Parent & Principal Coffee Hour: “Church Chat”
On the first Friday of each month, at 8 AM, the PVCA administration hosts a Parent & Principal Coffee Hour, which provides a great opportunity for parents to connect with administration and staff, other parents, and some of our upper school students. At each meeting a preselected topic is discussed and presented by a principal, faculty member, or guest, with time for discussion and reflection afterwards. Please consider planning to attend one of our upcoming coffee hours; we are sure you will enjoy it.
Last Friday, parents, faculty, and Mr. Malloy’s Bible Class gathered in the Townsend Library for the PVCA Parent & Principal Coffee Hour. Coffee and light refreshments were available for all, as attendees engaged in a discussion called “Church Chat,” as this month’s topic centered on the importance of church attendance. Our esteemed panel included Jason Ham, pastor at The Gathering; Corey Sanders, pastor at Vox Church; and Megan Hill, a published author and managing editor of The Gospel Coalition. The panel addressed various questions related to church and faith. Some of these discussions included ideas on how parents might encourage their adult children who have stopped attending church to resume attending, fellowship among different denominational backgrounds and beliefs, key factors to consider when searching for a church, and issues faced by individuals who have experienced hurt from the church.
A question that came up was, “Is online church really church?” Pastor Ham expressed that he thinks it qualifies as church since individuals are coming together in the presence of the Lord; but he emphasized that personal faith is not intended to be a solo journey and Scripture calls for us to be in community. Megan Hill added that she believes that offering online streaming is a valuable way to serve/preach to individuals who may be physically unable to attend church services. However, Hill also pointed out some potential downsides. For example, it can be too easy for people to skip logging into church altogether, which may lead to making church less of a priority. Pastor Sanders emphasized that the church is an essential part of our faith and that online services should not replace the in-person experience, as people are more connected when they gather together. Every panelist provided their insight from unique viewpoints, yet all the perspectives shared by the panelists were grounded in biblical truth. The Coffee Hour concluded with a session for questions from both parents and students, which the panel addressed.
PVCA encourages all families to attend church. If you are not currently connected with a church, please reach out to us for assistance; we would be happy to help you find one. We have many resources that we would love to share with you. And of course, we look forward to seeing you at our next Coffee Hour which will be Friday, February 7.