it's only one day

Greetings from the folks at the Red Roof Church here in Bulverde, Texas.  I’m Lee Harder, the pastor of St. Paul Lutheran, wishing you God’s peace in this coming week.  We would like to invite you to join us for worship as we celebrate Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  We gather for worship at 8:30 AM in the main sanctuary for traditional services and in our Christian Faith Center for worship with a contemporary flavor at 10:45 AM.  We would be honored for you to be a part of our celebration.  If you are seeking a spiritual home where you can know you’re going to feast on God’s Word from Scripture, we just might be the answer to your needs.  Why not check us out by going to our web site at redroofchurch.org and seeing the ministries we offer and catch one of our worship services.  We’d be glad to have you join our family.                                                                                      
This Sunday is a big day.  Well, every Sunday is a big day for those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, or should be.  After all, it is the Lord’s day as we come to worship Him.  Although, I suspect this   Sunday,  February 2, might offer a distraction that will impact those coming to worship and not just here, but everywhere.  It’s Super Bowl Sunday.                                                  
Even though the game itself is not played until the evening, kick off at 5:30 PM CST, you can be pretty sure the Super Bowl parties will probably begin Saturday night and continue into Sunday.  At the latest, they will kick off long before the game starts.  Having or attending such a party requires organization and planning.  You’ve got to start early.  Let’s see?  Go to church or get ready for the party?  Hummm?                                                                                                                                                                       
As a pastor, I recognize the reality of competing with such powerful competition.  Attendance might be a little down.                     
I realize that the Super Bowl is a big thing, but I agree with Aaron Rogers when he said God probably doesn’t care about football.  He is concerned for the people. but not who wins.  I don’t think God is a sports fan, any sport.  He is a people fan and has set aside time and opportunity to build on a relationship with Him.  He loves us so and is so passionate about our future that He took on flesh and died so we could have life with Him.                                                                                                                      
Yet, think of all the reasons, which is only another word for excuses, we give to explain why we don’t have time, even one little hour, to have a relationship with our Creator, to hear the extent of His love, to appreciate what He has done for us and what we can do to show how much we love Him.                                                                                                                                                              
I know, the Super Bowl is only once a year, but it doesn’t start until the evening and the pre-game hype is recordable.  Most of us can DVR it.  On other Sundays it’s shopping for the big sales, the roast for the noon meal when the company arrives, traveling to someplace, and so many more.  My favorite comes from those with families that don’t come to worship because “they want to spend time with the kids as a family.” Personally, I can’t think of a better, richer, more fulfilling place to come together and spend time as a family than in God’s house of prayer sharing our faith and love of God.  But I suppose I could be wrong.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
I’m confident that God is not going to disinherit you from His heavenly kingdom because you missed this  Sunday for worship with fellow believers.  He knows it’s Super Bowl Sunday.  God knows everything.  He’ll understand next week, too, that we’re tired and just can’t get up for church.  The week has been murder, hustling here and there without a moments rest.  Besides, it’s only one day.                                                                                                                                                                                                             
Somebody asked me on both of the two Sundays I was on vacation in January, “Why are you in church?  Aren’t you on vacation?”  I think my reply surprised them.  I said, with a smile, “Since I’m always telling  people how important it is for them to worship, I figured since I was at home, I could and should come to   worship.”  Then I winked and mentioned how I would hate to be a hypocrite.
 
More importantly, I wanted to worship and as a special bonus, I got to do it with my wife.  A rare thing indeed, since I’m always in front leading worship.  It felt a little weird, but it was very nice.                                                                                                                  
I don’t like to miss any opportunity to build on my relationship with God or His people.  God doesn’t take a vacation from me.  I figure I should make sure I don’t take one from Him.  Something you might give some thought to the next Sunday you want to spend time with the family.  There’s a family eager to spend time with your family in a body of believers who share your love for Christ.  They miss you when you’re not here.  So does God.                                                                                                                            
And those are my thoughts.
God bless.
Pastor Lee