One of you did something the other day that brought joy to his pastor’s heart: brought in a bulletin from a sister church in a community nearly three hours away. In other words, when he was travelling away from St. John’s, he went to church! It reminded me of some SUMMER HABITS that would be good for each person from St. John’s to adopt.

HABIT #1: FOLLOW MR. KUHLMAN’S LEAD

Mr. Kuhlman was a church leader of the congregation I served in Louisiana. He was a shift worker like many others. EXCEPT, Arnold was in church nearly every Sunday save the days he was physically in the plant working. He was in church at EVERY opportunity.

Every. Single. Opportunity. Be in worship! Summer already presents several reasons to be away from worship. Because of this, be in church every other weekend. 

HABIT #2: BRING YOUR FAMILY TO CHURCH

Now and again someone will tell me, “We have family visiting this weekend, so we won’t be in church.” I get to spend Father’s Day enjoying family visiting from out of town, so they will be in worship with us at St. John’s. DON’T skip church when family is visiting from out of town. Even when they won’t join you in church, provide a bold witness to your faith, come to church and then continue your visit once you get home.

HABIT #3: BE IN CHURCH WHEN AWAY FROM HOME

This summer Debra and I get to join family for a celebration of our granddaughter’s sixth birthday. AND we get to join her in worship at her church. When we visit the other granddaughter in Omaha, we will join them for church.  

We have the benefit of family who are all in church most every weekend. Of course, the strongest witness to your faith will include a visit to a sister Lutheran congregation while visiting family that doesn’t regularly go to church. Who knows, your visit may bring them to church for the first of MANY Sundays in worship!

Don’t know where to go? Visit https://locator.lcms.org/church and search for a Lutheran Church near your destination.