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4/20/2020

Embracing Solitude

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I usually talk about our church as a “congregation.” But what is a congregation that can’t congregate? What is an assembly that can’t assemble? What is a gathering that can’t gather?

I miss gathering. I miss being together. I miss singing together. I miss studying and learning together. I miss congregating. The old adage that “absence makes the heart grow fonder” is true, if the heart starts out fond. And my heart is growing fonder for the church in this absence of physical social interaction.

I recently posted a video on the church’s Facebook account of our congregation singing Great Is Thy Faithfulness. It sounded wonderful. It’s from February. It’s hard to believe how quickly things can change. I look forward to experiencing that again. I have great fondness for the congregation.

But there’s another fondness that my heart is actually enjoying: Solitude. Perhaps, like me, absence had made your heart grow fonder for that too? Granted, I don’t have complete solitude. I share my home with Wendy and Bekah. But this quarantine certainly isn’t the same level of social interaction that I had been living with. Have you allowed this slow down to create a healthy solitude? We can admit the need without undermining our desire to be together. I pray that you are able to rest during this solitude.

It doesn’t look like we’ll be congregating anytime soon. We plan to follow the government guidelines and re-congregate when it’s prudent. In the meantime we’re looking for how to create connection opportunities without interrupting the healthy aspects of solitude. 

With love,
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    Author

    Pastor of Sarasota Community Church since 2009.
    Husband to Wendy since 1986; Dad to Micah (and Kailey), Josiah (and Anna), Jenn, and Bekah. Pop-pop to Malakai, Titus, Shiloh, and Kaiden. 
    Author of One Together: A vision for ending division (2019), Untapped: Five transformations of the Spirit-filled life (2018), and Counting the Cost of Faith: Straight talk about deciding to follow Jesus (2013), all available on Amazon or at the church Info Desk. 
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SARASOTA Community Church
4041 Bahia Vista Street | Sarasota FL 34232
941.377.4041 | info@sarasotacommunitychurch.org
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© 2020 Sarasota Community Church
  • About Us
    • Staff
    • Overseers
  • Worship Service
    • Coronavirus Update
    • Prayer
  • Groups
    • Groups Calendar >
      • Dorcas Circle
      • GriefShare
  • Volunteer
  • Generosity
    • Change for a Dollar
  • Calendar
  • Testimonies
  • Pastor's Blog