Here this Sunday, gone the next: Easter services filled with twice-a-year churchgoers
JANESVILLE — The Rev. Steve Umhoefer is welcoming.
The Rev. Bruce Jones is hopeful.
And the Rev. Steven Ekblad just wants to party on.
Today, pastors will preach to big crowds at Easter Sunday services, and many of the folks sitting in their pews will be “CEOs:” Christmas and Easter Only churchgoers.
At St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Janesville, an extra Sunday service is added to accommodate the occasionally devote. At First Presbyterian Church, Janesville attendance jumps about 70 percent on Easter Sunday.
“Christmas and Easter are our biggest days,” said Jones of First Presbyterian Church. “We’re more apt to see people then that we don’t see at any other time of the year.”
The phenomenon poses a particular challenge for ministers.
Do they preach to the CEOs or just bring them along for the spiritual ride?
And if they do preach to them, how can they make the case for regular church attendance in a 15- or 20-minute sermon?
People who attend church only on the major Church festivals fall into three loose categories, Jones said:
-- Church members who come regularly but not weekly.
-- Those who attend only on the two holidays but consider themselves church members.
-- People with no affiliation to the church who feel “some sort of draw” to attend.
George Barna, religious pollster and author, describes them as the “unattached” and the “intermittents.”
“The numbers consistently point out that those who live without a regular faith connection tend to be … non-committal in institutional and personal relationships and typically revel in their independence,” Barna wrote in his book, “Grow Your Church from the Outside.”
Ekblad, of Good Shepard Lutheran, Janesville, thinks the those “unattached” and “intermittents” are attracted the optimistic tone of Easter services.
“A person comes to an Easter celebration expecting a positive message—they’re not expecting to hear about sin but to hear us proclaim victory over sin,” Ekblad said.
Ekblad compared Easter services to a party, where congregants are celebrating Christ’s victory. But here’s something the “intermittents” might not understand: The party is held every week.
“Every Sunday is a little Easter,” Ekblad said. “The party should keep going on.”
So how do you preach to people who are not in the choir?
“Hopefully, you can draw somebody into a relationship with Jesus Christ,” Jones said. “It’s tricky because you have to keep it simple without dumbing it down.”
Ekblad echoed his sentiments.
“You only have one shot with these people,” Ekblad said. “You’ve got to watch what you say.”
Guilt definitely won’t work.
“Christianity is not about control, about how to get people to do things,” he said.
This year, the church plans to pass out the parish directories on Easter Sunday.
“I’m going to talk about how each and every person here is part of the body of Christ,” Ekblad said. “Each person here is part of the growth of the church.”
The most important element?
“You just want to be very welcoming,” Umhoefer said.
Spiritual but not religious: Why church attendance matters
So why does Sunday attendance matter?
Can’t a Christian just pray at home?
“To pray on our own is wonderful but is not enough,” said the Rev. Steve Umhoefer of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Janesville. “Our relationship with Jesus Christ is celebrated and nurtured in community. It is a fundamental belief of Christians that we recognize Jesus Christ in one another.”
But Umhoefer said cultural changes have relegated Sunday church attendance to an option rather than a priority.
“I think in the last generation or so people have become increasing independent and individualistic,” Umhoefer said. “We have credit cards, computers—all these things offer the facade of independence and invulnerability.”
In reality, we need each other, both practically and spiritually, he said.
“On Sunday, you’re maintaining and growing the relationship between you and God,” Umhoefer said. “And the best place to find Jesus Christ is in one another.”
The Rev. Bruce Jones of First Presbyterian Church, Janesville, and the Rev. Steven Ekblad of Good Shepherd Lutheran, Janesville, cited 1 Corinthians 12.
In this chapter, Paul uses a simple metaphor to encourage the church at Corinth to stick together.
The church is “one body with many parts,” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:12
“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”
A few passages later, Paul continues with the metaphor: “If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body?”
