While on vacation, I recently preached at a little lakeside church on Lake George, but this church’s congregation is not made up by locals. The congregation is largely vacationers or summer residents looking for spiritual direction or a community of faith to connect with while gone from home. Lakeside Chapel, in Cleverdale, NY has been serving the community of Lake George for decades. Even though no congregation meets during most of September through June, the chapel holds weddings, baptisms, and funerals.
The chapel depends on local and regional ministers to provide preaching. I am always amazed at the attendance at this little chapel even though most of the congregation are “visitors” or seasonal residents. It was my third year preaching and leading worship there and every time I have been there, the chapel is near capacity. Lakeside Chapel only holds about 85 people, max. Most churches in this country are close to under 85 people — and even those churches have a difficult time filling the pews with their locals!
The New York Times recently wrote an article on the growing number of people who either attend a house of worship on vacation or just attend church while on vacation. Why go to church on vacation? Can’t we have a break? The NYT provides an insight to why there is a growing movement of “vacation churches”:
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