When is ritual essential?  When does ritual impede relationship?

Our pastor reminded us today that while rituals are not inherently wrong, we need to be careful not to allow ritual to replace reality.  God invites us into a relationship with him …

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:37-38

Being in relationship with the God of the universe, we find satisfaction – a saturation and completion for that need within us … our God-sized thirst!