Five Reasons the 11:00 AM Worship Service Is Disappearing

I wish I knew the specific reason most churches offered an 11:00 AM service on Sunday for decades.

The possible theories are many, but none have been substantiated with historical research. The most plausible is the agrarian theory. That perspective holds that churches accommodated the farmers in the community. The farmers had multiple chores that had to be done in the morning. They would get the chores done and then go to church. They often followed the single service with a potluck meal on the grounds.

But the 11:00 AM service is disappearing.

Rather than spend time trying to discover the origin of the 11:00 AM service, I decided to ask several church leaders why they discontinued the service in their churches. Five common themes emerged. Read More