Given that I spend the majority of my life studying, discussing and reflecting about our congregational life here at our church, as well as attending meetings and seminars on modern Christian ministry, it is impossible for me to avoid the comment now and then that goes something like this: “Ya know, Reverend, the brick and mortar church is a thing of the past. So many people get their ‘spiritual food’ online or in small groups of one sort or another. Isn’t it time that you ‘get with the times’?”

My response to this is something like this: “As I look at this important subject, Mr. Jones, to me what matters the most is, are we focused most of all on loving the Lord and loving our neighbor as ourselves? This was the heart of Christ’s message. As my favorite theologian puts it, ‘Love to the Lord and caring for the neighbor make the church.’ (Secrets of Heaven 4723).’ Another way of looking at this in my opinion is, as Christ Himself said, wherever two or three are gathered together in His name, there He is in the midst of us.”