The message? It’s the people together—the hands, the feet, the eyes and the ears—that make up the body of Christ.
Ministers often hear this line, too: “I’m spiritual, but not religious.”
It’s a phrase that could be roughly translated in a variety of ways: “I don’t want to deal with the ordinary hassles of church life,” or “I like my independence,” or “I believe my faith is strong enough to survive without a community.”
Jones’ usual reply to “spiritual not religious” is this: “If your faith is so strong, we really need you in our community.”
Apr 13, 2009 at 7:37 p.m.
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alright last post of the night, I have to get up early to go to work. The reason I am "wasting" so much time on here is because as a believer I am supposed to spread the gospel and tell as many people about Jesus as I can. It seems there are many closed minded people,or hurt as the case may be, more than I thought. I am just trying to spread the word of Jesus Christ I am not trying to push people in any direction, that is not my job. My job is to plant seeds and hope that they fall on fertile soil and grow. God does the rest. Anyway, God bless you all.
Apr 13, 2009 at 7 p.m.
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Okay brown... not gonna "bite". Just believe in whatever you believe in, and hold onto those beliefs, that's the point of all of this.
Apr 13, 2009 at 6:54 p.m.
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flying-what a WASTE of blog space. I understand posting your opinion, but to
waste that much space with garbage is obnoxious
Apr 13, 2009 at 6:42 p.m.
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Believe in what you believe, just believe in SOMETHING... via church, or not.
Basic morals and respect for "different" opinions will get you a long way.
DETERIORATA
GO PLACIDLY AMID THE NOISE & WASTE, & REMEMBER WHAT COMFORT THERE MAY BE IN OWNING A PIECE THEREOF. Avoid quiet & passive persons unless you are in need of sleep. Rotate your tires. Speak glowingly of those greater than yourself and heed well their advice even though they be turkeys; know what to kiss and when.
Consider that two wrongs never make a right but that three do. Whenever possible, put people on hold.
Be comforted that in the face of all aridity & disillusionment and despite the changing fortunes of time, there is always a big fortune in computer maintenance. Remember the Pueblo.
Strive at all times to bend, fold, spindle, & mutilate. Know yourself;
if you need help, call the FBI.
Exercise caution in your daily affairs, especially with those persons closest to you. That lemon on your left, for instance.
Be assured that a walk through the ocean of most souls would scarcely get your feet wet.
Fall not in love therefore; it will stick to your face. Gracefully surrender the things of youth, birds, clean air, tuna, Taiwan; and let not the sands of time get in your lunch. Hire people with hooks. For a good time, call 606-4311; ask for Ken.
Take heart amid the deepening gloom that your dog is finally getting enough cheese; and reflect that whatever misfortune may be your lot, it could only be worse in Milwaukee.
You are a fluke of the universe; you have no right to be here, and whether you can hear it or not, the universe is laughing behind your back.
Therefore make peace with your God whatever you conceive Him to be: Hairy Thunderer or Cosmic Muffin. With all its hopes, dreams, promises, & urban renewal, the world continues to deteriorate. GIVE UP
By Tony Hendra
Found in an old National Lampoon: Dated 1972
Apr 13, 2009 at 6:37 p.m.
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christforlife, at the Battle of Jericho, god commanded that everyone in Jericho be killed, including children and babies. They were to be killed because they didn't worship "god."
Jesus taught this to his followers because he believed in the Old Testament.
Apr 13, 2009 at 4 p.m.
Apr 13, 2009 at 3:37 p.m.
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christforlife, athough you weren't rude or nasty, you are taking way too much time coming on here trying to guide people in your direction. You needed your bible in hand to quote what you think we should hear from your readings. Why do you feel it necessary to push people towards your Christian lifestyle? I have just as much fun getting together with friends that hold values that are close to my own as it sounds like you do going to church. I feel God in my heart and he is with me through everything. I don't feel the need to prove that to you or anyone else. I also don't feel the need to make sure others know how my relationship with Him should be.
