When the Church Doesn’t Take Summer Break
As Memorial Day passes and the school year winds down, many families begin shifting into summer mode. Summer camps, holiday barbecues, beach/mountain excursions, and trips to see relatives in states you get to once a year. Vacation Bible School, summer sports leagues and even household projects you’ve been saving get added too. For some, the pace of life starts to ease and for others it becomes a retooled routine.
But for church workers, summer rarely brings the same kind of slowdown. Ministry keeps moving. Pastoral care doesn’t take a holiday. And soon it will be time to look at fall sermon series and bible studies and youth activities and… I’m sure I missed something.
While families can skip a Sunday to worship somewhere near their vacation spots, many church workers quietly wonder how to balance their calling with their own need for rest. If that’s you, hear this clearly: you are allowed to rest, too. Your family deserves time with you. Your soul deserves space to breathe. And your ministry will not collapse if you step away long enough to be renewed.
Summer offers a unique opportunity, not because the church stops, but because the rhythm shifts. Use that shift intentionally. Block out days for family time before the calendar fills with “just one more thing.” Plan a weekend away. Take an afternoon to sit in the sun, read something life‑giving, or simply be still. Sabbath rest is not a luxury; it is a command wrapped in compassion. And remember: healthy ministry flows from healthy ministers. When you return refreshed, your congregation receives a stronger, more present, more joyful version of you. That is a gift to them, not a burden.
So as summer begins, give yourself permission to step back, breathe deeply, and let God restore you. The church will keep going—and you will keep going better when you rest.
If you want to talk about how to balance the many facets of your work and family vocations, your SED network of coaches can provide a confidential atmosphere to help you talk through what is most important to you.
Rev Alan Shaw is an Assistant Pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Cary, NC and a Transitional Interim Minister at Peace Lutheran Church in Goldsboro, NC. He is a retired Army officer and serves as a resource for the SED with coaching and Christian reconciliation. He can be reached at alan@restoringharmonyllc.com.