On Sunday, February 17, 2008, we did something at Church in the Hills that I never thought would ever happen – we called off our official Sunday morning worship. As a newly minted pastor, fresh out of seminary, the concept of postponing worship because of the weather astonished me. And of course, I didn’t look at it from a practical point of view or for reasons of safety. No, I looked at the canceling of worship as a direct result of my failure as a new pastor. Regardless of the weather conditions, the repeated warnings from the weather service, and the Michigan State Police driving reports, I saw the cessation of worship as indicative of my pastoral leadership at Church in the Hills.
Since then, I’ve had plenty of people talk me down and remind me of how dangerous it was to drive up into the “hills” in order to get to Church in the Hills. They’ve reminded me about the necessity for safety and care of their families and the need to be responsible when faced with adversity. Some even told about the worship they still were able to offer in their homes as a family.
I know that this was a fluke Sunday and this sort of thing is an anomaly. However, I was not upset about the weather, my self-doubt, or my failure to understand the danger of freezing rain. I was frustrated because of what “skipping” worship meant on a grander scale.
In the Presbyterian Church, we value communal worship very highly. We practice our faith in the context of a community of believers. While we are all individuals, equally loved by God, we are also members of a larger family of God’s children. We are called to be together in worship, fellowship, celebration, grief, and everything in between. We come to worship to stand beside the man, woman, or child next to us and join with them in our prayers, our songs, and our faith.
I was sad that week because that opportunity was missed for the community. However, our worship is not limited to a time or place. Our faith is not restricted by weather or driving conditions. And the love of God is not held back, restrained, or “canceled” because we miss one scheduled Sunday morning service.
So to everyone at Church in the Hills and any other house of worship in the area – make an effort to worship, work, and play together - but always do so in a way that takes care of yourselves and your families. Be a community that looks out for the well-being of all its members and seeks to share peace, justice, and love with the world.