My relationship and how I will teach that to my children sure isn't anything that I want to "hash out" with complete strangers.
Apr 13, 2009 at 3:24 p.m.
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I guess I have'nt been to church in awhile. The other day "The Ten Commandments" was on and my daughter asked me who Moses was.
Apr 13, 2009 at 3:19 p.m.
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Joker - I think you mean "Chreasters", as in people who go to church on only Christmas and Easter.
My guess is you see just as many phony people who attend church every week as those who go now and again or not at all.
Apr 13, 2009 at 2:46 p.m.
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O.K. I am back. looks like there has been much discussion sense my last post wow. First to schnckstac1; I have never been nasty or rude. There are churches out there that do not have the division of money that most organized RELIGIONS have. I happen to go to a church that lets people come as they are and not have to dress up to walk in the door. Some people do but it is their choice. God doesn't care what you look like to come and worship him and to have fellowship with other people that follow him. Proverbs 17:16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool,since he has no desire to get wisdom. To gazettefan; Mat. 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Thank you for the tip Miltonredmen I have delt with him before too and God will get to him sooner or later with all of the seeds that are being planted. iliketurtles; I give money to my church cheerfully because it takes the congregation to give money to continue to have a place to worship God. by the sounds of things I will be doing my best to keep my church going because people have such a bad outlook on churches thinking that they divide people (money or no money) rather that getting them together the way it is supposed to be. 2Cor. 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compultion, for God loves a cheerfull giver. I wish I could find a way to get you people that don't trust churches to my church, you would for sure change your mind. I had the same feeling about churches until I came into this one and my life has been changed ever since.
God Bless all.
Apr 13, 2009 at 1:56 p.m.
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As usual, the bigots and narrow minded people show up on this blog. You have a lot of nerve questioning people's religious beliefs! I am so tired of the ignorance and negative people in this city that I think I need to move. Sorry Janesville, you will be losing one of the best and brightest! The hate in this city has forced me to look elsewhere to live and contribute my gifts.
Apr 13, 2009 at 1:15 p.m.
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All of this back and forth and bickering is exactly why people don't go to church. Why would I want to be a part of this? I do not need to hold the bible in my hand and study every word either. What happened to COMMON SENSE?? I believe in God, and I believe in teaching my children right from wrong and how to treat their fellow man. How is any of this an example of any of that??? Fighting over religion and beliefs while being nasty and rude to one another is nothing I want to be a part of.
I sent my children to "private" preschool that was in a church and the division of "money" among the parents was disgusting. We would have family things and get togethers and you could see the line of division. The "church goers" (with money) on one side and the rest of us on the other side. It was sad.
Again, division because of status, money, or beliefs is the real issue. What happened to common RESPECT????
Apr 13, 2009 at 12:51 p.m.
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And, Milton...., your "stopped trying" was an act of defeat.
Apr 13, 2009 at 12:49 p.m.
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Milton......, talk about convolution!!! I never said any of those things about love!!!
And, what creator?!
Apr 13, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.
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Don't try to reason with GazetteFan, he is a very smart fellow indeed and is very good as using words to convolute his opinion as if it were fact. I guess if he thinks love is psychotic, putrid, and disgusting let him think so. His opinion won't be changed on the subject hence why I stopped trying to debate him on the subject of faith months ago. I'll let the creator do the judging ;)
Apr 13, 2009 at 12:27 p.m.
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Hey, you screwy child, you have a better chance of turning christfor..... into an atheist than I do!!!
Apr 13, 2009 at 11:20 a.m.
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christfor....., how do you feel about having turtle counted as one of your fellow believers?!
Apr 13, 2009 at 11:03 a.m.
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turtle, all you did was see the word "rational" and then you made up some crap.
Consider the mentality of belief, then read my posts. You're just goofing around. Try to say something that takes some brains.
Apr 13, 2009 at 10:52 a.m.
