In my last post I discussed ways quarantine has affected my church life spiritually but today I wanted to talk a little bit more about how church has changed physically. It’s so great to see the community I serve in change and innovate new ways of staying connected. Through the youth group at our church, leaders have been having weekly recorded messages that are live streamed online and kids are able to still chat with each other and with the leaders and catch up. It’s still not exactly the same as meeting in person but the kids definitely enjoy it. This has also been a good time to try to reach out to kids through social media. We as leaders are always tagging students in memes or sermons or just randomly direct messaging them to see how their week is going. We hold Instagram live sessions and just chat with the kids so there are so many ways to continue to engage with them in a fun way. 

As far as Sundays go, I am still able to serve online. I have had the opportunity to serve as a host of the online chat that goes along with our church live stream. My job when i do this is to welcome each guest individually as they tune in and ask them how they’re doing, start conversations, make notes as the sermon goes along and just encourage the people watching online and make sure they feel noticed and know that we care.  

This week as many businesses have opened back up, our church was able to reopen their doors as long as they were in compliance with the government guidelines, meaning social distancing of six feet between families and only twenty five percent of capacity could be allowed entry. For now I am one of the people volunteering from home still, I have not rejoined in person services but it’s nice to hope that we are moving towards regaining normality in society.

I truly miss seeing everyone in person in church, hugging people I know are going through tough times, worshiping and singing while getting to stand right next to my friends, even just shaking hands with a stranger you meet in the morning and getting to introduce yourself. The day is coming where we get to experience that again but until then rejoice for the small blessings we still have. 

-Melina

“weeping may stay for the night,    but rejoicing comes in the morning.”-Psalm 30:5

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