Dear Family and Friends,

Have you noticed how easy it’s become to avoid contact with other humans?

We can work from home. Have all our needs delivered by Amazon and others. Why dress up when restaurants deliver to your door.

And since most churches continue to live stream their services, many former church goers have included church on their list of things to do from home.

Many pastors, myself included, have pondered why folks haven’t returned to church after Covid subsided.

I’m sure everyone has their reasons. But let me say this as gently as possible: there are no good reasons for not going to church.

Sure, sitting at home watching a TV or monitor in our pj’s is nice. But growing and maintaining our spiritual health can only be done at church.

Jesus designed the Church (meaning the gathering of His followers) to be the perfect setting:

To devote ourselves to fellowship, break bread and pray. (Acts 2:42)

To be devoted to one another in love. Honoring one another above ourselves.  (Romans 12:10)

To instruct one another because we are each full of goodness and filled with knowledge. (Romans 15:14)

To not use our freedom to indulge the flesh, but instead serve one another humbly in love. To keep this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Without neighbors this is not possible.  (Galatians 5:13-14)

To be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us. (Ephesians 4:32)

To encourage one another daily so that none of us may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13)

To spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together. And encouraging one another. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Many think that church is a place of learning. While the scriptures do talk about the teaching of God’s word, there’s much more said about relationships and love.

Jesus designed the church as the setting to grow our relationships with Him and others. The church is where we get to practice forgiving, extending mercy, serving and loving others.

The Apostle John sums up why we need to be actively involved in a church.

If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:12)

Merry Christmas my friends. And may I encourage you to invite a friend back to church.

In love always,