squeeze in one more meeting at work. Children need to get to bed. High school students have band, ball practice, and tons of homework.
And what are people looking for on Wednesdays?
A Bible study? (Well, probably for the 31% who are analytical.) a meaningful experience of worship? a coffeehouse where they can sip coffee, visit, and pray with others? a chance to reach out to the neighborhood missionally? a time of roof-raising singing? a few moments of silent reflection? a meal to be with friends?
There are so many changes in the past couple decades that make Wednesday night a different experience. For the most part, we can’t fight those changes.
But sometimes we have to lean against them. We have to keep reminding each other of the importance of so many of the things mentioned above: Bible study, fellowship, outreach, worship, silence, solitude, rest. We have to continue encouraging each other to live for the sake of “the other” — whether that other is fellow believers or those who are not yet part of the Christian circle. We have to consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). We have to learn to live out Christian obligation without forming a new legalism.
As you consider your own needs midweek — along with your desire to bless others — what does a perfect Wednesday look like for you? Maybe it’s pizza with the family in front of American Idol. (I want to keep in mind here that not every church has a tradition of Wednesday activities.) Maybe it’s a good Bible class. Or a circle of friends praying. Perhaps it is when your small group meets.
No stone-throwing. Just looking for insights here. Tell us the challenges and the joys.
I don’t know if I could call this the “ideal” Wednesday, but our schedule has been pretty consistent lately. I get home from work somewhere around 4 PM, and we leave for church shortly after depending on what needs to be done. Sometimes my wife wants to stop at the mall or Sam’s club on the way. My wife helps out with the church pantry, so she likes to show up early to put away new food and take inventory of what we need. For some reason, people like to clean out their cabinets and drop off expired food at the church, so she has to be careful to watch out for that. We also have a policy of not giving out food that requires other ingredients, like Hamburger Helper, as we’re assuming that the families who we give out food too can’t afford the extra ingredients.
Our church has a meal from 5:45 to 7, and we enjoy eating dinner at church with our “family”. I personally enjoy a cup of decaf coffee after dinner which lasts me until adult classes start. After we eat, we take the kids to their classroom, plus bathroom trips. My wife and I are both teaching this quarter, but she’s teaching the class both of our kids are in. I’m teaching “Wild At Heart” as a men’s class. Whether we’re teaching or not, we head to classes around 7, assuming that children’s teachers are present. I’ve had times when I had to start whatever class I’m teaching late because the children’s teacher showed up late.
After classes, our church has a devotional time from about 7:45 to 8 or later. We generally don’t stay for the devotional time as we have to get the kids to bed and I get up at 5 AM so I’m eager to get to bed myself. The devotional time alternates emphasis in an effort to meet as many needs as possible. Some weeks it has a prayer emphasis, some weeks a singing, and some weeks more of a sermonette but there is always a song and a prayer regardless. Sometimes there is a baptism or urgent information is put out.
I don’t know that I would consider this ideal, but it’s the routine we’ve fallen into. The meal is suspended in the summer, and we greatly miss it.
We were going to church with a meal on Wed nights but my husband is coaching track and my daughter is in little league so we’ve not been able to go for awhile.
I do remember growing up if we missed Wed. nights for something else there was a lot of murmuring. People would get mad because once a semester the schools would hold open house on Wed night. If Halloween fell on Wed night we’d skip church and really hear about the error of our ways the next Sunday.
I’ll come clean. It used to be that our family had to have a pretty powerful reason to skip mid-week services; now we have to have a powerful one to show up. For years, guilt was the force that drove us to Wednesday evening church, and we’re over that now. Maybe we have so avoided any vestige of the legalistic mindset about attendance that we’ve let the pendulum swing too far the other way.
I’m at my youth worker position at the social center until 7 pm each evening, so on Wednesdays I walk straight to join my wife who watching our neighbor Norma’s two kids (ages 4 and 3) while she’s at her GED class. Norma comes home at 8 pm, usually talks to us for a few minutes, has a cigarette, and we get to go home. By this time, we’re scrambling for a few minutes of meaningful conversation ourselves before bed, but it’s been a fulfilling evening nonetheless.
