The Tamaqua Area Faith Fellowship Network will sponsor a free showing of the film "When God Left the Building" at 1 p.m. Nov. 8 at the New Life Assembly of God Church, 407 Schuylkill Ave., Tamaqua. The film examines the decline of the American church, focusing on the current spiritual climate.

Film producer Tom Schultz said weekly church attendance has dropped to about 20 percent of the population, resulting in the closure of approximately 4,000 churches per year. "The American church as we know it is dying," Schultz said. "What was once the heart and soul of the community is going away. We wondered why, and we wondered what's next?"Filmmakers spent three years documenting a church that saw its membership decline from 900 to 40. The film prominently features the unconventional work of churches and organizations that are actively doing things differently, as well as outside the traditional church building.A preview is available at

www.WhenGodLefttheBuilding.com.The TAFFN is an organization of lay leaders from Tamaqua area churches and is able to provide the free event thanks to the generous contributions of local churches and civic organizations.Refreshments and a brief discussion period will follow the 90-minute film presentation.Reservations are requested, to ensure enough seating, by emailing

gtay200@verizon.net or calling 570-668-4451 by Nov. 3.