While a student at the Duke Divinity School, I was a member of the school’s Worship Committee. It was comprised mainly of students, but with a few faculty members on it. One day we were going around the table reflecting on the
question, “Why do you go to chapel?” (We had chapel three days a week in the Divinity School.) Each had a different answer; some liked the music, some the preaching, some the fellowship. We came to Professor Fred Herzog. He looked at us for a bit, scratched his beard, and said, “I go to chapel for one reason. I go to chapel to be reminded that I am not in charge here. I go for that reason.”
We never come into church alone on Sunday morning. We are greeted at the door by the spirits of those who have since gone on. The souls of those who 
influenced us, who demonstrated the faith for us in authentic and meaningful ways, are seated with us for worship. Those who inspired us through their wisdom, insight, perspective and experience gather with us in spirit each and every week. We are never alone in the sanctuary of worship.
We worship with some of the saints each Sunday, because we need to be reminded that the church is not something that you and I just thought of. I’m not in charge here, for which I thank God.
