After being closed for a year, my church had its first in-person outdoor worship service this past Sunday. I was so blessed to hear the saints sing together and the word being preached — all while being masked and socially distanced.
But something was off after the service. Instead of being excited to meet and mingle with people I hadn’t seen in months, I found myself withdrawing and making excuses to leave conversations.
It was only when I came home and started to process that I realized that I had been radically altered. I was no longer the same person I was a year ago. Something had changed, and it was me.
The Consequence
This past year has been difficult for many, and the same is true for Christians. As our churches closed in-person services, we’ve had to physically disconnect with one another. We’ve lost the joy of spontaneous meetings and impromptu conversations.
Sunday was no longer a social day, but rather another day in front of a screen. Turn it on, log in, watch, turn it off, and go on with my day. As good as our pre-recorded or livestreamed services have been, we all knew something was missing when our churches closed their doors.
Partly out as a defense mechanism and partly out of necessity, we’ve had to learn to make do. We’ve minimized or tried to remove our need to be physically together on Sundays. We’ve accepted the fact that our circle of friends has grown smaller and seen our circle of acquaintances shrink to zero. It was what we had to do to survive.
So when I returned to our church campus on Sunday, I couldn’t suddenly erase the effects of the past year. I was not mentally prepared to see and talk to that many people, and I couldn’t function in a normal way.
But I also saw others chatting freely, so I felt like I was the only one feeling awkward and distant. This led me to withdraw even more. It didn’t feel like a happy reunion Sunday or even a “normal Sunday.” It felt uncomfortable.
The Recovery
I had simply expected that things would go back to the way things were. It’s an idealistic idea, of course, but I really thought it would be that easy.
One thing I did realize was that it wasn’t just me. I talked to a few other friends who had been at our first outdoor service, and they too had felt anxious and uncomfortable after the service.
So we must be aware that even if we are physically back on our church campus that things will not immediately go back to “normal.” It isn’t just because we will still be sitting six feet apart or wearing masks. Because our entire lives have been upended and disrupted, our churchgoing experience was affected as well.
How can we prepare for our return to normal? First, we must examine our changed Sunday habits. For example, because of the separation and Internet latency, we are no longer used to singing together. So perhaps praising out loud will be difficult for some, so we should find ways to encourage our congregations to sing, perhaps by singing familiar songs with easy vocal ranges.
Another habit we will need to break is our tendency to get distracted. This past year, we’ve been able to watch services while also being checking our phones or switching to different tabs. We need to retrain our minds to focus on the Word of God being preached.
Furthermore, we’re going to have to rebuild our social skills. Just like me, there may be others who find it difficult to connect with others after Sunday services because we are just used to being isolated. We might find it hard or awkward to reconnect with others. How can the church facilitate community-building in a safe way?
Finally, it will be especially hard for newcomers to connect in these gatherings, as everyone will be wearing masks, which adds a barrier to communication. How can churches be welcoming to all, even with distancing? We must find a way.
The New Normal
When you go back to church or when your church fully reopens, it will feel wonderful. You will see familiar faces, enter familiar buildings, and sing familiar songs. And yet, being back at church can feel weird and different with all the masks, physical distancing, air purifiers, and temperature scans.
And yet, the church will persevere. Jesus has said that “the gates of hell shall not prevail” against it. The Gospel message we have been charged to share has not changed and it will continue to spread and change lives.
So we will repair relationships. We will reintroduce and reemphasize our norms. We will find new ways to love one another and serve one another.
Let us not be discouraged by the obstacles and changes. Rather, let us strive for unity and be comfortable with the discomfort that comes from our new normal, knowing that ultimately, we meet not for our pleasure but to proclaim the Kingdom of God and the kingship of Christ.