Dear Trinity,
I've never warmed to the name 'Drive-Thru' Church. It gives the impression that people just "drive by", and that church right now is people driving past in cars, like ships passing in the night.
Psalm 122 has given me a new name for what Trinity Church is now doing each Sunday: Pilgrimage Church. The Bible's subtitle for Psalm 122 says: "A song for pilgrims ascending to worship in Jerusalem." We could paraphrase those words for today: "A song for scattered pilgrims driving up the hill to church."
Last week people rejoiced when they heard Carson say, "Now let's gather in the church parking lot - to see your brothers and sisters in Christ!" We rejoiced because we do not gather only to worship the Lord. We do not gather only to hear his Word. We do not gather only to recognize Jesus in the breaking of bread. We also gather to see Jesus in each other's faces.
Listen afresh to 2 Corinthians 5:20:
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us."
Last Sunday, Trinity people did not drive through church. We are the church! We gathered together to be Christ's ambassadors one to another, as God made his appeal through us!
I can't wait to see you (and Jesus!) this Sunday,
Father Matt
PS - This week we are creating a safe way to spend more time together, and less time waiting in line ascending Peachy Street. Please prepare by reading Psalm 122 - A Psalm of Ascents - a pilgrimage song for God's people.
And may you find yourself praying verses 1 & 5:
I was glad when I heard them say,
"Let us go to the house of the Lord . . .
This is where God's people go up,
God's people make their pilgrimage here!
PPS - Please click HERE for the answers Julia Barger received from Sunday's question: Where do you see Jesus?