Daniel Semelsberger is our guest preacher today. A meditation for the Church on why the Church matters, particularly with respect to the problem (or question) of suffering that is often raised as an objection to the existence of God and/or the truth Christianity. Or, put another way, it's about the Church as an apologetic, and how God intends the Church to be part of his response to the reality of suffering and evil. Lectionary texts for today are Nehemiah 8.1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12.12-31a; Luke 4.14-21.