How important is church attendance to you?

When Covid-19 first struck many churches started meeting through zoom or relaying their services on Facebook...

This meant that people could still attend church after a fashion and could still have fellowship albeit from a distance. This was important and, for many who lived on their own, a lifeline.

But what about now? The churches have reopened and we are again able to meet together. It seems, however, that some have got used to church attendance remotely and feel no need to attend in person. This is understandable if the reason is infirmity but this is not always the case.

How refreshing then to find people like N who is an asylum seeker and was previously a guest at the Narrowgate night shelter, who has very little income to cover everything (food, travel, toiletries, etc.) who is willing to make a journey every week which involves him travelling from his home in Runcorn to Manchester and then to Altrincham in order to attend church because it is so important for him to be there in person.

We are encouraged ‘not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together’ (Hebrews 10v24-25) which is said in the context of us stirring up love and good works. We need to be together to encourage one another and to be encouraged by others to fulfil those good works that he has for us to do. N is certainly an encouragement when he arrives at church smiling and greeting everyone and we are needed to do the same.