A question that does come across my path every now and then and makes me stop and think is: do we really need church? This question often comes from someone who hasn’t been to church in a while and a fairly unique occupational hazard that I have is that people often feel that they need to confess to me the reasons why they haven’t been to church in a while. As an aside, this does make me feel a tad uncomfortable as no one needs to justify anything to me! 

So, do we really need church? Is it easier just to pray and worship God in your own way on your own? Do we need to gather, every Sunday and sporadically throughout the week to know God better? I think these are good questions. 

Over the last 4 weeks a small group of us on a Monday have gathered together for the Lent group. A brilliant course written by our very own Stephen Spencer where we have been reading the Bible together and reflecting on different journeys of faith. This, of course, has led to reflecting on our journeys of faith and what pointers or ‘waymarks’ have helped us keep the faith and different journey points. These weekly gatherings have been simple and yet powerful. I can honestly say they have been the highlight of my week. All we do is read the Bible together, share what has jumped out to us and then share as much as we want about our own lives and journeys. But in the sharing, in the honesty, in the laughing, in the caring, God’s Holy Spirit has been breathing over our words and conservations and transforming into something much more profound. This small expression of a Christian community has been Church and I feel closer to my brothers and sisters and God as a result. 

This question of: do we really need church? Came to me again this week and I thought of the Monday Lent group and felt more confident than I ever have in answering ‘yes’. The Bible mentions a lot about the importance of gathering together, I think something happens when we do that goes beyond our understanding. It echoes something of family, of the joy of ‘being with’ others, of rejoicing when somebody is rejoicing and mourning when someone is mourning. Is it always easy? No. I think we can all testify to that! And I do understand why some people find it easier to find God away from Church. And yet, when we are gathered together we mirror something of the diverse, unique and communal God that we worship. It reminds us that we are body and when we are together we are a richer expression of God’s kingdom. 

It is on my heart to look at the importance of the ‘gathered’ expression of our church community. This includes Sunday, but it also strikes me that the mid-week smaller groups are just as important. Having a moment where we can share, pray for and be prayed for, to listen, to input, to journey with others enables us in our faith. I will be sharing more on this in the coming months! 

Laura Verrall-Kelly