Flip Flop Sundays in Laguna Beach
@DeborahDiane (40322)
Laguna Woods, California
May 30, 2017 11:47pm CST
Memorial Day weekend at our church in Laguna Beach is the kick-off for "flip-flop Sundays."
Because this is a resort town, we want to encourage tourists to visit our church and we want them to feel comfortable. As a result, during the summer our minister skips his traditional robes and begins wearing Hawaiian style shirts most Sundays. The church members are also encouraged to dress casually ... although very few actually wear flip flops.
The idea is that guests to our town will feel more comfortable about visiting our church if the men do not feel they need to wear suits and ties, and the women do not feel they must wear elegant dresses and high heels. It's not unusual to see men in shorts and women in sun dresses.
I love the casual feeling of flip-flop Sundays.
Does your place of worship have special services at different times of year? 
10 people like this
10 responses
@LadyDuck (472109)
• Switzerland
31 May 17
Catholic churches in Italy are trying to convince tourists to dress more formal when they visit the churches, it's a matter of respect. After all they accept the rules when they visit the Muslim temples in Turkey, so why not to respect also our churches.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (472109)
• Switzerland
1 Jun 17
@DeborahDiane We do not ask the men to wear a suit, but at least not shorts and flip-flops and women not as they were going to the beach.
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
1 Jun 17
@LadyDuck There is respect and disrespect. I am often very angered the way tourists behave.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Jun 17
@LadyDuck - Yes, it is nice when tourists show respect whenever they visit a church, mosque, temple or other place of worship. Most of our tourists who come to church do dress nicely. However, we want them to be comfortable if they go on vacation and the men do not bring a suit or other formal attire. There needs to be a happy medium.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
31 May 17
I like that idea of being able to go in casual clothes
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Jun 17
@responsiveme - I think people are more likely to come to church when they feel comfortable.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6407)
•
5 Jun 17
Well, I'm Catholic, so the priests wear vestments of different colors depending upon the liturgical season. And as for how the people dress, it just varies by church and by time... For example, when we go to the 730pm Mass on Sunday night, usually everyone is very casual. But if you go to the 11am Mass, people dress up more. I think it is good to encourage your tourists to go however that may be.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jun 17
@jillybean1222 - I love the idea that people can choose different services with different clothing styles. I agree that it is good to encourage tourists to come to church however they want.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Jun 17
@just4him - That's great. Then everyone feels welcome!
1 person likes this
@petertheo (148)
• South Africa
1 Jun 17
You guys are blessed to be going into summer while we are starting our winter here!
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Jun 17
@petertheo - Yes, we are starting summer. However, next fall when it starts to get cold here, we will see South Africa and Australia on the news with pictures of people at the beach or surfing! LOL 
1 person likes this
@petertheo (148)
• South Africa
2 Jun 17
@DeborahDiane However, we do get lovely winter days in between the cold fronts
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Jun 17
@petertheo - We get lovely days here, too, even in the winter. 
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Jun 17
@YrNemo - The weather in Southern California is very warm in the summer. In addition, because our church is close to the beach, we do not have air conditioning. It is nice to be able to wear flip-flops or casual clothes to church in the summer.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Jun 17
@YrNemo - That is our goal to make tourists feel welcome, even if they just want to drop in to say "hello" to God. I'm glad to hear you sometimes do that.
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20255)
•
2 Jun 17
@DeborahDiane That makes sense then... (I often pop into any church close by if I could, just to say 'hello' to God. If they are that easy re: clothing and footwear, it would be easy wouldn't it?)
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Jun 17
@story07 - I have seen a few people in jeans in our church, too. It is nice when people make church a part of their daily life and not just something they reserve for special occasions.
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Jun 17
@marlina - I think church attendance has fallen in our country. I agree that our church's effort to make people feel comfortable when they show up is a good idea. Personally, I also like not feeling stressed out by what I am wearing.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
1 Jun 17
What a brilliant idea. Very forward thinking!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Jun 17
@garymarsh6 - We try to have nice church services, but make tourists feel comfortable, too. I'm glad you like the idea!
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Jun 17
@BettyB - I have never worn flip-flops to church, either. However, a few people do, so anyone who wants to should feel comfortable making that decision!
