Six Great Tips for Keeping Your Summer Sunday Worship Services Engaging

Summer brings a unique rhythm to church life. Families travel, routines change, and attendance can ebb and flow. That’s especially true if your small church is in an agrarian community. But rather than seeing summer as a “slow season,” what if you leaned into its energy and opportunities? With a few creative tweaks, your summer Sundays can be some of the most engaging and refreshing gatherings of the year. Here are six great tips to keep your congregation connected, energized, and growing all summer long.

1. Take Worship Outdoors

Nothing says summer like worship under the open sky! Whether it’s in a park, on your church lawn, or at a local campground, holding outdoor services creates a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. It’s also a fantastic way to attract visitors who might not feel ready to step inside a traditional building. Bring picnic blankets, lawn chairs, and acoustic music—and don’t forget sunscreen and bug spray stations!

Pro Tip: Plan a "Worship and Water" Sunday with baptisms in a nearby lake or a simple picnic potluck after service.

2. Host Family-Friendly Summer Events

Families are always looking for meaningful and fun ways to spend time together in the summer. Hosting special events can deepen relationships and create lasting memories tied to your church community. Here are a few ideas:

• Outdoor Movie Night: Show a family-friendly film on a big screen.

• Ice Cream Social: Set up a build-your-own sundae bar after Sunday worship.

• Family Field Day: Plan an afternoon of nostalgic games like sack races, water balloon tosses, and tug-of-war.

These events can also double as outreach opportunities to connect with new families in your community.

3. Leverage Technology to Stay Connected

Vacations are inevitable, but that doesn’t mean your members have to feel disconnected. One summer I did my sermon from my vacation in Florida. With a live feed to the big screen in the sanctuary, I was able to do the sermon from the beach. Use technology to keep engagement high:

• Livestream your services and make sure they're easily accessible on social media.

• Create a short "Summer Worship Playlist" on Spotify with songs from your services.

• Encourage your pastor or leadership team to post brief weekly devotionals or prayer prompts on your church’s app or Facebook page.

Technology can help your congregation stay spiritually nourished even while they’re away.

4. Launch a Summer-Themed Sermon Series

Summer is a perfect time to get creative with your sermon series. Themes that feel light, nostalgic, or adventurous pair well with the season’s mood.

One memorable series I once preached was called “Summer Mixtape”—each week’s message was tied to a different song, with musical Easter eggs woven throughout the sermons. Not only did it create a playful, surprising atmosphere, but it also helped people see spiritual truths in unexpected places.

Other summer series ideas could include:

• “Road Trip Faith” – exploring journeys in Scripture

• “Summer Psalms” – refreshing the soul through selected Psalms

• “Backyard Bible Stories” – bringing well-loved stories to life in new ways

5. Celebrate Summer with Themed Sundays

A few themed Sundays sprinkled across the summer can spark extra excitement. Some ideas:

• Flip-Flop Sunday: Invite everyone to wear sandals and enjoy popsicles after worship.

• Patriotic Sunday: Around July 4th, celebrate freedom in Christ along with national freedom.

• Christmas in July: Revisit the joy of Christ’s coming when people least expect it.

Themed Sundays give people something to look forward to and make it easy to invite friends.

6. Embrace Flexibility and Fun

Above all, summer is a season of grace. Attendance might dip, schedules might shift, but your commitment to creating a welcoming, joyful atmosphere will speak volumes. Flexibility allows you to respond to spontaneous opportunities—whether it’s a sudden chance for a beach baptism or a church group forming a summer softball team.

Keep the tone light, celebrate community, and trust that God is moving even when the pews look a little different from week to week.

A Summer Benediction

As you walk through the golden days of summer, may your heart stay open to the warmth of God’s love.

May you find His grace in the laughter of children, the songs of the birds, the splash of the waves, and the quiet moments under starry skies.

May you be refreshed, renewed, and reminded that in every season, our God is faithful.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Share Your Ideas

I’d love for you to post what you are planning this summer or a success story from the past that made the summer services special. Let’s encourage one another as summer approaches.

If you found these tips helpful, I invite you to subscribe to my website SmallChurchCoaching.com where you’ll find weekly resources, inspiration, and coaching specifically designed for smaller churches and their leaders.

And be sure to share this article with your team or on your social feeds—we’re stronger when we grow together!