Pilgrimage Ponderings
On the Weather, Football, and Religious Commitment
I've been thinking today about how many high schools and colleges in our wonderful state have reorganized their football schedules in light of the possibility of Tropical Storm Hanna reaching land in our vicinity.
Across the upstate (several hours from the coast) the varsity football games typically played on Friday nights have been moved to tonight, bumping the 9th grade and JV games until tomorrow, if the weather permits. About the same time yesterday that the word was going out from school districts about this change, a warning was issued for the upstate regarding the moderately high levels of ozone at ground level. The warning was for 6 am through 9 pm tonight and suggested that healthy, active children and adults and persons with respiratory disorders should limit their outdoor activity.
I know of at least one college football game that was scheduled to be played along the coast on Saturday that has been moved to the upstate because of the tropical storm watch.
What I've been thinking about today is how churches handle the concerns about inclement weather, particularly snow and ice warnings in the winter. There is quite a debate about whether or not it is sometimes appropriate to cancel Sunday morning worship so that folks will not risk injury in coming to church when the conditions are dangerous. Some folks think that Sunday morning worship should never be cancelled, even if the pastor is the only one who shows up. Others are afraid that a frail elderly lady or gentleman who is ever-faithful will come to harm if church is not cancelled and they risk venturing out.
Never in my memory has a church considered moving services to Saturday morning or afternoon just in case the weather is inclement on Sunday.
I am pondering what that says about our values, our commitment, our expectations of people of faith, and our priorities.
Questing Parson: Shucks, at my church people don't wait for bad weather to come up with a reason to skip. (09/04/08)
Ray Reavis: Questing -- that is hilarious, but true. Kathy, that is an interesting thing I hadn't thought about. Of great concern is what witness that provides for the rest of the world if they see us being "wimpy" and cancelling services. Are we saying it's not important? Then on the other hand I would probably tell people not to risk it if they perceive it is dangerous. No easy answers. (09/05/08)