“I don’t go to church ask God for anything,” Bob said, at the Friday morning Coffee and Conversation Bible Study group. “I go to give thanks to God for what I have and am able to do.”

The main reason I go to church is to sing.  This morning we began our sabbath rest singing, “O Day Of Rest and Gladness.”  How is one’s body able to rest while singing of the day of gladness, a day of joy and light.  We also sang, “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing.”  We sang of Easter triumph, Easter joy.

We heard in the readings of the mountain top feast in Isaiah 25, and Jesus’ story of our invitation to his wedding banquet. These were sandwiched around the promise of psalm 23 that the Lord prepares a table for us even in the presence of our enemies, even as we walk through death’s dark valley, followed Paul’s assertion that “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” How appropriate to sing “In Thee is gladness Amid all sadness.”  The hymn is set to a 16^th century tune, which surely must have been intended for dancing.

Then going to the altar where, “Christ Himself, the priest presiding, Yet in bread and wine abiding, offring pardon grace and peace.” Finally we were ”Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing…to work for God’s Kingdom and answer His call.”

That’s why I go to church, what about you?