Now it is time to return to in-person gathered worship. Though this statement is admittedly not theologically precise, it is time to “return to church.” Why is it important to get back in the habit of regular and faithful attendance? Why should those connected to The Alpine Chapel make a new commitment to attend as regularly as possible? Here are four reasons.
The Bible mandates we gather for worship. The writer of Hebrews is straight to the point: “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25, NLT). Gathering for worship is not an optional activity. It is not an occasional activity. It is an ongoing and regular commitment.
The Bible emphasizes the importance of the local church. Think about it. After the four gospels, almost all of the New Testament is about the local church or directed to the local church. Throughout the New Testament, different local congregations met together and worshipped together. It is simply what believers do.
When we gather together, we encourage each other. Many of us have become introverts since March of 2019. We’ve adjusted too well to streaming services and Zoom Bible studies. But isn’t it true that we have not gotten or given the same level of encouragement as those times when we were physically present with each other? Look at Hebrews 10:25 again. The act of gathering is an act of encouragement.
We grow spiritually when we commit to faithful attendance. We grow as a believer in Christ when we have a committed prayer life. We grow when we are committed to read Scripture daily. We grow when we share our faith regularly. We grow when we serve in ministry. And we grow when we commit to attend worship services faithfully. That attendance is a spiritual discipline. It is a vital and necessary act toward greater spiritual maturity.
The pandemic and quarantine have been transformational moments for our world and our church. We now have the incredible opportunity to hit the reset button in our own lives. For many Christians, committed church attendance was waning before the pandemic. God has reminded us, perhaps even given us a major wake-up call, how really important the gathered church is. Get ready to return to the gathered church in Telluride. But do so this time with a new enthusiasm and faithful commitment every week. It’s a habit we cannot and should not neglect.
For those interested, I am posting the official statement released by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) who have released an amended public health order modifying the COVID-19 Dial Framework.:
“Worship and ceremonies such as weddings and funerals are classified as essential. This means that they must do their best to follow public health recommendations but may exceed recommended capacity caps if they cannot conduct their essential activity within those restrictions. They still must require masks indoors and other prevention measures like 6 foot spacing between members of different households and appropriate sanitation. Outdoor activities are still strongly preferred.”
So, we are OPEN and going strong! We want you to join us! Of course, you are welcome to continue to wear your mask, but most of us will no longer be wearing them. Hand sanitizer is located near each door and the service is always available to watch online at 9am, either here on this site, or on our Facebook page.
We are so excited to see you this coming Saturday at 6pm or Sunday at 9am! May Jesus continue to shine on you and through you!
For a personal message from Pastor Michael concerning masks and vaccination requirements, please click HERE.
