Connected

By Sarah Hogue, Director of Children’s Ministry

I recently came across this phrase, “The more you miss church, the less you miss church.”  Read that again. It might take a second or third look to comprehend it, but its message is true. 

We are finally coming out of a crazy year in which we primarily attended church online.  It has been convenient to roll out of bed and worship on our televisions and computers. I did that for weeks myself, and it was relaxing and easy.  But can I make a personal confession? While online worship was convenient for me, do you know what it wasn’t?  Focused. Energized. Connected. 

We just finished a week of Vacation Bible School with more than 200 kids and 80 volunteers.  As I looked out over them singing praise songs, adorned in their brightly colored tie-dyed t-shirts, raising their hands in praise to the Lord, I was overcome with emotion (I know, that’s shocking, right?). Seeing those kids worship together was all of those things I had been missing…focused, energized, and connected. 

As a body of believers, we are encouraged to be in fellowship and worship together. Hebrews 10:24-25a says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…”

While gathering together in person certainly helps us personally by providing a more focused, energized, and connected time of worship, these verses in Hebrews take it a step further.  Our presence at in-person worship isn’t all about us.  We need to be together to help others, to spur one another on, and to encourage each other.

I know it has been a crazy year, and you may not be ready to venture out as you did pre-covid.  However, if you are venturing out to school, sports, work, parties, and other activities, I would encourage you to add coming back to in person church to your list.  We miss you. We are a better church when you are with us. We aren’t the same when you are not here.

I know it is easier to worship online. It is tempting to multi-task and fold clothes while “in church” (I’ve done it myself!). Who doesn’t like to cross two things off their list at once? Maybe (unlike me) you are able to be totally focused during online worship and find it to be fulfilling.

You may be fine with online worship, but we are not fine without you here with us. You are loved. You are needed. You are missed.