"Can You Relate" - Series PROMO - Spring 2022
Rockyview Alliance Church - "Can You Relate" - Series PROMO - Spring 2022
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Here at Rockyview, we believe that EVERY SINGLE PERSON needs to have a sense of BELONGING in order to THRIVE. That the quality of our RELATIONSHIPS has a massive impact on the overall quality of our LIVES. But for the past two years – as we’ve ALL tried to DO OUR PART in helping to MINIMIZE the DAMAGE of a GLOBAL PANDEMIC – our relational lives have taken a BEATING.
I’m sure you can RELATE to the fact that in trying to keep everyone PHYSICALLY healthy, all the social ISOLATION we’ve had to endure, has taken an incredible toll on our MENTAL and EMOTIONAL health. And with the devastating impact on our ECONOMY – including the loss of JOBS and INCOME – one of the cruel IRONIES of the pandemic, is that just when we needed the SUPPORT of our friends and family the MOST, we were forced to keep at a DISTANCE.
Maybe you can relate to all the LOSS connected to the pandemic. I mean, just think of all the EVENTS that had to be CANCELLED, or at least MODIFIED, or SEVERELY PARED DOWN: Weddings, graduations, sports seasons, family gatherings, funerals, vacations, live entertainment – not to mention church services and various ministries. And not only did we miss OUT on those EXPERIENCES, but many of these events are the very environments where we FOSTER relationships. And with all our normal ways of CULTIVATING FRIENDSHIP and BUILDING COMMUNITY being totally DISRUPTED, many of us found ourselves feeling ISOLATED, DISCONNECTED, FORGOTTEN.
And while most of us couldn’t get physically close with our CO-WORKERS, TEAM MATES, CLASS MATES, NEIGHBOURS and EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS, we COULD spend time with those in our IMMEDIATE HOUSEHOLDS. In fact, for MANY of us, it was too MUCH time. Because as much as we LOVE our families, with so much DISRUPTION to deal with, with emotions running so HIGH – having to be cooped up in such close quarters, with nowhere to ESCAPE – at times, it felt a little TOO CLOSE for COMFORT. Maybe you can relate to the experience of MANY – where their home felt more like a PRESSURE COOKER – where the TENSION and STRESS just kept BUILDING and BUILDING – until it reached the BREAKING point. Being forced to be stuck TOGETHER, actually proved to push many family members APART.
And so NOW, after two years of looking at OTHERS and have them look back at US with SUSPICION – we now find ourselves in a season where – although restrictions have been LIFTED – many of us are HESITANT when it comes to CONNECTING with others – at least, in all the ways that we USED to. And with all of our NORMAL SOCIAL PATTERNS having been ALTERED, many of us have developed UNHEALTHY and UNSUSTAINABLE rhythms of RELATING. We’ve gotten used to being RECLUSIVE and ANTISOCIAL. We’ve forgotten how to be HOSPITABLE and WELCOMING to those OUTSIDE our inner circle of relationships. And what’s become APPARENT, is that we need to have a RESET. And SO, over the course of THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, we’re going to RE-TRAIN OURSELVES in this ESSENTIAL PART of – not only what it means to be a CHRISTIAN – but what it means to be HUMAN. Please plan on joining us for this REALLY IMPORTANT, SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS, as we learn how to do life TOGETHER again.
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Check Us Out Online: www.rockyviewalliance.com
