There are several strata of togetherness.
Physically together - Before returning to pastoring last year, I guess I didn't realize the extent to which physically gathering with others for worship had depreciated. I saw multiple congregations each week, but didn't have the experience of seeing a single congregation week after week. The aftermath of Covid-19 affected people's commitment to gathering. Being part of a post-Christian society affects public worship. A relaxed sense of commitment is a part of this, too.
I try to be so careful not to use manipulation and guilt-tripping in talking about attending public worship because I know that often serious, faithful people are deterred by valid reasons. At the same time intentional gathering has serious implications for the vitality of our spiritual journey. When the Bible says, "Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together." It adds, "But keep coming together in order to encourage one another to love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24-25). The first of these--gathering--greatly aids the second--encouraging each other to be better kingdom citizens.
Authentically connected together - You can be in the same room with other people and not share authentic connection with them. Some of that is just the limitation of a public worship service: it's one hour of mostly sitting or standing and not engaging interpersonally. Some of it is being deliberate in engaging others. Some people are quiet introverts and they did their best in just showing up. Some of it is healthy systems that easily facilitate connection. This is why we need healthy small group ministry and good member care. Member care is everybody's responsibility to each other. It is just careful mindfulness about people in our spiritual community and caring about what is happening in their lives.
Spiritually together - "Whoa, differences!" was the way a deputy described discovering the aftermath of a drug deal gone sideways in Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men. The devastation was grossly grammatically undersold. So it is with us sometimes. We aren't leaving each other dead in the desert, literally, but neither are we free of toxic relational issues. People are complicated and connection is hard, but the kinds of things the Bible says are helpful aren't that difficult to understand. They are just hard to practice. But that doesn't free us from the obligation of working things out. We are called to a "ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). This is more than just sharing the Gospel with people (as important as that is). It is also living at peace with everyone, as much as it depends on us (Romans 12:18).
Real life together - I remember seeing a church that advertised itself as having, "The Sweetest fellowship this side of Heaven," and actually that is a great aspiration! But aspirational values and actual values aren't always identical. They only become aligned as we practice the detailed things it takes to make it so.
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