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this will be my last post until i get home as I am at work and could get in trouble for being on the computer at all. I do read my bible every day. the things that people get mixed up are the old testament vs. the new testament. I have never been volitile whatsoever I just speak the truth from the bible and then shazam the whole story is gone. If it is still here later I will try again when I have bible in hand.
Apr 13, 2009 at 10:43 a.m.
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christ....., I'm not seeing how the Gazette would stop you from posting, as long as you follow the rules. Possibly other posters caused stories to be dumped. I've noticed that believers end-up having posts deleted and one or two believers have been permanently kicked off this site for rule violations. Believers here mirror the volatility and irrationality of religiosity. Non-believers have not been guilty of these problems here because we are rational.
As far as where and how to discuss this subject, a forum like this is as close as we can possibly get to being perfect. The pitfalls of in-person problems are absent. Imagine the causes for the deletions and the dumpings taking place in-person.
The volatility problem goes to the problem of religion. It also goes to the problem of those humans who are condemned for not being in the "club." This contempt for outsiders is what causes so many frictions and so many wars.
As for the scripture that supports your claim: Anything good in scripture is overwhelmingly countervailed by something else in scripture that is horrible, read your bible:
Love your neighbor.
Kill your neighbor if he isn't a believer.
Apr 13, 2009 at 10:14 a.m.
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I agree this is important content but this is not the place to hash it over. every time i try to get into it to far the gazette takes the story off of the site. Mabee there should be a place for us to hash these things over without being taken off. Children and babies are not going to burn in hell because they are not old enough to understand things as adults do. There is scripture to back this up but I do not have it in front of me.
Apr 13, 2009 at 10:05 a.m.
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christfor..., you are so misguided you can't even respond to the important content of my post.
What about the others that you and "god" have no consideration for? How can you take solace in something that has such disregard for the suffering, innocent people of the world? Answer: selfishness.
Apr 13, 2009 at 9:58 a.m.
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Gazettefan; You are so misguided, all I can do is pray that someday you will get the message from someone that tells it right. God bless you.
Apr 13, 2009 at 9:55 a.m.
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christforchristsake, yeah, too bad about the non-christians and non-repentants, including children and babies, who will burn eternally in hell because of the psychotic rules of admission to your putrid, disgusting club.
Apr 13, 2009 at 9:16 a.m.
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I call the people who come to church only on Christmas and Easter, "Christers". I also call them "phony".
Apr 13, 2009 at 8:57 a.m.
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To Gazettefan; You are right RELIGION has failed people by not dividing the word properly or in there own way. To onthneside; You are so correct AMEN!! Life with christ is a daily thing and most people don't understand that. To everyone; In case you all forgot what Easter is all about, Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead so There is no need to be scared about going to hell as long as you believe that and repent of your sins. Church is also fun if you have the right preacher/pastor. As far as the "cushy" job you think pastors/preachers have, my pastor carries a full time job besides working for the church so there goes that theory. God Bless All.
Apr 13, 2009 at 8:48 a.m.
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people on this board need to be careful. They are painting some broad strokes about all churches and preachers. Again there are many good churches out there, that do not preach for "your money" In fact some churches go out of their way to say if you are a visitor, please do not put anything in the plate, that the offering is for those that call the church home and want to give freely as an act of worship. Giving is a great way to show who is in control that is how i feel. I give because God gave to me first and he asks for us to give back a small portion. In the Bible, it says that if you feel pressured do not give at all.
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My point is that there are some really good churches and preachers out there, and there are some really bad ones too. Let's not bunch everything all together.
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Oh and on the indulgence thing. Even the pope has said it was wrong of the catholic church to say you could "pay your way into heaven" So that is something that used to be practiced but not anymore anywhere.
Apr 13, 2009 at 8:10 a.m.
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inmyyopinion and OntheNEside, the preachers are calculating what they say to keep the money coming in that finances their cushy jobs.
