The local church has designated today a “Bonus Sunday.” The schedule is altered with a fellowship meal at noon, an early afternoon period of worship, and a congregational meeting to follow, after which the scheduled church activities for the day will be concluded. In addition to the altered schedule, the congregation is encouraged to give a “bonus” during the offering so that special needs can be met and the cause of Christ can be advanced more rapidly in missions and other activities.
I like the terminology–Bonus Sunday. I regret that the application is mostly to what we give or do. An equally good or better application would be to consider that on this day we can receive more than normal. We share more fellowship. We have the opportunity to discuss the work of the congregation together. We experience more family and leisure time with the more compact schedule of events. What would happen if every person involved (especially those involved publicly) made a special effort to ensure that this is indeed a “bonus Sunday”? What if the preacher spent enough time in preparation to guarantee a “bonus” sermon? What if the prayer leader spent enough time in advance to bring all of the concerns of the congregation before God’s throne? What if the person who directs the communion thoughts were so well-prepared that our hearts were touched and our lives were changed simply by experiencing anew the body and blood of Jesus? What if the focus of the day were so spiritual that even the guests would notice? That would be a Bonus Sunday!
Such ruminations lead me to one more question: What if every Sunday were a Bonus Sunday?