Personal Reflections of Bishop Michael J. Coyner
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#53. LIFE IN THE DAKOTAS: Crazy Days in the Dakotas
It is summertime in the Dakotas, and it is time for "Crazy Days" in many communities in both states. I had never heard of the term "Crazy Days" back in Indiana, so I had to learn what this means. "Crazy Days" are times when communities have a variety of summer activities, usually including "sidewalk sales" by the local merchants. So, the term "Crazy Days" may only refer to the summer sales that are offered by the various stores in town, but usually the term also includes other events. Some communities have outdoor band concerts, some have rodeos, some have their "Crazy Days" in conjunction with the county fair, and some have parades and other festival events. Probably the most famous is the Sturgis Rally in Sturgis, SD, with its 250,000 "bikers" (motorcycle riders) filling the air with the sounds and sights of their Harley-Davidsons. Summer days in the Dakotas are indeed "Crazy Days." What can we learn from these "Crazy Days"? What is the message for the church from these summertime activities? Have the merchants and leaders in the local communities learned something about marketing, reaching the public, and adapting to summer schedules that we should learn in the church? By contrast, let me describe what happens in all too many local churches in the summer: It begins with the pastor's article in the May or June newsletter saying, "Good bye for the summer," announcing all of the times the pastors will be way, and encouraging people to worship "wherever they may be" this summer. Then there are announcements that the choir is off for the summer, worship service opportunities are reduced from two or three a week to only one, Sunday School is canceled or at least greatly reduced, the office hours for the summer are shortened, and most meetings and activities are eliminated. Perhaps most importantly, there will be some kind of newsletter article or mailing from the treasurer reminding people to try to mail in their offerings during the summer while they are away from church. The result? No big suprise: attendance drops, financial giving drops, some churches actually eliminate their summer newsletters (at just the time they most need to communicate), people take off on vacation and make no effort to worship, and the whole summer "slump" phenomenon takes over the church. Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture? Why is it that local communities and merchants work hard to create enthusiasm, to build participation, and to adapt to summer lifestyles -- while we in the church use summer as an excuse to quit trying? Who is the real "crazy" one? I have been thrilled to find several of our UM churches around the Dakotas who recognize that summer is an opportune time to try new ministries and to build up their participation levels. They don't simply do more of the same during summer, they change their services and activities to try involve and invite. What do some of these churches do? They ADD worship services in the summer to meet people's differing lifestyles, they INCREASE activity choices and start new ministries for children and youth, they COMMUNICATE clearly the times and places that activities will be held (including changing the church signs and the yellow pages ads to note their new summer schedule), they AIR-CONDITION their sanctuaries and meeting places so that people will attend (especially their older members who have breathing problems or other health needs), they PLAN ahead for cash flow needs during the summer, and they encourage RECREATION by their pastors, staff, and people in the best sense of the word: to re-create themselves during the summer, not to take time off from God. Some of these innovative churches add outdoor worship services, midweek worship services, and special emphasis worship services (like VBS Sunday, Grandparent's Day, Homecoming Day, etc.). Others use the local traditions to include special programs and activities that tie into the "crazy days" and other events in their communities. Still others use summer as a great time to have inter-generational programs and Sunday School classes which provide a change of pace from their regular school-year schedule. Most importantly these churches send a consistent message that summer is a great time to grow in spirit, not a time to absent oneself from faith-building activities. Maybe that all sounds crazy -- isn't it a lot easier just to take the summer off from church? Isn't it easier for the pastor to have virtually no meetings or Bible studies or groups to lead? Isn't it better to give in to the summer slump than the fight it? Shouldn't we allow our people to have a vacation from church, and from God? I was in a restaurant (in another state) which was very busy at breakfast time. The waitress finally came to my table and said, "I just hate it when we have so many customers." She speaks for a lot of churches that seem almost glad no one comes in the summer. Maybe I'm the crazy one, but I believe that ministry to our "customers" both inside and outside the church is our purpose. I think the local merchants and community leaders know what they are doing when they plan "Crazy Days." I am sure that we United Methodists could use a few more "Crazy Days" of innovative summer ministry. And so I pray: Lord, thanks for not forgetting about us during the summer, Let these days of summer be filled with joy and creativity, Lord, may these crazy days here in the Dakotas Amen. |
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