St. Matthew's Episcopal

Church

Pennington, NJ

Sunday Mornings – Optional!

A Thought from the Rector

During the second semester of my freshman year in college, my class schedule included an 8 AM French course. I really did not want to be there especially at 8 AM, and that sentiment was expressed by most of my classmates! In those days we were allowed six cuts before one failed the course, so attendance was not optional. Our saving grace was that the instructor had a difficult time getting to class on time. We were required to wait for 10 minutes. On more than one occasion, he would be coming up the front stairs while the class was escaping down the back stairs heading for the student union, a cup of coffee and conversation with friends! So we made attendance optional. It became a joke!

But now as I look back on the experience, I realize that we, the students, were the losers. We should have been outraged by the fact that this tardy teacher was wasting our parents' hard earned tuition dollars and that we were missing out on our education. In retrospect, neither our attendance nor our professor's obligation was optional. I am reasonably certain all parents would agree!
 

Recently, we had conversation among members of the parish leadership and I was informed that because of the lifestyles that have enslaved so many of our parish community, Sunday morning worship and the spiritual development of our children have become the only "optional" activities on the long list of "obligations" facing the typical family. Even "mandatory" team attendance is considered to be more important than Church! I don't mean to single out children's sports, because I do consider sports to be an important component to personal development. Nor do I fail to recognize that there are certain obligations and circumstances that do make Sunday morning worship attendance impossible, such as work schedules, illness, travel plans, etc. What I want us all to consider is that nothing is of greater importance than our spiritual growth and development, and our relationship with God in Christ.  We are part of a community of faith, and our faith experience is both individual and corporate. Jesus never intended us to do it alone!  One is a very remarkable person, if one can attain all that God intends for us Sunday morning on the golf course, at the soccer field, on the skating rink, working to an early grave at the office, or even "worshipping the saints in the sack." Whatever it is that keeps you from Sunday worship keeps you from fulfilling God's expectation of "remembering the Sabbath Day and keeping it holy."

I was an immature short-sighted French student, squandering that part of the gift of my education. Now I am much older and hopefully wiser, cramming for the finals!  I want to encourage each of you to think and pray carefully about your priorities on the Lord's Day and not to squander a Gift. It is a time that God has set aside for us "to grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord." As I see it, it is not optional, but absolutely essential for all of us. As beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, I hope you agree!

Oh, by the way, when you travel this summer or anytime in the future, why not bring back a Sunday bulletin from the community with whom you have worshipped?  We can post them on the parish bulletin board and learn about what is happening in other churches.  Also, please note our service schedule; you might try either our Wednesday 7 AM Eucharist or our 5 PM Sunday service as an occasional exciting alternative!  In any event, I want you to know that when we don't see you, you are missed because you are a beloved member of the family!

Faithfully,

Jack Belmont, Rector