I don’t like cooking. I’m not a bad cook. It’s just not my thing. Thankfully, I’m blessed with a hubby who loves everything about food from the grocery shopping to the serving. However, I still found myself in the kitchen this weekend, helping prepare a pancake breakfast for a local ministry. I worked with several members of my church, thoroughly enjoying the morning. Our group of kids, teens, and adults joked, talked, and moved in a comfortable rhythm around the large, industrial kitchen.

The next night, I played volleyball at our church-wide family fun night. I am not athletically inclined. My body was sculpted by carbs, and my favorite sport is books. It only took a glance for me to see that this was not a serious game. So, I joined in. The youngest person playing was five and the oldest was, well, me. Anyway, it was a blast. The ball rarely made it over the net, but, when it did, we all cheered.

Later that night, I pondered these two events. I felt wonderfully connected to my church family, and, more importantly, full of the Spirit. These activities were as refreshing to me as the church service on Sunday morning. Even though, they were activities I don’t like.

I think we tend to wait for the perfect situation before we get involved in church. We’re searching for a ministry we feel passionate about or something we’re skilled at before joining in. While we’re waiting for that ideal circumstance, we can feel isolated and alone. But, we were created to fellowship with one another. Acts 2:42 reads, “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.” Fellowship ranks among the apostles’ teaching and prayer! Early believers devoted themselves to it.

Why do we make it so hard? Connecting can be as easy as joining in. The activity doesn’t matter; the people do. When we are working toward a common goal, we connect. Fellowship happens in the simple, everyday moments of church life, whether it’s cooking a ton of bacon or hitting a ball over the net. So, I encourage you to find a group doing something, anything, and jump in.