We all long to be seen, known, and loved. It's true of every person! Although what we crave is an embodied experience, culturally and technologically, we are moving towards lives that are disembodied. Virtual reality, the metaverse, artificial intelligence, social media, and our devices all tear at the fabric of our ability to experience relationships the way we were designed. As we look to the season of ministry ahead, we want to encourage you to pursue embodied relationships where you can see, know, and love others. Here are three simple ways this could look:
1. Connect with someone once per month.
Once per month (or twice if you are ambitious), call or text someone and set up a time to connect:
- Go out for coffee or a drink to catch up.
- Go for a walk or a hike.
- Invite someone over to watch a sporting event or play games.
- Invite someone out to lunch or over for dinner.
- Find a place where your children can play while you connect with another parent.
All it takes to invest in a relationship is intentionality, so make it a habit to initiate meaningful connections with other people in our church family.
2. Pray through the church directory.
Get a copy of the church directory and use it as a tool to pray for and get to know other people at Elmwood. As you page through the directory, you might discover that you don’t have faces to go with all the names. That’s OK! Make it a goal to meet everyone in the church directory this year.
If you feel intimidated by introducing yourself to new people, follow this simple formula:
1. Smile.
2. Introduce yourself by saying something like, “Good morning! I’ve been at Elmwood for a while now and I feel really silly that I don't know your name… My name is [your name].”
3. If the conversation quickly fizzles out, just say, “It was great to meet you!” and find your seat.
As you are going about your day and someone pops into your mind, give them a call or shoot them a text! The Spirit of God will bring people to your mind at just the right time, and there may be an important way you can minister to them in that moment. (Or maybe God will use them to minister to you.) When you call, you can say something simple like, “You popped into my mind today so I thought I would reach out to see how you’re doing. Is there any specific way I can pray for you?”
