The old way was pretty full — Sunday school, morning worship, youth group, evening worship (often called “evangelistic service,”) — and that is just Sunday.
Then Wednesday prayer meeting, a visitation evening in many churches, youth group, and some social events!
And, sometimes, week-long revival or evangelistic meetings.
Plus district get-togethers in some church groups.
Now many churches have slimmed down to one worship service.
Perhaps these should be essentials:
SUNDAY OR WEEKEND WORSHIP: all ages, special class-care for infants and young children ‘
COMMUNITY GROUP’/ADULT BIBLE FELLOWSHIPS: Size 8-80, and involving Bible and its application and promoting strong connections, with care built in (a care director or couple to organize this). The best pastoral care come out of the group you meet with —they know if you are missing, or grouchy, or critical.
Many see these groups doing better meeting at a time of their choice, at least twice a month, rather than scheduling them at one cemented hour on Sunday. (An hour that calls for a second class for the young children and teens, and sometimes a second “lecture” lesson instead of real friendship building. The old-time Sunday school for all ages can be draining on church attendees and workers and teachers.)
And when done well these groups can pray together as an essential part of their time together. They pray more that we used to in the special “prayer meeting.” Especially if they use P-R-A-Y! Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield. (See guidelines.)
SERVING-OTHERS OPPORTUNITY: Most church leaders wish many of the involved would assume a role in serving — teaching, outreach, hosting, greeting, worship, and much more — in addition to careful loving daily living of course. Often that serving should be in some type of outreach ministry, a way for the church to connect with unchurched people in the area — single moms groups; grief support, divorce recovery; youth specials to bring in friends, sports teams, and more of course.
So all of this raises the questions: Should we have many more events scheduled to keep our people busier?
Should we renew the traditional Sunday school for all ages, to double the need for nursery workers, child-care, and lessons for the young?
Is a Biblical way to do church mostly about the believers getting together for various but similar purposes? Or is there meant to be strong strategic purposes for all the official “meetings,” so that family life and personal time are deemed important?
The pastor and staff and oversight board are certainly responsible for deciding and planning these very strategic plans, not the remaining few who like to be at the church building “every time the doors are open.”