WHERE DID the good old-fashioned church bus go? When our youth pastor’s wife texted my son Ben to tell him they missed him at the youth service, my son complained to me.

There once was a time when a pastor would make house calls when one of his sheep did not show up for a Sunday service.

Ben complained that he was not able to get to church because I have to work most Sundays. He had a few good points about that.

Everyone talks about carpooling but they are also worried about liability and getting sued. What do we have car insurance for? Again, what happened to the good old-fashioned church bus? They are almost extinct.

I never had the chance to ride on one, but I’m sure if I asked some of the older people, they could tell some stories about those bus rides. Church gossip — also called fellowship talk. They weren’t worried about liability; they helped out each other.

Ben is now attending another church with a family friend, a single parent who has every Sunday off. Elena, thanks a lot. I love going to my church, but I wish there was something we could do for those children and youth who are left alone on Sundays because their single parents have to work. I’m awaiting my next Sunday to be off.