As we move into the summer months, our worship schedule changes, vacations are planned, grandchildren arrive, beaches beckon, and many of us begin the annual spiritual practice known as “trying to remember where we put the sunscreen.”

For some, it can feel a little strange when the regular rhythm of weekly worship pauses.  After all, we’re used to seeing one another every Sunday and enjoying the unique experience of trying to remember which verse of the hymn we’re on.

But here’s the good news: the church is much bigger than a building, a schedule, or even a Sunday morning.

The church is people.  The church is relationships.  The church is a community connected by God’s love.

And that means we remain the church whether we’re sitting in a pew, sitting on a porch, sitting at the beach, or sitting in traffic on 95 South wondering why everyone else decided to travel on the exact same day.

Throughout scripture, periods of rest are not interruptions to faith.  Instead, they are part of faith.  God rested after creation.  Jesus regularly stepped away from the crowds to pray, reflect, and renew his spirit.  Even the land was given seasons of rest.

In a culture that constantly tells us to do more, buy more, achieve more, and hurry more, taking time to breathe can be a profoundly spiritual act.

Summer offers opportunities to reconnect with family, enjoy God’s creation, read a good book, take a walk, share a meal with friends, or simply slow down enough to notice the beauty around us.  These moments nourish our souls just as surely as Sunday worship nourishes our spirits.

Rest is not laziness.  Rest is renewal.  Rest is reaffirming trust in God.  Rest reminds us that God is still at work even when we step away from our routines.

And while we may not gather every week for a bit, we remain connected through prayer, friendship, and our shared commitment to living out Christ’s love in the world.  Every act of kindness, every moment of compassion, every effort to bring justice, peace, and hope into our communities is still church.

So enjoy the summer!  Take the trip.  Visit the grandkids.  Read the novel.  Sit by the water.  Sleep in a little.  Eat the ice cream.  Watch the sunset.

And know that wherever you are, God’s love goes with you.

When Welcome Back Sunday arrives, we’ll gather again with new stories, renewed energy, and maybe even a few sunburns.  Until then, may this season bring rest, joy, laughter, and the deep assurance that we are always God’s people; even when we’re apart.

Have a wonderful summer!

Rev. Dominic