Church while there's Pandemic.

GreekOrthodox · Mar 26, 2020

Paidiske said:
Each of us has to do the best we can for the people we have, with the resources we have. Some of us have more resources than others, and some of us have people with different needs. Also, some of us are dealing with different government restrictions; I am now not allowed to gather people, even outside, to worship together.

For myself, I'm preparing a mixture of online resources and printed resources (for those folks not online), and following that up with as much pastoral care over the phone as I can manage. It's not perfect, but I certainly don't feel shamed by other churches (especially bigger and better resourced and staffed churches) doing things differently.

My Greek diocese has gone to the length of closing the parish offices down. One thing I realized is our clergy tend to be older and we don't have enough seminarians in the pipeline (considering the seminary is closed for the foreseeable future) to fill regular vacancies let alone vacancies caused by COVID.

Paidiske · Mar 26, 2020

Our diocese has requested that everyone work from home if possible. Since I'm the only staff person here, it seems a bit of a moot point in my case; whether I'm in the parish office or my study at home, there's no one else with me. (Well, at home I have my family, but that's unavoidable).

But yes, when the average age of the clergy skews older, it is a concern...

Dave G. · Mar 26, 2020

Our home base church in Baltimore is doing online streaming only. But they are considering trying "drive in church", that is to say move it outdoors in the parking lot with sound system, music, preaching etc. But everyone stays in their cars. Weather permitting of course. We will hear more tomorrow on this.

topher694 · Mar 26, 2020

Dave G. said:
Our home base church in Baltimore is doing online streaming only. But they are considering trying "drive in church", that is to say move it outdoors in the parking lot with sound system, music, preaching etc. But everyone stays in their cars. Weather permitting of course. We will hear more tomorrow on this.

Several places in my area are doing this. And it seems to be working well. Our parking situation doesn't allow for it, but we are livestreaming. We've been doing livestreaming so for a long time, so it was an easy transition.

GreekOrthodox · Mar 27, 2020

topher694 said:
Several places in my area are doing this. And it seems to be working well. Our parking situation doesn't allow for it, but we are livestreaming. We've been doing livestreaming so for a long time, so it was an easy transition.

I've been trying to watch Orthodox services online and they have been hit and miss. Although most clergy and chanters have microphones, the sound is either too loud or too soft as generally we dont have a sound crew to manage what microphones should be active. While chanters are singing the service, the priest is typically saying prayers in a low voice by the altar and the two feeds get broadcast.

Jonathan Walkerin · Mar 27, 2020

Religiot said:
A Church is supposed to be a place where the sick can go to get healed.

Imagine how the churches can truly show the power of the God now by healing all those Coronavirus patients when they are rolled in dying in their ventilators then just getting up healed leaving their ventilators behind and praising God.

Anyone got links ?

Dave G. · Mar 27, 2020

topher694 said:
Several places in my area are doing this. And it seems to be working well. Our parking situation doesn't allow for it, but we are livestreaming. We've been doing livestreaming so for a long time, so it was an easy transition.

It will be interesting to watch and see how this drive in church materializes !! They generally have about 1000 attendees on Sunday mornings but they have a huge parking lot and have done outdoor services for the June convention before where about 3000 are in attendance ( course then the weather is nice).

I'm thinking of posting something locally up on youtube based from home. The pastor isn't tech savy and stuck on the other side of town but I have my Sony camcorder here and can easily at least put up a weekly bible study from home on my license to preach issued from our church. I'm feeling led to do that in this interim period. But meanwhile as a body we all take in Baltimore ourselves.

GreekOrthodox said:
I've been trying to watch Orthodox services online and they have been hit and miss. Although most clergy and chanters have microphones, the sound is either too loud or too soft as generally we dont have a sound crew to manage what microphones should be active. While chanters are singing the service, the priest is typically saying prayers in a low voice by the altar and the two feeds get broadcast.

Dave G. · Mar 27, 2020

GreekOrthodox said:
I've been trying to watch Orthodox services online and they have been hit and miss. Although most clergy and chanters have microphones, the sound is either too loud or too soft as generally we dont have a sound crew to manage what microphones should be active. While chanters are singing the service, the priest is typically saying prayers in a low voice by the altar and the two feeds get broadcast.

You don't need a professional sound man or engineer, just a willing body to learn enough about the system the church uses to slide in and out and fade the correct sliders on the control panel or software program etc. A volunteer can do it once shown how.. But you're right it makes a huge difference to have someone at the sound controls vs nobody.

topher694 · Mar 27, 2020

GreekOrthodox said:
I've been trying to watch Orthodox services online and they have been hit and miss. Although most clergy and chanters have microphones, the sound is either too loud or too soft as generally we dont have a sound crew to manage what microphones should be active. While chanters are singing the service, the priest is typically saying prayers in a low voice by the altar and the two feeds get broadcast.

