7 Ways to Maintain Community During a Time of Social Distancing

The Rev. Canon Dr. Dan Alger

Community is central to our life, growth, and health as Christians.  Wisdom and our societal responsibility during this time of pandemic are causing us to not be able to physically gather.  How can we continue to remain connected as a church family when we are engaging in “social distancing?”  Here are a few ideas:

1.Call, text, and digitally communicate. 

As much as we bemoan the tragic effect cell phones and the internet are having on our normal social interaction, what a gift they are in times when face to fact communication is not possible.  Take some time to be intentional about reaching out to others who are vulnerable, who are in need, or even folks you just haven’t spoken with in a while.  Support your leaders who are making tough decisions.  Drop a line to your kid’s teacher to thank them for their service to your child.  Call and thank a nurse.  Think and pray about who you should reach out to.

2. Participate in online prayer.

As our rhythms are at least temporarily changed, engage the habit of connecting with your church family through our online prayer opportunities.  We say Evening Prayer together every evening at 8pm and we gather on Sunday mornings for worship at 10am.

3. Read the lectionary and pray the liturgy.

If you are not familiar with the lectionary, it is a Scripture reading schedule that is used by people around the world.  When you read the passages set apart for that day, you are joining with other Christians across the globe in reading the same words.  That is community on a grand scale.  The lectionary can be found in the Prayer Book (link below) on page 736 (we are in year II).

Liturgy is the prayers, services, and rites contained in Book of Common Prayer.  Again, Christians throughout the world pray these prayers in many languages and in many various locations.  Not only that, but these prayers have been used for hundreds and even thousands of years.  Many of the words that we say are quotes from the Scripture describing worship in heaven itself.  In praying any or all of the Daily Office (Morning, Noonday, and Evening Prayer) is sharing corporate worship with our greater Christian family all around the world and the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us and are rejoicing now with the Lord.  A free downloadable copy of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer can be found here. 

4. Pray the directory.

Take some time during your discipline of prayer to pray through the online directory, praying for each person by name.  See your friends faces.  Lift them up to the Lord.  Sometimes those prayers may encourage you to reach out to communicate (refer to points 1 and 5).

5. Write notes and cards.

For those unfamiliar with this concept, write with a pen on a piece of paper, moisten the envelope seal (in a non-contagious manner), put a stamp on it, and stick it in the mysterious box at the end of your driveway with the little red flag pointing up.  Then, if you have put a stamp and your friend’s address on it, the envelope is carried by a magic owl to the recipient’s home.  I know we don’t do this much any more, but what a great time to recover the lost art of letter writing.  Write to people close and far.  What about writing a note to your favorite restaurant telling them you are praying for their staff.  How about your doctor; maybe you could write him/her to say you are thinking about them during this time.  It will mean a lot to them and to you.

6. Get out of the house and wave at your neighbors.

You are not stuck inside your four walls.  Take walks.  The weather is getting nice.  Walking is good for you. My wife and I have met more of our neighbors this week than we have since we moved into the neighborhood because we are walking multiple times a day.  Wave. Stand on the sidewalk while remaining appropriately socially distanced and have a conversation.  There is a lot to talk about.

7. Long to see each other again.

It is healthy for us to long, to pine, to wait.  We are fleshly creatures and we need proximity and shared space.  What a glorious day it will be when we are able to embrace each other in corporate worship again!  Until that time, let’s long a little. I miss you.

With intentionality this does not have to be a time of isolation.  

What other ideas do you have to maintain and build community while we are apart?