LifeGroup at home of some people you know, & right now we’re listening to Chris Siedman’s MP3 Holy Spirit series of lessons. They’re wonderful! Our group is congenial, & I enjoy it.
Mike,
Appreciated this greatly. I grew up in a farm church that didn’t have Wednesday services for years. The city churches finally pushed us by example into having Wednesday services. My parents were (E.T.T.D.W.O.) types. (Every time the doors were open). So we went.
Often in Jesus life we see Him taking His disciples who helped in the outreach work to be away from ministry just for relaxing and encouraging time together. This time was for them to be built up and encouraged. I consider our Wednesday time to be this.
Our 2nd and 3rd team song leaders and speakers give devotionals thoughts for about 10 minutes. We take prayer requests from the fellowship and we pray about these needs. We dismiss to service, learning and fellowship groups.
Our worship team meets. Our teens come together and hang out. Our adult leaders come to a class I teach right now, Jesus 101, where we reflect on what it means to be a disciple in this lost, confused world. We concentrate on building up the spirit of leaders. We have teachers who teach the children of the leaders and others who are highly motivated.
Some of our people say our Wednesday is working. Others say not.
I think of Acts 2.
They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching.
Fellowship.
Breaking of bread.
Everyone was filled with Awe.
If the Wednesday thing is a legalistic duty thing it is not awesome.
If the Wednesday thing is a lifting up of Jesus it is awesome.
Last night we had a man present who had nearly died on Monday and through great doctors and nurses and prayer and espeically the grace of God, he lived. He was there this week on Wednesday to say thank you to all of us.
Larry Wishard
BTW, Wasn’t it great to hear AI contestants sing “Shout To The Lord” at the end of last night’s “Idol Gives Back” program? Never before, huh?!
I miss those days of enjoying mid-week Bible study. I miss being an every time the doors were open kind of girl.
However, I’ve started a Precepts class on Monday nights and I have a group of girls over once a month so I feel more fulfilled that I had felt before.
My ideal Wednesday night time would be a time for “service projects”.
Great question, Mike. I absolutely love hanging with the 6th grade girls on Wednesday nights. If I wasn’t doing that, I confess, I probably wouldn’t be there. All my life, until I was 18, we were required to be at church on Wednesday nights. As a teenager I resented that. I know some of our kids feel the same way, although Huddles do help. I just think we want more. More what? More of Him. I know I do. I want Him to show up in some big way and wake us up! Stir us. Blow us out of the water. I want water - to flow - to burst forth in rivers. I can’t tell you what this looks like. I think if it is God we will know Him. And then watch out. Once it gets out that there is joy and love flowing out of Highland and that God is showing up there in surprising ways - there won’t be any resenting Wednesday night church - there will be crowds of thirsty people. But then that’s just me. Or maybe not - maybe other people feel this way, too.
I just read Larry’s comment. That’s what I’m talking about, Larry. Acts 2.
There’s no doubt the Wednesday night culture is changing, and I agree that to fight it is futile. But in this changing culture I’m challenged by an observation and a question. My observation is, “It seems commitment to the community of faith is the first to go.” Sports trump the community along exhaustion, work, etc, and it I’m convicted that God desires the community of faith to be the hub of our lives - the trump card. I think Wednesday nights were the Modern way of seeking the “community emphasis.” And that leads me to my question (which seems to be, Mike, what you might be asking yourself), “How do we foster genuine community in our Churches in todays culture of busyness and over-stuffed schedules?” I struggle with that a lot as a young preacher. My people are so taxed already. I don’t want “Church” to be taxing but freeing, joyful, meaningful, and refreshing. Wednesday nights might not be the answer but it seems to me we need more relationship and community instead of less.
I don’t know if that made any sense, but there’s my rambling diatribe.
Growing up we were much like the (E.T.T.D.W.O.) as posted above…
So it has been refreshing to realize that freedom in Christ is truely that. We have our family nights on Wed. and we love it. Last night looking around the living room and seeing my husband and my 4 little ones all sitting around watching American Idol gives back was a blessing. My parents run an inner city ministry so this episode always hits home for us. I was also touched greatly by the last song shout to the Lord! Thanks Mike!
Wednesday nights for our congregation are reserved for small group time. We have a few families that meet at our house for dinner, followed by time for prayer and Bible study. It is a very rewarding time.
I saw a Barna Group report March 16 that gave some interesting stats on church attendance. 89% say engaging in faith activities at home is as good as going to church. 69% think watching a religious TV program is an acceptable alternative to church (68% for religious radio). 68% say going to a concert or community service activity is as good as going to church. Lost in all this is the need for fellowship in the “body of Christ” it seems to me.
I think my favorite Wed night church service that I have been to would be a tie between a church where the adults sat around a table and would decided on a passage of scripture to read and they would talk about what it meant to them an just reflect on the passage. And just a time of worship where everyone is either singing or they are praying in groups or alone while a prise team sings. Both times I have gotten a ton out of the time spent. It is always nice to get someone else’s perspective on scripture and a praise and worship night is always good too.
I think that a Wed night church service could be a great way to renew yourself in the midst of a busy week. I worked a Christian Sports camp this last summer and every Thursday they had a time for the people working the camp to come and have praise and worship and just be with God. You didn’t have to sing if you didn’t want to but most people did or they sat and prayed. It was the best time of the week for some of us. It was a time to get renewed and refreshed. I think that if you had a Wed night that was all about building each other up and working on reaching inside ourselves and getting some renewal then it could be a really good experience and a great way to spend a Wed night.
One of my favorite things about Highland is the sense of community there is even though Highland is a big congregation. I absoultely LOVE being surrounded by my examples in the faith loving on one another and spurring each other on deeper into the heart of Jesus. My ideal Wednesday night would be a night of praise and prayer with the community of saints that I love so much. I yearn to be wherever the Spirit abides. He abides in the commuinity of faithful followers.
I am a church leader (hello Victor K.) and have been concerned about this issue for, oh, say, about 3 decades. I believe that Wednesday night needs to be there for people to re-charge their spiritual batteries, to deepen fellowship, to learn new insights, but in different formats and perhaps among other options. I am convinced that the traditional devo + Bible class (or Bible class + devo) is not the best way to do it these days. At my church–where we have a Wednesday night meal from 5:30 - 6:30–attendance spikes when we have special Wednesday night programs advertised in the community, like the marriage enrichment seminars. Or special video series, such as what we are in now–the Mark Gungor series. Or Financial Peace, which is also going on now on Wednesday nights. Members and non-members alike will come to those events. Our church has an average attendance of about 380 now, but during the month of February, when the marriage enrichment series is going on, attendance averages over 400, and on Wednesday nights, of all things.
I think mid-week fellowship is important, but if a small group meets on Tuesday nights or Thursday or Friday nights, I wouldn’t expect those group members to come on Wednesday nights, unless they feel a need to come. Just because Wednesday night meetings evolved decades ago and became “scriptural” by custom, can’t they be evaluated today?
By the way, I feel the same about Sunday nights. If Sunday night is more of the same as Sunday morning, why go? (More singing, more preaching, Lord’s Supper for those who missed.) If small groups or Christian service projects are scheduled instead for Sunday night, they seem to me to be worthy substitutes for the Sunday night service.
But then there are those who feel the need to continue the tradition, and for them we need to keep the building open and supply the traditional “service.”
I don’t know how to find the solution to the problem that will satisfy everyone. Then again, I am not sure it’s the responsibility of church leaders to satisfy everyone….
