The Messenger
June 18, 2012 Volume XXII, No. 6 Nationalchurch.org
How are you spending your summer “Staycation?” When Jeff asked me to write this article, I wanted to find a different way to think about what church can offer us in the summer that is different from other times of the year. As I let my mind drift, what came to me were so many “songs” of summer. The Lovin’ Spoonful and “Summer in the City,” Billie Holiday and “Summertime,” Alice Cooper and “Schools Out (for Summer)” and, of course, the iconic “Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer” by Nat “King” Cole. Of course there are many songs we can all remember from summers past and not all are entirely appropriate for church! On Pentecost we left the church to the words and music of Martha and the Vandellas, singing “Dancing in the Street.” What an appropriate way to kick off summer. When this song was released in 1964, the civil rights movement was taking shape; it may long be divorced from its context but seems even more celebratory in retrospect. Moving forward a decade we all are familiar with the 1970 hit “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge. Who hasn’t danced to this, no matter what your age, at a family reunion, block party or wedding? For progressive rock fans there is “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum with a stately organ appropriated from J.S. Bach -- what better way to imagine the cool inside of a stone cathedral. And, lastly, there is “See you in September” by The Happenings. Along with many other mainline denominations, our attendance at Sunday worship in the summer often declines. Many churches, locally and nationwide, combine their worship services, which in some ways seems to encourage “taking the summer off.” Here at our Metropolitan Cooperative Parish we maintain our regular worship opportunities: 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. worship at Metropolitan; 11 a.m. at Wesley and the 5 p.m. Crossroads worship at St. Luke’s Mission Center. We discovered several years ago, that continuing our regular schedule actually increased our attendance over the years that we combined for a single service. And, over the last three years, has continued to grow. So I invite you to consider adding to that growth by exploring all that we have to offer this summer. Vacation Bible School “Dare to Go Overboard” begins on Monday, June 25. Rev. Parker will “jump in” with his sermon on June 24. Even if you don’t have children and aren’t able to volunteer – you can still be connected. Imagine how
excited our children would be if they could share their experiences with you. We have lots of our congregation involved in this; from our pastors who share in the leadership, music direction by a returning college student home on summer “vacation,” high school and middle school youth, as well as parents and friends. We have ongoing opportunities to serve: Brighter Day Ministries and their summer academic camp, Grate Patrol, Volunteers in Mission (VIM), Appalachian Service Project (ASP), DC for the Cause, and Sundays of Service in the Vestry at 10 a.m. We can experience God at the Movies beginning with the first outdoor movie of the summer at St. Luke’s Cinema at the Mission Center. On Friday, June 29, at 9 p.m. in the courtyard your family and friends can watch “Where the Wild Things Are” under the stars. Remember those drive-in movies of the past … this is your chance to recreate this experience for your children. Each Sunday in July, our sermons will be on selected movies which will be shown at Wesley on the preceding Wednesday evening. We end the summer with MetFlix at Metropolitan on August 24 at 9 p.m. in the parking lot, as we offer “The Lorax” in celebration of Dr. Seuss’s 100th birthday. Home from the beach, home from family visits, the last weekend before school – come and meet friends old and new. Meet an American University student away from home for the first time, looking for a connection. But that’s not all, folks! We have opportunities to connect and retreat: beginning with the 2012 Wellness Fair on June 23, the Quiet Days of Retreat on June 30 and August 19, the Prayer Shawl Ministry and more. Read through this Messenger for a wealth of worship, service and learning opportunities. Make this the summer you “experience” church in a new and different way. Let’s not Pass the Peace and say “see you in September” but rather Pass the Peace and say “see you next week.” With prayers for a peaceful and safe summer “vacation” for all.