A Liturgy for the First Sunday (Or Any Time You Aren’t Going)

Transitioning from the guilt of the empty pew to the grace of real life.

My stomach dropped a little bit when I heard them in the distance.

The sound of the church bells from a nearby church, reminding parishioners it was time to come inside the doors. But I wasn’t going.

For my whole life, I had showed up to church almost every Sunday, with only occasional misses for stomach bugs and strep throat. I even went to church on family vacations. It was what a “good Christian” would do, right?

But on this particular morning, I wasn’t going. I felt selfish and guilty as I loaded water bottles onto my bicycle and tightened the straps of my bike shoes. Who was I if I wasn’t going to church?

I’m not against churches or attending a service that you really love. But I am against feeling guilty for not attending. Church had ceased to be a place of respite and service, and instead, had become a source of pressure, stress, and performance.

It was time for a reset.

I wish I had a way at that time to release the pressure on myself and the guilt I felt. This isn’t a sermon; it’s a sanctuary for the senses. A personal liturgy to help you release the pressure and guilt you may feel from the church pew. It’s a call to be present in this moment, wherever you are, and a chance to feel alive.

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The full "Sunday Morning Liturgy" and the audio read-along are available to the Grace in the Weeds paid community. Join us to access this week’s sanctuary bundle.

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