Here in Nashville at Otter Creek, we have what are calling “Vespers”–an attempt to put to work some of the spiritual disciplines in a church setting. It is a quiet meditative time which begins with a couple of hymns, prayer, a period of silence together (that is hard to get used to at first), reading of scriptures according to the church calendar (we are now in Easter time), maybe more silence and a short comment by someone (male or female)about the scriptures read. Following that is a Psalm sung “cantor” style by a male or female, and visits to at least three stations set up which complement the theme of the evening and the scriptures read. At the stations, one may pray, journal, meditate on scriptures or prayers , be blessed by an elder or any number of other quiet activities. Often communion is one of the stations. For example, on Ash Wednesday, a blessing and marking with ashes is one station. Another station might be a paper with a call to action fitting scriptures read. Quiet music plays in the background as people move from one station to the other. Those who do not wish to go to the stations may sit in the pew and meditate on scriptures and pictures being shown on the screens. The evening ends with congregational praise singing.
Vespers is offered in the sanctuary as an alternative to other classes happening in the building. It is a time when we all slow down, meditate and go out refreshed–that’s a good Wednesday evening.
Annie - for others that do not watch AI:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chXEraRnE4o
Must say, well done!
Wednesday nights wear me out. We have a meal and class time. Usually some group (missions, youth committee, senior banquet planning group, etc.) needs to have a meeting so we meet during the meal or during class. Seriously hinders ‘fellowship.’ Okay, changes it anyway.
I have thought that I’d love a time of conversation and sharing of scripture insights. However, these days (Spring time equals baseball time for my son. His team doesn’t schedule games on Wednesdays or Sundays, but every other day is booked. Oh, the joys of parenting an athlete in demand on both JV and Varsity.) These days, I don’t have time to think. All I want to do is STAY home.
A perfect Wednesday night: We start off with some close friends and a few new friends in our home… some coffee or tea… reflection on the week: challenges and victories. We read a chapter of scripture slowly and pray together (no lists of requests… just prayer). Then we thank God for his forgiveness and new life together. We have a few musicians in our group so each week we close up with a little jazz or blues session down in the basement. Just some improv worship to help us get through the week.
We don’t do it at our church but I really like the idea of having a relaxed informal meal followed by study, prayer, worship, fellowship, coffee, whatever. As long as half the crowd isn’t showing up late and bolting out the door as soon as it’s over. For me I really enjoy being with other people who can’t wait to be together and don’t want to go home. I think this is what alot of folks get out of going to bars. There are lots of people who want to be there to rejoice and celebrate or mourn and be consoled or even just to exist. I’m not saying we need to get neon signs and load up on alcohol. But each of us can contribute to each other’s experience by just being glad to see each other.
I miss the Wednesday nights of my younger days. Growing up in Texas we had “prayer meeting” on Wednesday nights…a time of prayer along with a lot of songs. Sometimes the leader would go around the auditorium and ask people to quote one of their favorite memory verses and tell why that verse was special. Other evenings the young men would conduct the service…sometimes it was a song-leading practice service…or an opportunity for them to read Scripture before a group. Attendance might be 60…it was like a great big Bible class with all ages present, and I cherish the wisdom I picked up from those older Christians in a more informal setting than we had on Sundays. For many years services started at 8 pm, and after I had children I thought about the faith of the parents who juggled that late service along with other activities that are part of having a family.
Moving to Searcy in my 9th grade year we had everyone 7th grade up in the auditorium, and we had a variety of speakers. I learned a lot from visiting missionaries and others in the congregation who were not normally in the pulpit…and it was good.
Today we are broken into classes and home Bible studies which meet any time from 4 pm until the traditional 7 pm. The variety means that everyone can choose the type setting they prefer…whether it is in a home, at a meal (some groups meet at one of our local restaurants for fellowship and study), or a regular Bible class with a textual study.
Wednesday night is the boost I need to get from Sunday to Sunday…being with other Christians, visiting, studying from God’s word…and I feel a void in my life if something keeps me from attending.
One of the things I respect about my parents was (is) their self-discipline. My 87-year-old mom is STILL there 3 times a week, barring a catastrophe.
Growing up in the “if it feels good, do it” generation of the 60’s, that degree of dedication seems strange.
The lack of discipline is often reflected in a younger generation’s work ethic. The local McDonalds is advertising for new workers, saying “If you show up for work ON TIME two weeks in a row, we’ll pay you $1.00 MORE per hour.”
Going to any meeting, ON TIME, requires self-discipline.
