Wednesday, August 5, 2020
What We Miss About Church: Congregant Reflections
For our devotionals this month, we asked various congregants what they miss the most about being together.
Join us for this series of reflections that remind us of what we miss and who we are called to be.
Scripture for the Day
Romans 1:11-12 and Proverbs 17:17
For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you – or rather, so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
A friend loves at all times, and brothers [and sisters] are born to share adversity.
Our little group of avid hymn singers has not sung together in the congregation since the pandemic shut the world down. We call ourselves “Hughes Pews” in honor of our most esteemed patriarch, Carlton Hughes. Sure, we attempted one Zoom call sing-along, but it was a spectacular failure. We agreed to never do that again!
I miss our voices joined together. Singing hymns in the solitude of our condo during church lacks the harmony our voices together created with such joy and satisfaction. There is a “sweet spot” and feeling of completeness that comes with singing together in harmony that brings to mind the crack of a baseball bat to ball in a perfect hit.
Yet, it was our years of harmonizing that strengthened our bonds, unwittingly preparing us for this time of adversity. We have recognized our need for each other more than ever as we are separated and faced with illness and tribulations. As a result, through regular Zoom calls and socially distanced visits, we have spent more time together than we ever did in our designated pews.
Although, like Paul, I long to see our group gathered and singing together again, we are imparting spiritual gifts and strength to each other. We have encouraged each other’s faith through each twist and turn of this difficult time. We have loved each other throughout, as God prepared us as brothers and sisters in Christ, for adversity.
