From the Pastor

We're Open Sundays!

(It’s Mondays that I’m worried about.)

Pastor Dave I sat down at the table at the assigned place, where my name appeared on a lovely hand-lettered card just next to the folded linen napkin. Being the outgoing type, I extended my hand to those sitting next to me, introduced myself and then nodded as those around the rest of the table also offered their names.

Soon, some grew weary of the speaker, even putting some to sleep, so a few of us took a moment to stand up and leave the room for a stretch. There I met one of my table companions. He was a retirement-aged man with a full head of white hair and a friendly smile.

I re-introduced myself and he did the same, but then we both fell into silence for a moment, looking at the ground. He had seen my name tag and the title ‘Pastor’ by my name and asked, “So, where’s your church?” I told him. “How’s it going there?” he asked. I told him it was going fine. “Is it really fine or are you just saying that?” he pressed on. Though a bit stunned, I reassured him. “Funny,” he said, “nobody I know goes to church any more. I just assumed nobody showed up on Sundays.” And he went back to staring at the ground.

“It isn’t Sundays I worry about,” I told him, “It’s whether or not they show up on Mondays that worries me.” “Mondays?” he said as he looked up. “You have church on Mondays?” “Sometimes,” I told him, “but, it’s not about sermons. It’s about living.” He went back to staring at the ground. More silence.

I took a step to head back to my seat but he looked up again and spoke. “So, you don’t care the churches are mostly empty?” “Sure I do, but I care about us being ‘present’ on Monday as much as Sunday. If I can get Jesus to stretch from Sunday into Monday, I’m happy.”

Sundays are a gift to us from God for the sake of some good purpose: for the sake of Mondays. The Sabbath in its many forms and customs is given to humanity so that the week that follows it also becomes a gift. Monday means less if it doesn’t follow Sunday’s lead.

So, if you haven’t been here on a Sunday for a while, I would remind you that Monday belongs to God, too. It also is a day worthy of your ‘Sunday best’. And so are Tuesdays, Wednesdays….

—Pastor Dave

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