When I was young and first started going to Sunday School, our teacher taught us this game:

This is the church
This is the steeple
Open the doors,
And see all the people?

Did you do the choreography, either in your head or literally, as you read this?

One of Christ’s messages all through his ministry was that people mattered more than institutions. Just think about all the times he was questioned by the authorities at the time and how he stood up to them with questions of his own.

This last Sunday, I had the privilege to serve the Church community by helping Heidi at church with the Facebook Live streaming service. When I walked up the stairs on Sunday morning, the Proudfoot Fellowship area was shrouded in darkness. Heidi and Sarah were deep in the sanctuary preparing, so I didn’t even hear them.

Sure, I’ve been in the church early and at different times when it was empty and quiet. This was different. The coffee maker wasn’t perking away. There were no notes, voices, or laughter coming from the vocal choir as they gathered for rehearsal on a typical Sunday morning. No one quietly working to prepare coffee hour or communion. Without the community of people quietly or busily working away, the building was different. Sad almost. Missing us in our quarantine.

I’ve heard the message my entire life that the Church is the people and that is more important that the building. This last week, I truly understood the meaning of this lesson. Without all of us, the Church is really just a building. We, collectively, make up the community of Central Presbyterian Church, united in one mission to serve God through service to others.

Even though I’m an introvert, this social distancing is getting to me. If I ever start to take any community for granted, I pray I will remember these days and not take the opportunity to work and serve and worship with others for granted.

Stay safe and fast. We can take comfort in Christ that we will all meet again and worship and service Christ together in the community that is Central Presbyterian Church.