While speaking on the Habits of Successful People in Dallas several years ago, Stephen Covey referred to Hebrews 10:25 and said, “If you go to enough meetings, something GOOD is going to happen.”
Bruce Campbell
It saddens me that so many congregations have dropped Wednesday night and Sunday evening services. I think the solution to the problem of living in the modern world is more church, not less. Our church added a simple meal before class on Wednesday nights, and the added fellowship time has improved the atmosphere of the midweek service tremendously.
I think the first service that most churches will drop is the Sunday night service. The reason is this: no one has ever been able to articulate for me the purpose of the Sunday night worship service. If the purpose is that two worship services are better than one, then wouldn’t three be better than two; four be better than three; etc., etc. It seems to me that a tradition without a purpose is doomed to failure.
Sunday evening services can certainly be just a tradition but for folks involved in shift work, it really is a pick-me-up to have a Sunday evening worship time with church family.
Last Spring our neighborhood association started a neighborhood walk on Wednesday nights. Plans are to resume the walks in the next couple of weeks. As few as three or as many as fourteen meet at 6 p.m. on a designated street corner every Wednesday night, and we start walking. We try to walk the perimeter of our neighborhood association’s boundaries plus some streets in between. We all watch out for the young children, we visit, notice who needs help with their yard work, what common areas need a clean-up, invite those we see to join us, and generally share each others’ lives. It is not uncommon for some of us to walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner afterwards. Besides the benefit of exercise, we are able to share as a community for an hour or so. From these walks we have learned about our neighbors’ families, volunteer activities, work, childhood, and much much more. We have also formulated our plans for our semi-annual Saturday morning clean-ups.
For nearly 12 years we have not attended on Wednesday nights. It was just too hard for this single parent to work all day, pick up kids from After-School Care, get homework done, and then stay up well past their normal bedtime to go to church. Just recently, with the younger one now in Middle School, we are starting back. I remember trying to go when he was small. One Wednesday evening, an elder saw me exhausted and crying in the hallway. His kind words were, “You need to go home and take care of this little one. Don’t worry about the rest right now. There will be time for that later.”
CK, what a blessing you received from that wise shepherd. Your comment reminds me of Ecclesiasties 3 which talks about seasons we go through (a time for everything).
I look at Wednesday nights as the icing on the cake. Not as drudgery or guilt-provoking. Many simply cannot make it to the building or small group. But for those who can it is an opportunity to build each other up and equip us to take Jesus back out into our hurting world.
Beautiful, CK. Sometimes we just need permission to be human and not religious. That elder had it right. qb
This topic brings back a memory at Highland (30 years ago?)when my husband and I had gotten our three kids to their Wed. night classes and we ran into Lynn Anderson, our preacher then. Apparently he saw the exhaustion in our faces and said, “Why don’t you two go somewhere for this hour and just enjoy being together?” That did it–we went.
Tracy, I think that was the beginning of permission for me not to be legalistic, which is good. When I’m out of steam, I can be at home in peace. When I do get to church, whether it’s the prayer room or in a class, I find all kinds of good things, especially in the company of people I love, like Lauren said. Wednesday nights are good if they are spent spirit-filled, whatever the activity or the quiet time. GOD is good, wherever, whenever.
At our church in West Monroe Wed night is called “Peak of the Week” and each week several hundred show up. Most of us meet in the old assembly room for singing and most of the time a Bible lesson.
The acustics in that hall are great and the singing is out of sight! It is even less formal than Sunday (not saying much for WFR since we are neve formal)People come straight from work, sports activities, etc. and the worship is lively and a great blessing.
We have several other people who are involved in step studies in connection with Celebrate Recovery, a blessed ministry that is reaching many folks for the Lord.
I look forward to Wed night just as much as Sunday. Both are great!
His peace
Royce Ogle
Like annie, I love meeting with my small LIFE Group - Angi and me, and elder and his wife, a deacon and his wife. Right now we’re in the middle of the (don’t tell anybody) Beth Moore video/workbook series “Jesus the One and Only.”
