"What are you doing here?"

I heard a story recently of a person who had stopped attending her church. She didn’t stop for any one particular reason. She didn’t quit in protest of a church doctrine or the new color of the carpet. She hadn’t suddenly become an atheist, or disillusioned with what we sometimes call the institutional church (or, “organized religion”). It just kind of happened. She got busy and missed a few Sundays in a row, and then a few more, and by then she kind of had a new routine, a new weekend schedule. Like so many people, she continued to think of herself as a part of her church. It would certainly be the place she went to if she needed pastoral support, or if someone in her family died, or if she wanted to go somewhere on Easter.

This is a common story. It happens to people for months, years, or even decades. And then one day, something draws them back. Maybe they’ve run into someone from the congregation at grocery store. Maybe things aren’t going so well. Maybe they miss the community, the music, the quiet ritual of prayer. Maybe they’re lives just become less busy. Whatever the reason, this woman who had not been to church in a long time decided to return one Sunday. She prepared for church just as she had always done before. I don’t know for sure, but maybe she asked someone if the times for worship had changed (this does happen sometimes). She arrived, parked her car, walked in the door and was greeted by a woman who was serving as an usher that morning. This usher recognized her, and said to her “what are you doing here?”

Once again, this woman stopped attending her church. This time, there was a very particular reason.

We have all come to worship at some time with the sense that we didn’t really deserve to be welcomed there. We have all felt uncertain whether our presence at church would be questioned. If you haven’t felt this, just wait. I bet it’ll happen sooner or later. So thank God for all the people who stand at the doors to give a welcome as warm and accepting as the welcome given by Jesus Christ.