Apr 13, 2009 at 7:58 a.m.
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I used to be a CEO-now I'm a NAO (Not at all). Here's why:
I'm bombarded daily with the evils of the world and people trying to get their unearned share of my hard-earned money. Then come Sunday morning, I go to church to be told that no matter what I do, I'm gonna burn in hell but an extra $100 in the plate might get me on the "Considered but Declined list".
Church to me is no longer a place where everyone is welcomed, where the good always triumphs, nor a place to find comfort, friendship and understanding of the daily struggle to avoid today's evils.
It is instead a place where people are very judgemental, you're welcome party is directly related to the size of your wallet and the comfort & understanding you're offered depends on your status in society.
I attended one church until I was 18. Then I struck off on my own to find one that was more in line with my way of thinking.
I remember one we attended a couple years ago. The preacher said the words death, dying and dead so many times that we actually started counting them. When it was over, we out into the parking lot and I remember one woman saying
"I might as well take up drinking, drugs, and prostituting because I'm doomed anyway." I rememeber that after that sermon, I agreed with her.
More than 10 years later, I found that my church didn't exist. So, I pray at home. I teach my children about God at home. When I have a question that I need help with, I turn to the bible. I know that in the bible, the meaning doesn't change with the daily news and that I am always welcome.
If they want me back in church, they would need to strip it of the marble floors and gold trim, remove all the electronics, and figure out how to save my soul instead of condemming it to hell.
Apr 12, 2009 at 9:17 p.m.
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I have a problem with this part: “On Sunday, you’re maintaining and growing the relationship between you and God,” Umhoefer said. “And the best place to find Jesus Christ is in one another.”
You should be growing & maintaining your relationship with God daily, not "on Sunday" only. And the best place to find Jesus is not in one another - it's in prayer. I personally won't depend on finding Him in someone else.
Going to church is about hearing the Word & having fellowship. If you're not hearing the right things & you're not benefiting from a fellowship with others, you need to go elsewhere.
Apr 12, 2009 at 6:50 p.m.
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One of the preachers makes a spurious statement that blames low church attendance on modern culture.
This heterotaxy of cause and effect is a classic example of the sophistry that passes for wisdom by religionists.
Culture is a manifestation of what humans are and what humans want. Humans formerly wanted the contrivance of religion because certain decisions were too difficult to make. Now humans make the decisions that they formerly relegated to religion. Religion has nothing left to offer. That's why people don't go to church. Religion has failed humans. This is the exact opposite of what the preacher claims.
The principals of this story, by omission, unwittingly acknowledge the above truth: note that none of the preachers stated the consequences of not going to church more than twice a year, or not going to church at all, for that matter. No hint of punishment; especially the big punishment of eternal damnation spent in a fiery hell. Humans don't need this threat anymore to be good. Religion has nothing to offer as a motivation to be good. The preachers, on some level, know this. So they verbally dance around the attendance problem with a bunch of falderall about christians needing to attend church to learn of the christianity of each other.
This means the preachers are attempting to discover what humans want. The preachers are attempting to compromise (this is proof positive that religion and god are man-made). They are turning their backs on the threat of god and scripture that states that the failure to show proper respect for god will result in severe punishment for the non-compliant.
The preachers are sensing the real reasons people attend church nowadays. It's merely a social event that has nothing to do with religion, god, and the supernatural. One of the preachers even alludes to the idea of church attendance being a party. And that's what people want: a party. But know this mr. preacher: parties are supposed to be fun. You have nothing to offer us anymore.
Apr 12, 2009 at 3:47 p.m.
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twice is better then none.
Apr 12, 2009 at 3:27 p.m.
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<smirk>
Apr 12, 2009 at 11:10 a.m.
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I think you mean the other kind of CEO.
Apr 12, 2009 at 8 a.m.
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How about preaching on individual responsibility, integrity and the Golden Rule? I'd say that addresses the CEO quite nicely.
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