2020 has hit us with a whole load of change; even as we’re easing back into a little bit of normality, everything still feels so different. Suddenly, we’re all searching for face masks that match our outfits and coming dangerously close to completing Netflix!
It’s all the ‘new normal’, right?
One thing that has completely changed is the way we do church. Church as we knew it seems to have been put on pause, and if you’re missing it then stick around, this article is for you!
Before I jump into some of the things that may help to fill that church-shaped hole in your life, I want you to know something super important: while church may be on pause, God isn’t. 2020 hasn’t stopped God or pushed Him away, not even close.
God is all over this year, He’s been with you in every second of it, and always will be.
I want you to know that your company is His favourite thing. He just LOVES spending time with you. So, maybe this church-pause has actually provided us with a pretty cool opportunity to come up with some new rhythms for enjoying God’s company.
Take a second and have a think…which parts of church are you missing the most? Is it social? Is it the sermons or the worship? Why not take a few of the recommendations below, try them out, weave them into your days and come up with a sweet new routine.
Social
Community is one of the best parts about going to church, right? In the bible, when church is mentioned it’s referring to the people, not the building. We get to build community with each other and catch up with some of our favourite people; people who encourage us, pray for us, challenge us, and give us free coffee…
Ahhh, the good old days.
Well, here’s some great news for ya- while going to church may be on pause, being the church isn’t. In fact, being the church has never been so important, we really need each other right now. So why not come up with some creative ways to keep connected with your church friends.
- Is your church doing an online service? If so, why not have a (socially distanced) viewing party with some of your church faves? You can watch it, and then chat about it together afterwards (with snacks, obviously).
- Is there anyone you know that is going through a tricky time right now? Anyone who could do with a little bit of kindness being thrown their way? Maybe there’s someone who’s been on your mind a lot recently. Why not find a cute way to let them know? Send them something sweet in the post or leave something thoughtful on their doorstep. Get creative with your kindness!
- You may have noticed our GGF Instagram Hangouts, created to get you and your friends talking about the things that matter the most, but don’t always get spoken about. Why not gather some of your friends (either in person or online) and get stuck into a Hangout together. You can find them on our Instagram highlights.
Content
The other thing that church provides us with is a chance to pause our lives and fix our hearts and minds on how pretty-blooming-great God is. With the worship times, the talks and everything in between, church can be like a booster shot of energy that keeps us going through the week.
So, what do we do now that church is on hold? What can we do to pause ourselves, to give God our full attention for a while, to fill us up with encouragement and wisdom?
Look no further, we have a few ideas for you…
My fellow book-lovers, I see you, here are a few of my lockdown favourites:
- ‘Influential’ by Jo Saxton
- ‘How to Pray: A Guide for Normal People’ by Pete Greig
- ‘Unashamed’ by Christine Caine
- ‘Anonymous’ by Alicia Britt Chole
And let’s not forget about my podcast fans:
- The Bible Project
- Pattern Podcast
- The Magnify Podcast
Finally, for the ones who are missing those sweet worship times, here are a few albums you might love:
- ‘All of My Best Friends’ by Hillsong Y&F
- ‘Lost in Wonder’ by Elle Limebear
- ‘Vol. 1, 2 and 3’ by Maverick City
Church is straight-up amazing. It’s one of the many blessings God has given us, but let’s not wait for it all to be back up and running before we spend quality time with God and encourage others. Let’s not let 2020 slip by, let’s re-learn what it looks like to BE the church.
