It doesn't matter if he has work to do or there's a party going on or people are going out to a movie. He'll meet us afterwards, if necessary. Nothing takes precedence over that talk. That friend's relationship has lasted long after many equally serious long-distance relationships here have broken off. Sometimes it's incredibly difficult to haul myself out of bed on Sunday mornings to make the 10 a.m. church service.
Many university students have the same problem.
When I do have some free time, I'd rather spend it out with my friends or playing soccer than in church. It's hard to provide a convincing answer, even to myself, when people ask why we should go to church. The singing is good, the sermon not always, and the rest seems more ritual than anything meaningful. The people are important, I guess, but I have friends outside church. But it's hard, and most of us can't do it.