I have noticed that like most of Sydney, churches move into holiday mode in January. November is very busy as we put the final touches on the program for next year, and December is filled with events that wind up the year and as Christmas approaches opportunities for public evangelism are taken. These months are so busy that we stumble over the line which is New Years Eve, preparing for a quieter January as thoughts turn to water and cricket.

January in church is often marked by the absence of the pastor on holidays and quickly strung together volunteers to cover the bases which must be manned, and manned with minimal fuss. That's natural and right, as we all need a slower time in the year to recover.

In recent years though, I have observed that December isn't a particularly good time for our public evangelism as those we seek to reach are busy, with no time for lengthy conversations, and minds which are totally distracted. Come January, when life is more slowly paced and the sober thinking that accompanies new year's resolutions, people's Christian, Sunday School and Scripture backgrounds come to the fore and many who have thought of re-engaging with church and God go God and church shopping. So many people drop in on church, for the first time in years, just to look and hear what is happening. This happens at a time when we are least prepared to enfold them.

What should we do? Perhaps we can re-think January, not in terms of a big church mission, as there are very few who are able to be involved in big programs. But maybe we could offer a minister who we know and trust from somewhere else to holiday in our vacant homes, with the requirement to just preach evangelistically each Sunday? Maybe we could gather four groups early in the year, who will agree to run a great kid's program for just one Sunday each during January. Could a group of late high schoolers and university students run a summer kid's program during the time when they are least busy? And perhaps we should schedule a major Simply Christianty/Introducing God/Christianity Explained course for early February when we are back on deck and ensure that is advertised and pushed well to all who join us in January.

I'm sure there are far more imaginative ideas about how to run great church meetings in January, but God has given us a wonderful opportunity to capitalise on the way He has shaped Australian holiday style, and so we should put some thought into how to make the most of the holiday month.