While was looking for articles for today’s edition of Anglican’s Ablaze, I came across a David Qauod article, “It’s Just Not the Same,” promoting in-person services over online services. I have noted a spate of these articles on the internet, particularly since many churches which have reopened their buildings and have gone back to having in-person services are not experiencing the kind of attendance that they experienced before the COVID-19 pandemic. These articles appear to be intended to convince those church members and regular attendees that have not returned to church, they are missing out on something and should set aside their safety concerns and return on Sundays.
What is frequently overlooked in these articles is that online services are not really meant to replicate in-person services albeit some churches have attempted to do so. For one thing these attempts have shown that a number of elements in in-person services are either superfluous or they do not translate well to the internet. What may be meaningful to church members and regular attendees may in actuality serve no useful purpose and may be meaningless to visitors to a church’s online services.
Wide angle shots of an empty sanctuary or sparsely filled pews detract from what otherwise might be a positive experience as do long shots of the pulpit, communion table, platform, or chancel. Lengthy pastoral prayers in the language of Zion on topics unrelated to current events and everyday life will not lead the online viewer into deeper prayer.
Based on what is happening in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and elsewhere, emphasizing physical gatherings may be premature. Europe and the United Kingdom are experiencing what is being described as a second wave of the COVID-19 coronavirus and COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the United States in all states except Hawaii. We have also entered the cold season of the year in which more people will be spending time indoors in close quarters with other people. It is also the holiday season where families and friends traditionally gather together. We can expect a further increase in COVID-19 infection rates across the United States.
Rather than treating a church’s online services as the less important of the church’s Sunday and weekday worship offerings, churches may need to be improving the quality of their online services and expanding their outreach on the internet.
Here are some ideas that churches may want to try.
1. Keep all shots in the online service up close and tight. Avoid wide angle and long shots. Churches might consider pre-recording and editing online services.
2. Remember that the viewers are likely sitting in their living room or some other room in their home. They are not sitting in a nave, sanctuary, or worship center. Tailor the online services with where the viewers will be watching the service in mind. This may involve reducing the level of formaility.
3. Ditch the lengthy pastoral prayer. Employ guided prayer that engages the viewer. After the prayer leader gives a short bidding inviting the viewers to pray for a particular intention silently or aloud, the prayer leader pauses to allow the viewers time to pray. After a suitable period of time the prayer leader concludes the time of prayer for that intention with a brief prayer. More than one prayer leader may be used.
4. Post a phone number on the church website where viewers can send a text containing a prayer request or concern. Incorporate these prayer requests and concerns in the prayer time when they are appropriate for that time.
5. Scroll the lyrics of hymns and songs across the screen in large print. The viewers do not need to see the faces of the vocalists. Show a background slide or video clip while scrolling the lyrics.
6. Keep the service and the sermon reasonably short.
7. Hold regular online communion services. Individual pre-packed containers of the elements may be mailed or otherwise delivered to those who inform the church that they wish to participate in these services. Depending upon the theological tradition of the church these containers may be pre-sanctified or a short consecratory prayer may be said during the communion service. The containers are opened and the elements are consumed at the same time.
While viewers who have a vital faith may not be gathered in one place physically, they are united by the Holy Spirit to Jesus and to each other and comprise a spiritually gathering of God’ s people. A church’s physically gatherings are only the outward expression of this inward reality. It makes visible what otherwise would not be visible. A loose aggregate of people can gather in the same physical space and call themselves a church but unless they are united by the Holy Spirit to Jesus and to each other, they are not the Body of Christ.
Based on what is happening in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and elsewhere, emphasizing physical gatherings may be premature. Europe and the United Kingdom are experiencing what is being described as a second wave of the COVID-19 coronavirus and COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the United States in all states except Hawaii. We have also entered the cold season of the year in which more people will be spending time indoors in close quarters with other people. It is also the holiday season where families and friends traditionally gather together. We can expect a further increase in COVID-19 infection rates across the United States.
Rather than treating a church’s online services as the less important of the church’s Sunday and weekday worship offerings, churches may need to be improving the quality of their online services and expanding their outreach on the internet.
Here are some ideas that churches may want to try.
1. Keep all shots in the online service up close and tight. Avoid wide angle and long shots. Churches might consider pre-recording and editing online services.
2. Remember that the viewers are likely sitting in their living room or some other room in their home. They are not sitting in a nave, sanctuary, or worship center. Tailor the online services with where the viewers will be watching the service in mind. This may involve reducing the level of formaility.
3. Ditch the lengthy pastoral prayer. Employ guided prayer that engages the viewer. After the prayer leader gives a short bidding inviting the viewers to pray for a particular intention silently or aloud, the prayer leader pauses to allow the viewers time to pray. After a suitable period of time the prayer leader concludes the time of prayer for that intention with a brief prayer. More than one prayer leader may be used.
4. Post a phone number on the church website where viewers can send a text containing a prayer request or concern. Incorporate these prayer requests and concerns in the prayer time when they are appropriate for that time.
5. Scroll the lyrics of hymns and songs across the screen in large print. The viewers do not need to see the faces of the vocalists. Show a background slide or video clip while scrolling the lyrics.
6. Keep the service and the sermon reasonably short.
7. Hold regular online communion services. Individual pre-packed containers of the elements may be mailed or otherwise delivered to those who inform the church that they wish to participate in these services. Depending upon the theological tradition of the church these containers may be pre-sanctified or a short consecratory prayer may be said during the communion service. The containers are opened and the elements are consumed at the same time.
While viewers who have a vital faith may not be gathered in one place physically, they are united by the Holy Spirit to Jesus and to each other and comprise a spiritually gathering of God’ s people. A church’s physically gatherings are only the outward expression of this inward reality. It makes visible what otherwise would not be visible. A loose aggregate of people can gather in the same physical space and call themselves a church but unless they are united by the Holy Spirit to Jesus and to each other, they are not the Body of Christ.
Being physically present with each other does not transform an aggregate of people into the Body of Christ. Spiritual union to Jesus and to each other, mediate by God’s indwelling presence, does. Those who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit are never separated from each other although there may be a great physical distance between them. They are united to their Lord and to each other by God’s presence within them. There is no such thing as a solo Christian.
If it is not a valid communion for a believing Christian to receive the consecrated elements alone in her living room, it is also not a valid communion for a sick or dying person to receive the elements from the reserved sacrament.
If it is not a valid communion for a believing Christian to receive the consecrated elements alone in her living room, it is also not a valid communion for a sick or dying person to receive the elements from the reserved sacrament.
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