Why Go to Church?
In a day and age when going to church has fallen out of favor… I offer a wonderful story given to me by one of our new members:
A church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. He wrote: “I’ve gone to church for 30 years now, and in that time, I have heard something like 3,000 sermons, but for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them.”
This letter started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column. Much to the delight of the editor, the discussion went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
“I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I have not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today”
Why go to church?- Lent is a wonderful season to reconnect… to drink a bit deeper from the well of living water… to breathe in the Spirit… to share the journey with your church family.
Thus, my great delight as we welcomed new members into our fellowship on Sunday- twelve brothers and sisters who are choosing to not only “go to church” but to be active in the life and ministry of our faith community. Among them are engineers and teachers, a chemist, a therapist, several veterans, a lineman and a nurse, parents of young children, young adults in the early chapters of their lives, and grandparents celebrating the joy of their next generation. This group mirrors our Lenape Valley fellowship with the richness of four generations. They come to us from a variety of church traditions, each bringing their gifts and experience to stretch the mission to which God calls us. Many of this new class of members have already made their mark, teaching Sunday School, going on Mission trips, become a Deacon, packing 25,000 meals, and sharing in Bible study. Our faith community is stronger with the blessing of these new brothers and sisters! Why go to church?- because we stand strong when we stand together. (Read the bios by clicking the link attached to email).
My delight in welcoming our new members on Sunday was matched by my joy as our children served in worship. Their voices calling us to worship and leading us in prayer, reminded all of us “that a little shall lead them.” Jesus is right, our children can show us the way to the Father. Then, our children helped to serve communion. They were so serious in their duties, understanding the importance of the meal Jesus offers to us. With a sweet smile or a nod of the head, each child offered their own greeting as we came to the feast. The memory will be forever etched in my mind and heart of Dylan standing at my side serving the bread as his parents and brother came forward, his mother’s eyes brimming with tears. Why go to church?- because church is where we find God’s family, where we know God’s safe-haven, where we are welcome just as we are- a precious child of God.
I have to admit being a bit distressed by the opening story and the writer’s admission that he didn’t remember any of the sermons he had heard in 30 years. I spend hours crafting the message for Sunday, carefully choosing each word, praying that God will touch hearts. I hope each week there will be a gem in there somewhere that you can take home. But then I remember that the gem is not in my words but in God’s voice speaking to our hearts. So, I encourage you not to remember my sermon, but to treasure what God says to you each week. Why do we go to church?- to pause our busy lives long enough to listen for God’s word to us.
I am so thankful for our church community, and for the freedom to gather in the name of Jesus. I am joyful that our children and grandchildren share in that joy. I hope this Lent you will invite someone you love to meet your family of faith, to share a meal (Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast), to meet your Savior. Let’s bring going to church back in style!
With you, thankful for the church of Jesus Christ,
Anita
A church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. He wrote: “I’ve gone to church for 30 years now, and in that time, I have heard something like 3,000 sermons, but for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them.”
This letter started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column. Much to the delight of the editor, the discussion went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
“I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I have not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today”
Why go to church?- Lent is a wonderful season to reconnect… to drink a bit deeper from the well of living water… to breathe in the Spirit… to share the journey with your church family.
Thus, my great delight as we welcomed new members into our fellowship on Sunday- twelve brothers and sisters who are choosing to not only “go to church” but to be active in the life and ministry of our faith community. Among them are engineers and teachers, a chemist, a therapist, several veterans, a lineman and a nurse, parents of young children, young adults in the early chapters of their lives, and grandparents celebrating the joy of their next generation. This group mirrors our Lenape Valley fellowship with the richness of four generations. They come to us from a variety of church traditions, each bringing their gifts and experience to stretch the mission to which God calls us. Many of this new class of members have already made their mark, teaching Sunday School, going on Mission trips, become a Deacon, packing 25,000 meals, and sharing in Bible study. Our faith community is stronger with the blessing of these new brothers and sisters! Why go to church?- because we stand strong when we stand together. (Read the bios by clicking the link attached to email).
My delight in welcoming our new members on Sunday was matched by my joy as our children served in worship. Their voices calling us to worship and leading us in prayer, reminded all of us “that a little shall lead them.” Jesus is right, our children can show us the way to the Father. Then, our children helped to serve communion. They were so serious in their duties, understanding the importance of the meal Jesus offers to us. With a sweet smile or a nod of the head, each child offered their own greeting as we came to the feast. The memory will be forever etched in my mind and heart of Dylan standing at my side serving the bread as his parents and brother came forward, his mother’s eyes brimming with tears. Why go to church?- because church is where we find God’s family, where we know God’s safe-haven, where we are welcome just as we are- a precious child of God.
I have to admit being a bit distressed by the opening story and the writer’s admission that he didn’t remember any of the sermons he had heard in 30 years. I spend hours crafting the message for Sunday, carefully choosing each word, praying that God will touch hearts. I hope each week there will be a gem in there somewhere that you can take home. But then I remember that the gem is not in my words but in God’s voice speaking to our hearts. So, I encourage you not to remember my sermon, but to treasure what God says to you each week. Why do we go to church?- to pause our busy lives long enough to listen for God’s word to us.
I am so thankful for our church community, and for the freedom to gather in the name of Jesus. I am joyful that our children and grandchildren share in that joy. I hope this Lent you will invite someone you love to meet your family of faith, to share a meal (Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast), to meet your Savior. Let’s bring going to church back in style!
With you, thankful for the church of Jesus Christ,
Anita
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