At Good News, we feel that it is very important that we explain to you not only what we do, but why we do what we do. In this article, I wanted to answer the question, “Why do we have an intermission during Good News church services?”

So, not too long ago, someone mentioned to me that they basically hate the intermission time during our church services, but they love the other things about Good News so much that they just deal with it. Perhaps some of you are in the same boat. In fact, I would be shocked if this only represented the feelings of this one person. There are probably plenty of people, introverts especially, who don’t get excited about those three minutes of the morning. Well, then, if we suspect that introverts don’t like being expected to talk to strangers on Sunday mornings, why do it? Do we love the extroverts more than the introverts?

The answer to that is, “no.” In fact, this church happens to be pastored by an introvert (believe it or not). Sure, I chat it up with lots of people on Sunday mornings. But that is a learned behavior. It’s not natural for me. I don’t like talking to people that I don’t know. Sometimes I don’t even like talking to people I do know! But I’ve adapted because I thought it was best for the church.

So, why do it at all? It isn’t commanded in Scripture, it breaks up the mood set by the music, and it’s a hard sell for shy people.

I am aware of all of that. And perhaps one day we will ditch it. I mean, I’ll be the first to confess that it is not a hill I’m willing to die on. There may come a time that we get rid of it, as it is not one of the core values of our church. In fact, in order to be a contemporary church we will have to make changes and updates as we go along. As the years pass, we will need to question our practices and get rid of nonessential things if we find that they no longer accomplish what we believe they used to accomplish back during another time period.

However, at the time I am writing this, I am not convinced that is true of intermission. I think that there is a friendliness that can be accomplished during the middle of a service that cannot be accomplished as well before and after the services. Some people arrive late. Other people bolt for the door as soon as I say, “and that’s Good News.”

Additionally, I believe that there is something interactive about intermission, that sets a good tone for us as a people. In other words, church isn’t simply about singing songs and learning Bible information; church is a group of people interacting with one another. Without it, our services would lean mostly toward being a private experience for a roomful of spectators. That’s not all bad, since we have community groups to make up for that. But I still think that intermission communicates something in a strong (and for some, uncomfortable) way. That is, church is not something you watch. It’s something you participate in. Our services aren’t simply “showtimes” but gatherings of people who need to interact with one another in order to be the people God wants us to be.

Intermission is, at least, emblematic of that truth, if not something that actually contributes to it.

So, to all of you extroverts out there. I’m glad you like chatting it up at church. We need people with personalities like yours. And for those of you introverts out there. We need you too! Thank you for putting up with practices that are difficult for you, for the sake of something larger than you. No, really, thank you.