The Christian philosopher, Alfred North Whitehead, once defined religion as “what one does with one’s solitariness.” And I think he has a point. Religion is what is between you and God – God alone. In the monastery of your own solitude you can experience things that are deeply personal and precious.

However, I think there is more to it than that – much more. Your inner self can be a monastery but it can also be a terribly lonely space – even a torture chamber at times. It is not good to always be alone. You and I need others, and we need them desperately. Religion is therefore also the joy and the shared reality that we experience in community.

We see that in the early church. In the Book of Acts we read of the first Christians – Acts 2:46-47 “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

I thought about these things last Sunday as Christine and I welcomed two home groups over to our house. What fun we had, and what laughter. And no doubt we will experience the same this Sunday with the groups we are having over. For you see, our fellowship now is just a foretaste of the life to come.

Are you connected? Are you part of a group here at Singing Oaks right now? If you are not then you are missing out on a little bit of heaven!