We’ve had another month of online church. We stayed consistent in watching it live except for when we were with Adam’s parents and I watched service with his mom. The kids have weekly videos that they seem to enjoy. The church has been mailing activity packets to the kids to help them engage with their Sunday morning content. I appreciate their efforts. However, it’s pretty much impossible to make new or deeper connections with other church members, which was our purpose for trying to get involved in a local church. While I know we just have to do what we can with what is currently available to us, it’s still hard.
04-25-20
C7 texted me to say she received the birthday card.
04-26-20
We watched church on our tv again. I chose to stand during the worship music and sing out loud like I used to. It helped to make the experience feel more normal. They talked about summer life groups, realizing they may be virtual.
04-27-20
C7 texted me to say that she finished the Jen Hatmaker book and that she’s interested in going through it with a group this fall if/when I host/lead a Life Group. Exciting! She invited me to join her for an online book study of Uninvited that starts next month. I’ve read the book several times and participated in a study at my kids’ preschool but it’s been a while. Plus it’s a chance to interact more with C7.
I texted C6 to see how things went on Friday and received a positive report.
I asked T6 if she was still willing to look at my manuscript and she agreed so I sent it to her.
04-30-20
I mailed a note to C6 today just because happy mail is usually appreciated.
05-01-20
C6 and I caught up on Facetime this morning. She informed me that today was our official last meeting but also that she was open to continuing to communicate. I would like to keep in contact.
05-03-20
We watched church service on our couch this morning. They said summer groups would be on Zoom with the possibility of turning into in-person meetings later if it’s safe. I don’t know whether we’ll join one. We’ll see.
05-04-20
T6 texted me to say she’s working on the book and enjoying it thus far.
05-05-20
C7 texted to say stores were slated to reopen this weekend. I said I wasn’t anxious to join the crowds again. I asked her how the book reading was going for the online group we’re both doing.
05-06-20
I took some gluten-free chocolate chip cookies over to C7. She opened the door and we chatted from a safe distance for a little while as her daughter danced around, apparently happy to see a new face. It was also good for me to get to see a friend face-to-face. I’ve definitely missed it.
05-07-10
I received a Mother’s Day card from the church along with a seed packet of flowers. That was thoughtful.
05-10-20
We watched church on the couch again this morning.
05-12-20
C6 texted this morning to say thanks for the note and to check in, which was great because I was planning to text her later in the morning.
When I headed to the grocery store, I saw C7 and her daughter coming out. They stopped and we talked for a few minutes while wearing our masks and standing apart. It was a pleasant surprise to see them.
05-13-20
T6 called this afternoon to give me a progress report on my book. She said she ended up jumping to the middle and was really enjoying the characters and the story, but maybe the beginning was a little slow. She was very kind and complimentary. It felt good to get some non-family feedback.
05-17-20
We watched church from the couch this morning. We learned the church wants people to gather in small groups in people’s homes to watch church together on Sunday mornings starting in June instead of their original Zoom small group plan. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
05-21-20
I went ahead and finished the book I was reading for the online group. I’d texted C7 about it and she said she didn’t really feel comfortable sharing with strangers. So maybe we’ll just text each other about it.
I watched my mother-in-law’s Thursday night church meeting on Zoom with her. It was kind of neat to experience someone else’s virtual church life.
05-24-20
I started my morning with silence, stillness, and my prayer journal. I then took a hike and sang along to worship music while enjoying the view. Later I listened to my mother-in-law’s online church service with her. A different but very enjoyable Sunday morning.
*****
It’s been a little disappointing not to be able to spend much time with people from church these past few months. I’m glad that the church is trying to reconnect everyone again, but I’m apprehensive about being in close quarters with a bunch of essential strangers, not knowing whether they are being cautious and safe in their daily routines. I don’t want to live in fear, but I also don’t want to put others including my children at risk unnecessarily. It feels like a Catch-22.
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