Social Distancing Sunday

On Sunday, March 8th, my family and I went to church like normal. My husband (Ryan) actually happened to be the pastor that preached that Sunday. My kids went to their classes as I sat in the sanctuary with some friends and worshipped with my church family. We left that morning not knowing that in just 5 days things would look totally different. By Friday it was uncertain whether church would go on as normal, and the decision came on Saturday to cancel our gathering. My husband and I talked about it a lot, about how it was so strange but seemed like the right thing to do based on the info coming in. I was so thankful that our church had quickly come up with a plan to livestream service so we could worship “together”. What I did not expect, however, was that when the music began, when I saw my brother and sister singing on stage and I thought about there only being about 13 people in the entire church building and all our families at home in their living rooms, tears started rolling down my face. I was overwhelmed with sadness. This is not how it’s supposed to be.

God designed his church to gather together. We can see this so clearly in Acts 2 at the infancy of the church. The Spirit comes and many believe, and then what do they do? “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers.” It even says, “Day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes.” In our own church covenant it says, “We will meet with one another consistently,” inspired by the admonition in Hebrews 10:24-25, which says, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” We believe that God in His infinite wisdom did not design us to be “Lone Ranger Christians,” but to be part of a body that needs all the parts for the work to be done.

Now hear me clearly, I do not think this means we should go against officials recommendations and meet. These are extraordinary times and we should listen to experts and follow the suggested course by those that are trained to make these decisions. That said, what do we do in the meantime, now that it is very likely to be weeks and weeks of livestream services? I think there are several things we can commit to do during this time of physical separation.

First, we can reach out to one another consistently. We can text, call, FaceTime, Zoom. We can commit to still share in each other’s joys and burdens.

Second, we can pray for the situation as a whole (here is a great resource: Praying in Pandemic) but also in particular for one another as the body of Christ. This might be the perfect time to finally pick up that church directory and pray through it. Stay connected to one another by doing the greatest thing you can do for one another, pandemic or not: lift your brothers and sisters up in prayer while you are apart.

And lastly, we can long for the day we can come together again. Sorrow over the body being scattered when it should be gathered is good. Let us long to gather again, to hear voices in our sanctuary singing, to see our children being loved on and taught about God by our friends, to be able to hug a brother or sister that is weary, to share meals at our tables, and to gather as Growth Groups in prayer. Maybe by feeling the weight of this somewhat broken fellowship we will praise God all the louder when we, His people, gather together again.