Meeting Together

Dear Worshippers,

In these couple of weeks between serving the Morgantown church where I have been for the last nearly six years and the Warren church where I am headed attending church has been very different. I have attended a couple of services with the boys and we attended another church as a family this past Sunday. Not having my normal responsibilities has been refreshing, but it has also left us with an entirely different approach to church.

I have been grumpy and have felt unfulfilled, even though I have really enjoyed the increased my time with family. This got me thinking about the role of church in our lives, not just because I am a pastor, but because we see the church as having such a significant role in encouraging us in the Christ life. Though the activities at church can be overwhelming at times and can dominate family life if one is not careful, I am so thankful for the blessing of being part of the Church, and specifically a local body.

As I reflected on this I was reminded of Hebrews 10:25. There are several “let us” admonitions leading us to this verse, “let us draw near…hold unswervingly...consider”, but the final two occur in this one verse. It says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Those verses have taken on added significant in this strange season between posts for me. I am writing to help me remember that for the future, and encourage you now.

I was looking for this verse and could not remember the address. I was searching for “gathering”, then “assembling”, until I finally came across it, thanks to some help from my helpmate. I don’t know about you, but the word meeting for me just is not very appealing. I think about a lot of talking and little action. I do not want church to be like that, and I am certain the writer of Hebrews did not imply that. Rather, the emphasis is truly on the word “together”.

Our new slogan for the Alliance is “Living the Call Together”. I love that. Because I view worship as a way of life, talking about the call as a lifestyle really resonates with me. But I really appreciate the last word as well. Together. That is how we are to do this thing. Not just the call, but the Christian life. This is meant to be done together. I praise the Lord for the wisdom of that. How many times when I have been discouraged, or frustrated, or indifferent has God used a fellow believer to speak something into my life that changed me and the situation? Many. I am so thankful that God gives us His Church to share life together.

So what about you? Are you thankful for the church? If you are attending but are not really sharing life then you probably are not. But if you are in others lives and are allowing them into yours you probably are. For those of you who have shared life with me…thank you. For those who will soon…thank you Jesus.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott