Yesterday was the Lord’s Day. It was also Christmas day. Holidays like that tend to bring a great number of visitors to our services and yesterday was no different. Even though we had many of our regulars out of town, we still had over 300 at worship with us, and many of them were folks I had not seen in a long time, if ever. Being a preacher, I know preachers. We network. We keep in touch. We share things, sometimes inadvertently. I know for a fact there were many church houses yesterday that were filled with people who had not darkened the door since Easter back in the Spring. I also know for a fact, and I’m sorry to say, that there were many preachers who stood on stage and shamed those people (either intentionally or otherwise) for “only showing up on a holiday.”
People who come to worship God do not need shame; they need encouragement. I meant what I said yesterday: It is our great blessing to have so many people worship with us. It is also our prayer that those who do will come back, week after week, to bless us again and again and again.
People need Jesus. Yesterday, many were thinking about His birth. If you worshipped with us at North Heights, you know we also celebrated His life, memorialized His death, and anticipated His return. If yesterday was the first time you had attended a “Church Service” in a long time, I can’t think of a better one to start with. In six days we will meet again to worship God; I can’t think of a better one to make your second time visiting us: It’s the start of a new year; come enjoy it with us.
Come start a new year with us. Start a new year for yourself, by resolving to draw closer to God. Come worship with us the next week too, and the one after that. If you do, you might just discover a good habit start to form, one which will allow us the blessing of worshipping with you week after week, and one which allow you the blessing of good Christian fellowship week after week as well.
You honored us with your presence yesterday. Honor us again soon!
~ Matthew