I’ve been fortunate to travel a lot. There are always churches to see and I enjoy the many styles of buildings. The simple, the extravagant, and the modern.

Last week I wrote about my experience in a little town (population 553) where they’d experienced a terrible tornado and hailstorm. It was amazing to see the destruction the hailstones made on the walls, vehicles, windows. We were shocked as were the residents of the town and the people staying at the RV park where we stayed. What struck me was the cooperation and kindness shown to each other to help clean the huge mess the storm had caused.

We drove home on Sunday, but before our drive, we worshipped at a small church in town. Obviously, we were newcomers but the people joyfully welcomed us into their little church. We met people who’d lived in the community all their lives. The pastor had been their spiritual leader for thirty years. A family sat in the pew in front of us. The mom told me they had lived in the town for only a year, moving to the town because they desired to raise their family in a smaller town instead of the outskirts of Oregon’s largest city, Portland. The father was a dentist, the mom, a former pharmacist, was busy homeschooling their five children. It was good to visit with her and it reminded me of my own upbringing in a small, country church.

We lived in a rural community. Our church where my father was pastor was small. Every Sunday morning, Dad would walk across the driveway of our house, enter the church, and ring the bell. It was very similar to the church we worshipped in last Sunday.  We heard the church bell a few moments before the service began. The pastor played a ukulele, another played the guitar, and the pastor’s wife played the piano, a young girl, helped with the singing. Everyone was involved in the service.

Worshipping in that church reminded me of the rich heritage we share, if we are believers. There is a sweet spirit of connection. In some churches today, it seems almost like we’re attending a concert. Here, I heard the voices around me. Some sang a little off-key, others sang rousingly. It was beautiful to hear the voices and be united in our praise to God.

I believe God enjoys our worship and praise in small and large congregations. What is important to Him is our heart of worship.

But the time is coming and is already here, when by the power of God’s Spirit people will worship the Father as he really is, offering him the true worship that he wants. 24 God is Spirit, and only by the power of his Spirit can people worship him as he really is (John 4:23-24 GNT).

I recommend to you who believe in Jesus Christ, to seek out a place to worship this Sunday. Have you avoided going to church because you’ve gotten out of the habit of attending church because for a time, the church doors were closed? Have you been grieving and were afraid it would be too emotional to attend a church? I found attending a church helped me focus on God when I was grieving. The songs soothed my soul. Do you have a church home? If not, find one, and get to know other believers. The friends I count the dearest are those who are in the circle of faith.

As I’ve mentioned, Jim and I read a devotional with a hymn of the day. It includes words of the hymn and a brief story about the writer of the words. Jim usually asks,”Do you know this one?”

Often I do. I surprise myself that I know so many. I believe it was my rich heritage of attending a church where we sang hymns morning and evening on Sundays. Sometimes the hymns are very old. Others are fairly contemporary, but all are rich. We find the music in our hymnal, if it’s there, and sing together. Me at the piano, Jim seated beside me. God hears us as the two of us worship in song.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near; Join me in glad adoration! (vs 1)

The final verse:

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!

Let the amen sound from His people again! Gladly forever adore Him. (vs 4) Joachim Neander (1650-1680).

A sweet remembrance visiting that little congregation in a small town. I hope you join me in your community and I in mine, to attend a worship service. We don’t know when we won’t have the freedom as we now do, to enjoy worship together.