Where were you on Sunday morning?  In a recent sermon Kelly mentioned that Zoar has 780 persons on its roles.  I looked around me and saw maybe 90 attendees at the first service.  The second service usually seats around 120.  Where are the rest of our congregants and why aren’t they here?

I remember times (whole years, actually) when I didn’t bother to set my alarm on Saturday night because I knew I wouldn’t be going to church the next morning.  Why?  I could think of any number of reasons.  I worked hard all week and needed my rest.  I didn’t have anything to wear.  It was raining.   But mostly, I had just gotten out of the habit of going to church on Sunday morning.  I had forgotten how it felt to be in that holy place.  I had forgotten about the spring in my step as I walked out of the sanctuary after the service.  I had forgotten the difference that one hour in church made to my entire existence.

I would drift further and further away and then something would happen to give me a nudge.  It might be good news, or bad news, or no news.  Whatever it was, it was surely God driven and I knew enough to heed the call.  I would remember the reasons for going and ignore the reasons for not going.  I would get back in the habit of Sunday morning church attendance.  I would once again become a whole person.

This message is for the 500+ of you who did not hear Kelly’s sermon.  Remember how good you used to feel as you left church on Sunday mornings?  You can regain that feeling.  The Easter season is an excellent time for spiritual renewal, for getting back into the habit of Sunday morning church attendance.  Consider this a nudge.