Why I Don't Cancel Church

It was the first heavy snow at my first church. I had not thought about what to do in such a case. I called some folks and they said they usually cancelled. They said you called the tv stations and told them and they would put it onscreen. Done.

Later that evening, I got a call from the Methodist elder statesman in our county, Eric Patterson. Eric is a pastor I admire. I have always profited from his sermons. He was a slave to pastoral visitation (a very good thing); I have regularly run into him in hospitals. He is kind and patient, full of grace. Have I mentioned I admire and
respect him?
Anyhoo, he called and said, "I see y'all cancelled church today. How did that feel?"
"To be honest, not real good."
"Let me give you some advice. Don't cancel church." And as the conversation continued, he shared a great many things with me.
At the time, I lived next door to the church. He mentioned I could just walk over. And if you don't live close by and you think it will be difficult to get there in the morning, sleep at the church. Actually did that one time. The boys had the time of their lives, camped out in my office.
Why so hard core? We would not want people to be in danger going to church. Absolutely not.
But is it Rupp weather? That is, if you had tickets to UK-Arkansas, and the weather was bad enough to make you think you should stay home from church, would the Cats cancel? And would you stay home?
My commitment is I will be at church. If you do not think you can safely make it, don't go. But we will have church.
One of the things Rev. Patterson mentioned was that there are people nearby your church who may not be able to get to their church farther away. But they might walk to your church or take a short drive. And I have found that to be true. Once people know you are open, they come if their church is closed or too far away. I don't try to steal them; we are just a place there for the worship of God.
Did we have much lower attendance Sunday? Yes. But it was a powerful service.
For me, it is simple. I will be at church. If people can make it, praise God. If they think it not prudent, fine.
And notice something next time you see all the cancellations: there will not be a Roman catholic church on the list.