At our Circuit Pastors’ Conference today at Hope Lutheran Pastor Paul von Werder presented to us some ideas about discipleship that he’s been working on. It was really good stuff! One question that really caught my attention was how to define what it is to be “regular” in worship, Bible Study, prayer, etc., and I wrote down this question that I’d like to ask–“How do you decide which Sundays aren’t worth attending church?”
Many of you are “regular” in attendance, that is, I see you often enough that I don’t have to search my brain’s “files” to come up with your name! But many of you are absent many Sundays, too many to be the result of illness or out-of-town travel. So I’m wondering–how do you figure out which Sundays to miss? That is, which Sundays the sermon won’t apply to you, which Sundays your fellow members can do without you, which Sundays your offering isn’t needed to fund the ministry of Trinity, which Sundays you don’t need to receive the Body and Blood of Christ–I could make this list run longer than this blog will let me post!
I’m serious, now, how do you decide? It’s not an option for me, of course–I don’t get to pick which Sundays I “feel like going.” It’s my “job.” But someday I’ll retire, and I could use some guidance from you who have experience. How will I pick the Sundays I worship God in church with my fellow Christians, and which Sundays to skip?
The real topic, of course, is accountability. When you’re not in church you don’t have to be confronted by the Scripture readings and sermon, even if you need to be challenged by that particular Word from God that day. You don’t have to shake the Pastors’ hands and have them look you in the eye to see if you’re really “fine.” You miss the opportunity to interact with your fellow members, some of whom look forward to seeing you and catching up with you. There’s just no accountability.
When you joined Trinity you committed yourself to a community, and when you’re absent, that community suffers. You miss out on what the group is hearing and thinking, and the group misses out on your contributions.
Worship is not a spectator sport! Your voice (on-key or off-key) is an important part of the song we lift to heaven. Your prayers help lift our concerns to the Father’s throne. When Pastor Billy and I are preaching, your body language and facial reactions help us know whether we’re on or off target.
Many of you have been through trials that the rest of the congregation knows. I can’t tell you how encouraging many of you are to others, even if they don’t know your name and have to describe you as “the lady who sits on the lectern side whose husband died a few months ago” or “the grandmother of the autistic children” or “the young man who does the PowerPoint at my service.” Your ability to overcome by the power of Christ is known, and people are hoping to see you and talk to you.
So, as important as you are, tell me, how do you pick which Sundays to skip church?
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