Are you feeling lonely after weeks of not being able to attend church in person?
We’re all missing our communities of faith right now and it can seem difficult to feel truly connected to anyone through the internet.
But if you are able to, here are 4 easy ways to enjoy Christian fellowship from home:
1. Virtual Bible Studies
Thanks to technology, it’s never been easier to stay in touch with your church family! Schedule a Zoom meeting with your small group from church, your extended family, or a group of long-distance friends.
Or, you can even get to know a new group of Christians during quarantine through virtual Bible studies.
Tyndale Bible and the Institute for Bible Reading have partnered to host 10-day virtual Bible “book clubs” through a program called Immerse from Home.
“One of the things that we’ve seen recently in the midst of this is that reading the Bible by yourself can be lonely,” one of the organizers wrote. “You’re there alone to wrestle with your questions.”
“We want to bring people together.”
Joining a study is simple – and a great opportunity to grow in your knowledge of the Bible and relationships with fellow believers.
2. Online Concerts
As the quarantine continues to extend, more and more Christian artists are sharing live concerts and events online through Facebook, websites, and Instagram.
For King and Country, The Gray Havens, Switchfoot, Keith and Kristyn Getty, I Am They, and more have scheduled and recorded concerts to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
These concerts are great opportunities to worship with others, even from afar, and to gather your family at home for a night of fellowship.
Keep your eyes open for new concerts each week, and don’t forget to encourage and thank these Christian artists and musicians for their uplifting efforts!
If you need a place to start, check out the official Keith and Kristyn Getty Facebook page. Every Tuesday night, you’ll find them singing with their four adorable daughters from their home in Nashville.
3. Prayer Walks
One of the easiest and safest ways to spend time with people right now is taking walks! As long as we stay six feet apart, walking outside is a great chance to talk, catch up, and pray for each other and our communities.
Why not gather a few friends and organize a prayer walk for your neighborhood during this time?
It doesn’t have to be complicated—just make notes on what to pray for (there’s a lot right now) and get a small group. To respect your neighborhood, keep it under ten people, and make sure that you are properly socially distanced as you walk.
If you’d like, try to plan your walk for a time when your neighbors will be outside enjoying the weather. Then, you can take the opportunity to connect with them and pray over them, if they express interest.
Done right, a prayer walk is an opportunity to demonstrate God’s love and peace.
And it can soothe your own worries as you deliver your cares into His capable hands!
4. Online Video Watch Parties
Has your church’s movie night been cancelled because of quarantine? There are still ways to connect over a Christian film, even if you all have to stay at home.
With a growing selection of Christian films, Netflix offers a “party” option to host long-distance movie nights. All you need to do is install Netflix Party, open your favorite movie, and invite a few friends!
You’ll be able to chat as you watch. It’s not the same as an in-person event, but it’s a fun option.
If you don’t have Netflix, you can easily achieve the same effect by picking a movie and dialing up your friends on a conference phone call or group text.
As stay-at-home orders extend, you might need to get creative and try a few of these options in order to feel connected.
Whatever you do, just make sure you don’t stop reaching out to your friends and your church family during this time of quarantine!
We need each other more than ever, and we have a great opportunity to demonstrate community to a world that is deeply lonely.
