The last several years have brought huge changes in the life of churches all across America and across all denominations, sizes and types of churches. The effects of the Covid Pandemic have been huge and disastrous on churches. We’ve all grown smaller with far fewer people actually attending worship and/or participating in worship services and Sunday School on Sundays. Most of the churches I know or can access public information on have done their best to adapt and to change and to respond to the changing world but with little success. We are no different. We lost over 25 people during the period from March 2020 to now. Some of those losses were due to death, a few were to people who stopped coming and haven’t come back and more were due to people moving out of the area. All of the losses have been huge because the people we’ve lost were active, faithful, and an important part of our church. It’s been a hard time on the church over the last two years or so. Thank goodness for the faithful members and friends who continue to come to worship, continue to share in the ministries of the church, and who share their gifts in so many wonderful ways.
I saw a meme or article on Facebook which spoke the truth. First it pointed out that church attendance across the nation has fallen off the cliff. It’s good to know that it’s not just us, but the effects are still the same. As I mentioned earlier and repeatedly in church, these are challenging times for nearly all congregations across all of America. I guess the old saying “misery loves company” has some truth in it.
Most churches, at least those churches that can somehow afford it, have responded by offering online worship through You Tube, Zoom, or other media platforms. I’m really proud of how churches have pivoted quickly and with little resources to come into the modern world with our technology. I’m especially proud of our own church in this regard. We average some 15 to 20 people who watch and enjoy (hopefully) our worship online each week. I’m glad online is available, especially for those people who are shut in or who live out of the area. But it’s not a perfect substitute for those of us who can be here. It’s convenient (who doesn’t like the idea of rolling out of bed 15 minutes prior to the start of the worship service, getting a cup of Joe and sitting in your Lazy Boy chair to watch the worship?)
But being here in person is too important to relegate to “part time participation” or “sideline, online” presence. We can’t serve on our sofa can we? We can’t share with others all by ourselves on the easy chair, can we? We can’t experience the joy of a full house (even a half-full house), listening to other voices blending into one heavenly (or sort of heavenly at any rate) voice, can we? We can’t hear the prayer requests, baby on the way announcements, or good news in the neighborhood without being together, can we? There is a lot we can’t do or experience without being present with one another.
Christians aren’t called to be consumers. We’re called to be disciples. We’re called to give as well as receive. We don’t watch, we engage. We don’t take, we give. The church needs you! You need the church. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll return soon.