Solo Flight at Christ Church - Helping Singles Soar Together

When you hear the words “solo flight,” do you think of being alone, or do you think of soaring? At Christ Church Solo Flight means a vibrant ministry for those who, by reason of never marrying, death of a spouse, or divorce are making life’s journey without a partner. From corporate worship, social gatherings, active pursuits like kayaking, hiking, to educational events, retreats, and opportunities to help others, Solo Flight makes sure that being alone doesn’t have to mean being lonely.

Solo Flight at Christ Church began in 2006 when Fr. Bob Morris and several staff members, in an “ah ha!” moment one Sunday, all recognized a need for an organization that made singles in the parish feel welcome. In a first step, Fr. Bob called together a group of singles to begin the conversation and invited Dr. Kay Collier McLaughlin, author of Single in the Church: New Ways to Minister to 52% of God's People, to consult about how to get started.

Solo Flight is organized around five “gateways:” the “Worship Gateway” presents singles with various opportunities to worship together. The “Social/Recreational Gateway” sponsors a variety of monthly social events; the “Educational Gateway” provides opportunities to meet the spiritual, psychological, and practical needs of singles; the “Outreach Gateway” facilitates ways for the single parishioner to reach out in service; and the “Divorce Recovery Gateway” offers workshops facilitated by professionals to support those going through the painful process of divorce. Also, Solo Flight has recently added a subgroup to its ministry, called “Single Parent Families.”

Earlier this month Solo Flight sponsored its third annual singles retreat at Camp Weed. Becoming Like Jesus: A Weekend of Experiencing God’s Grace, March 13-15, attracted forty singles who enjoyed three days of discovery and fellowship.

One of the Solo Flight founders, Holly Scholl, said, “This [Christ Church] is a church that takes singles seriously and singles can become as seriously involved as they wish in any or all Solo Flight events.” Another of the original organizers, Alan Wade believes that Solo Flight is succeeding in its mission, “There are a number of people attending Christ Church today who made their first contact through Solo Flight, and many people are more closely tied to Christ Church because they have found a welcoming and nurturing community in Solo Flight.” Indeed from a modest early beginning with 20 members, Solo Flight has now grown to over 300 participating in 2009.

Fr. Bob Morris says, “It’s been a very powerful experience to see this come alive and now begin to reach out to help put together ministry to and with singles in other churches in the Diocese. Christ Church is a corporate-size church with resources entrusted to us not just for our own use, but for the larger church. We are exploring how we might fulfill that responsibility, conversing with other parishes about what we have done and are considering a regional conference in the fall. There are countless singles out there and it is a great Evangelistic ministry.”

Remember, as a single member of the church, through a myriad of Solo Flight activities you don’t need to be alone! For more information, log onto http://www.christepiscopalchurch.org/> ministries> Solo Flight.

- Barbara Church