Those closed doors mean no customers, and while the store "needs to make a profit like anyone else,'' manager David Lohss said that something's more important than the bottom line.

Which is, keeping Sundays for church and family and as a day of rest -- and not for doing what you can the rest of the week.

"When I hear about Christian businesses opening on Sundays, that's just going the world's way,'' Lohss said.

"We're here as much to minister to people who come through our front doors as much as anything, and the best way to do that is to encourage them to be in their church and with family on Sundays.''

In a 24//7, rush-rush world, more Christian restaurant and store owners are feeling the heat, despite the Biblical admonition to set the day aside, to start being open on Sundays.

But as a sign of how much America's traditional day of rest has changed, the nation's largest Christian retail chain, Family Christian Stores, this weekend will be open on Sundays at its 315 locations in 39 states.

It will make Bibles, Christian music, church supplies and inspirational T-shirts available on "the day that Christians most attend to their spiritual needs,'' said Dave Browne, its president and chief executive officer.

And Lohss, from Christian Light, and several area pastors contacted this morning feel that's a shame.

One pastor called the decision "going with the world, getting on board with the world's insanity.''

*1c*/m"God was very intentional when He created us, to give us a day of rest, for spiritual, mental and physical renewal,'' added the Rev. David Humphreville, pastor of East Hempfield Township's Community Fellowship Church.

"We need to have a day that's different, to "dial down.'''

Other pastors contacted today agreed. Their comments included:

*dot*"I'm opposed to commerce, period, on Sunday, except that which is essential to humane service, the necessary things,'' said the Rev. Michael Rogers of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Manheim Township.

*dot*"I feel that's not setting a good example. Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest and I feel that a Christian store that's opening up on Sundays is just doing so more for economics than Christian integrity,'' said the Rev. Dennis Keen of Georgetown United Methodist Church, Bart Township.

*dot*"Everything now is 24//7, while we used to accomplish everything in six days,'' said the Rev. Mary Elizabeth Hoskins, Boehm's United Methodist Church, Willow Street.

"Now, everything is available all the time -- but just because everything is available doesn't mean Christians have to avail themselves. It's just one more step.''

The Sunday opening at the Family Christian stores comes after a trial period in which the chain's stores in Dallas were open Sunday afternoons.

Family Christian officials tout the "ministry'' aspect of the change, and experts say it reflects sweeping social changes that have long been at work.

More women in the labor force and the softening and repealing of "blue laws'' across the nation have made Sunday as much a day of activity and commerce as worship and relaxation, they point out.

Others feel that the traditional Sunday taboos against stores and restaurants being open are old-fashioned and not realistic in today's world.

Over the past month, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company reported a positive response from customers after its trial opening on Sunday.

"I just think there's something about your spiritual needs being met on a Sunday that some people don't want to wait until Monday,'' district manager Dan Morano said.

The Family Christian chain has no Lancaster-area stores. It has seven sites in Pennsylvania, all in the western part of the state.

Of course, retailers in the Keystone State once were forbidden from opening on Sundays by the state's "blue laws.''

Even after the state Supreme Court threw out the prohibition in June 1978, most retailers here were reluctant to open Sundays, as church groups urged them to stay shut, according to New Era files.

But gradually retailers began to try it out.

In July 1978, Pantry Pride and Acme supermarkets, as well as Two Guys discount department store, were among the first local merchants to open Sundays.

Their reports of brisk business motivated others to join them within weeks. Soon Kmart, Weis Markets, J.C. Penney, Mailman's, Service Merchandise and many other major retailers followed suit.

Sunday openings have made headlines in recent years as well.

In 1995, Stauffers of Kissel Hill ended 64 years of tradition by opening Sundays for the first time, citing customer demand. Willow Valley Market started Sunday hours in 1996, two years after Willow Valley's restaurant did.

About 60 state liquor stores began Sunday hours in February, after the state allowed some to do so on a test basis -- the first time since Prohibition began in 1920 that the state had allowed it.

At Christian Light, Lohss feels "the community clearly respects the fact that we're not open on Sundays.

"A lot of it (choosing to open) has to do with greed and the bottom line. That's not what we're in business for.''

When people say Christian stores can minister to people by being open on Sundays, he responds that "the people instead should be in church. I mean, where best to have your needs met? I just think (the opening) is a real shame, because we're supposed to be set apart from the world.''

Officials at Provident Bookstores, which has three county locations that sell Bibles and Christian-oriented books, music and other materials, could not immediately be reached for comment today.

While many faith-based stores are feeling the tug to open their doors on Sundays, some companies -- perhaps the best-known example is Atlanta-based Chick-Fil-A restaurants -- say they will resist the temptation.

Chick-Fil-A -- with 1,100 restaurants in 36 states -- believes closing on Sunday has helped recruit better employees. who enjoy having a day off to worship or just spend time with friends and relatives, a spokesman said.

At Community Fellowship Church, Humpreville knows that "we live in a very busy, hyper, scheduled culture and society. So I appreciate any aspect of our culture that recognized the need for people to have a day'' of rest and renewal.''


(Staff writers Tom Murse and Tim Mekeel and the Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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