Contrary to what many ministers and church members think, Easter Sunday is NOT the most important Sunday of the year. Sure, we act like it is. Expensive ad campaigns, visitor invites, expanded services, a polished sermon followed by an impassioned appeal. Couple that with a larger-than-average crowd and more new outfits than a J.C. Penney catalog. Yep. We put a lot into our Easter services.
Don’t get me wrong, Easter is unbelievably important for a church. Not only is it the pinnacle of all Christian holidays, the doctrinal hinge of all our beliefs, but culturally speaking, non church-goers are more open to church invites at that time than just about any other time of the year (Christmas being the only other rival). So it is reasonable for a church to put a lot of emphasis on its Easter services.
Nevertheless, might I suggest that the Sunday after Easter is the single most important day in a church’s life.
For the person who is not a Christian or a regular church-goer, who attended an Easter service and felt God tugging on their heart, returning to church the following week could be the difference between cultivating new-found faith or letting it wither. It is far easier for the non church-goer to attend an Easter service (along with all the rest of the visitors), than to return the next week, much more conspicuous. The returning visitor either liked what they saw and want to see if they like it again, or they were genuinely touched by God and want to keep that fire going. And, most likely, they were not coerced or felt obligated to go the second time.
For the church, not only is the Sunday after Easter a gauge of how effective your Easter service was (i.e., the number of returning visitors), it is the strategic moment to actually engage those folks on a long-term basis. I’m not talking about a hard sales pitch, but the acknowledgment that this Sunday — the Sunday after Easter — is your window to either keep these folks coming or watch them walk. (Of course, it ain’t that cut-and-dried. But you get the idea.) Furthermore, the Sunday after Easter is a far better representation of what your church is really like, rather than the show you put on Easter Sunday. I have a better chance of seeing your REAL church by NOT visiting on a holiday.
So, let me ask you: Are you going to church the most important Sunday of the year?
Yes, Sir! Good point, Mike.
Of course I will be at church this Sunday!
Great thoughts and well versed. I think you have the ideal well in hand. Its not the special days where the church and congregation put on their best….it’s how they are the rest of the year and their dedication to their true beliefs.