Christians around the world attend Sunday services to thank God for His blessings and to worship Him with prayer and music. Church is a place where people all come together no matter their ages, ethnic backgrounds or economic status.

There is a lighter side to attending services as well - observing church people.

Although it may vary, church people fall into a few different categories. To begin with, there are the senior citizens, the faithful church goers who are very respected. They generally dress in their Sunday best and are always on time, even a bit early.

Conversely, there are the latecomers who are never on time despite their best efforts. These people often stand in the back of the church for a bit hoping to see an open seat. However, most times there is only room at the very front of the sanctuary, so the latecomers generally remain standing in the back or they are relegated to the overflow room watching a video feed - if the church has one.

There are also young families that attend church with toddlers or older children in tow. These moms and dads bring a large tote bag filled with toys and books, as well as snacks such as crackers or Cheerios and juice boxes, all in an effort to keep their children quiet. These methods generally seem to work - at least for a time. However, it is inevitable that one of the little ones will break free and make a run for it down the aisle with a mom or dad giving chase.

One subset of the young family is parents with infants. If they are lucky, the babies stay asleep during the service. But babies don't usually work that way. A crying baby is usually taken out of the sanctuary by mom or dad, and they often remain in the back with the latecomers.

Some churches also have a "security team" stationed in the back of the church. This is generally a few men from the congregation who keep an eye on the exits as a way to monitor safety and they provide assistance to church goers as needed. This also gives them an opportunity to catch up with the guys and talk in whispers about the Eagles game later in the day.

Not all, but some teenagers are reluctant to attend church and be away from their devices. I once witnessed a teen in front of me, using some agility skills, manage to hide his cellphone behind his back and text all during church without his parents noticing!

The church that I attend has decided to open its doors not only on Sundays, but on other days of the week as well so that people can stop in for some quiet time or to say a little prayer.

I took advantage of this one Saturday afternoon after running errands. While the church is beautiful, with its stained-glass windows and the ornate wooden pews and Communion rail, something was missing. There were no seniors, latecomers, young families, teenagers, crying babies or security men in church that day. I missed them all. It made me realize the truth of what a pastor once told me years ago - the church is not a building. Church is the people - the people who come together to thank God for His blessings and to worship Him with prayer and music.