In my job at church, I scan local (and sometimes statewide) online church bulletins for events I can help publicize in the church bulletin. Many bulletins, like ours, contain an order of worship and sometimes class descriptions for the Sunday to come. My LIFE Group study about Jesus has made me acutely aware of how infrequently Jesus is featured as a topic for sermons and classes. I still think that there is some opportunity for evangelism in those settings; that people who haven’t heard about Jesus need to, and people who have should never tire of hearing about Him.
I’d be happy to spend any Wednesday evening in any kind of setting where He is welcome, too.
Personally, I’d like to our church drop the Sunday evening service and add a Saturday evening service. When Paul preached till midnight, it was probably what we would call Saturday night, not Sunday night.
I don’t mind Wednesday pm Bible class. Most of the time I’m so tired, I don’t get allot out of Wednesday nights. I go mainly for my kids.
I’m no scholar but my understanding is that Sunday night services were begun at Pentecost. Just kidding, wasn’t it started during the industrial revolution for those who had to work Sunday’s?
Wednesday’s are needed in my opinion. Our challenge is to stay relative and interesting to everyone from cradle role to adults. Encouraging one another, I like that idea.
RELEVENT, not relative. I’ve got such a strong mastery of this keyboard.
“Wednesday’s are needed in my opinion. Our challenge is to stay (relevant) and interesting to everyone from cradle role to adults. Encouraging one another, I like that idea.”
Chris, I agree with you fully. But rather than leaving it up to “Church” to provide that relevancy and encouragement, wouldn’t it be most profitable for the Kingdom if each believer found those resources in his/her own neighborhood among fellow believers/searchers (daily)? I am afraid that most Christians have turned over responsibility for spiritual growth and nurture to the institution, and most Churches that I know are all too happy and eager to assume that responsibility.
Thanks, everyone, for this feedback. Charlton, you restated my question well. CK and Carolyn, I love those stories!
Methinks this is an interesting dilemma.
Our culture — including churched folks — is far from the days when church life was central to life in general. You know, when you could see the steeple above all the other buildings, and you’d never double-book an event during church. Times have changed, whether we like it or not. Some are calling these days “post-Christendom.”
You can see the tension in the comments here. Some say, “more church is the answer” to the church’s loss of influence and importance in our culture. Some say a revisioning of our identities and mission is what is necessary in such times, that we must separate traditions from core practices.
Wednesday evening “church” — meaning at a building, etc — is a tradition, not a core practice of Christ’s church through the ages. Communities traditionally have lived within close reach of each other, encouraging each other throughout the week. To those who still do this, going to a building for some songs and a sermon on Wednesday night seems like a weak attempt at fostering community and accountability. What’s more, “going to church” two or three times a week often alienates us from those for whom “church” is silly and irrelevant. When most Christians are driving across town between 15 and 45 minutes to church (hours sometimes in the Northeast), they can begin to lose sight of the ones who have yet to experience the life of Christ.
I think you can see where I fall in this debate: less “church” (as in the formal meetings, brick and mortar, drives across town), not more, is the answer.
Steve, Jr. wrote, “What’s more, “going to church” two or three times a week often alienates us from those for whom “church” is silly and irrelevant.”
Well, gosh, we wouldn’t want to upset the world, now would we?
Wednesdays, my absolute favorite night of the week! As many have stated above I grew up always being at church - no matter what - but instead of turning me off of it - I LONG for it. I’m 28 (my husband is as well) and I cannot wait to get home, make a quick supper, and go to church. We are studying Acts right now, verse by verse. I feel refreshed, uplifted, and encouraged. We sit in a circle of about 40 (well a few don’t like the circle and sit off to the side). We sing songs - very casual, someone will say a number and one of the men will lead it. We read, study, and talk about all of the amazing and very difficult experiences that the early Christians went through, and then we close in prayer. It’s not just a “closing prayer” though, it’s a time where people ACTUALLY feel comfortable to say, “I struggle with worry” or any sort of prayer request - the real stuff. I don’t know about you but sometimes we, Christians, pretend like we have it all together and figured out, but we don’t, we all need God everyday! God is good…..All the time!