Livestream/pre-recorded sound can be very different than live sound. It can also be very different depending on the device one is listening to: phone, tv, earbuds, earphones all sound different. This week we spend a good deal of time adjusting our livestream sound mix. We decided to focus on the sound coming out of phones since that is the most likely thing people will use. It is by no means a perfect science, that is for sure.

topher694 · Mar 27, 2020

Dave G. said:
It will be interesting to watch and see how this drive in church materializes !! They generally have about 1000 attendees on Sunday mornings but they have a huge parking lot and have done outdoor services for the June convention before where about 3000 are in attendance ( course then the weather is nice).

I'm thinking of posting something locally up on youtube based from home. The pastor isn't tech savy and stuck on the other side of town but I have my Sony camcorder here and can easily at least put up a weekly bible study from home on my license to preach issued from our church. I'm feeling led to do that in this interim period. But meanwhile as a body we all take in Baltimore ourselves.

One of the churches around here is using an FM transmitter so people can listen on their car radios, other's just have a outdoor sound system.

If you have the blessing and authority to put content out there, I'd encourage you to do so. The more the better in this situation. It helps people feel a little more connected. I'd recommend focusing on more encouraging content, we all need it now more than ever.

Dave G. · Mar 27, 2020

topher694 said:
One of the churches around here is using an FM transmitter so people can listen on their car radios, other's just have a outdoor sound system.

If you have the blessing and authority to put content out there, I'd encourage you to do so. The more the better in this situation. It helps people feel a little more connected. I'd recommend focusing on more encouraging content, we all need it now more than ever.

I can preach and lead under the auspices of both my pastor locally and the ordination board in Baltimore. I'm not ordained but was officially blessed and received a license to preach in our pulpits and outreaches by four pastors laying on of hands as my pastor prayed protection to go into the world to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. And received the certificate. So I have the authority and blessing of the ordination board but this is short of full ordination. I have to behave myself lol !!

topher694 · Mar 27, 2020

Dave G. said:
I can preach and lead under the auspices of both my pastor locally and the ordination board in Baltimore. I'm not ordained but was officially blessed and received a license to preach in our pulpits and outreaches by four pastors laying on of hands as my pastor prayed protection to go into the world to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. And received the certificate. So I have the authority and blessing of the ordination board but this is short of full ordination. I have to behave myself lol !!

The behaving ourselves appears to be the hardest part for some... lol

tall73 · Mar 29, 2020

Religiot said:
A Church is supposed to be a place where the sick can go to get healed.

God heals sickness. But it is up to Him when He does heal. Even Paul left one of his co-workers sick:

II Timothy 4:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

JM · Mar 29, 2020

Worth watching...

tall73 · Mar 29, 2020

Paidiske said:
Each of us has to do the best we can for the people we have, with the resources we have. Some of us have more resources than others, and some of us have people with different needs. Also, some of us are dealing with different government restrictions; I am now not allowed to gather people, even outside, to worship together.

For myself, I'm preparing a mixture of online resources and printed resources (for those folks not online), and following that up with as much pastoral care over the phone as I can manage. It's not perfect, but I certainly don't feel shamed by other churches (especially bigger and better resourced and staffed churches) doing things differently.

We have quite a few older members who do not do internet. So I am doing some online videos, and we put out some print material as well.

Likewise I am calling each member to see how they are doing with all the changes, how they are spiritually, and whether they need food.

Another option if people do not have internet is to start a Zoom conference, which they can use a regular phone to call in.

We are not attempting to do things livestreamed. I just send out multiple videos a week and people can watch them when they choose.

If you are planning on doing short homilies you can record those right on your cell phone audio recorder and send them that way if need be. If you set it right next to you the sound quality is usually great. It doesn't have to be a complex live stream for them to benefit.

Religiot · Mar 29, 2020

tall73 said:
God heals sickness. But it is up to Him when He does heal. Even Paul left one of his co-workers sick:

II Timothy 4:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

Yes, I know, brother.

My objection is simply based on the belief, that the congregation of the saints is the only place that should never close, especially when during an emergency.

I just don't get it...

I know the reasons for this emergency, and that's why I don't get it.

Could be that the end is right around the corner, and perhaps that's why the modern congregation bears little semblance, if any, to what the Church was supposed to be.

The Master says it best:

"I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" --Luke 18:8

tall73 · Mar 30, 2020

Religiot said:
Yes, I know, brother.

My objection is simply based on the belief, that the congregation of the saints is the only place that should never close, especially when during an emergency.

I just don't get it...

I know the reasons for this emergency, and that's why I don't get it.

Could be that the end is right around the corner, and perhaps that's why the modern congregation bears little semblance, if any, to what the Church was supposed to be.

The Master says it best:

"I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" --Luke 18:8

I agree with you on the general principle of not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together, as the body needs to build each other up.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

However, we can still adapt this to changing circumstances, while building each other up.Paul was ministering to the congregations when was in prison for Christ, and wrote to encourage, rebuke, instruct, etc. Today we have far more ability to minister to people without being in close proximity than even then. And by doing so we are

a. protecting people's heath.
b. teaching lessons that the church is not a place but a body
c. teaching about submission to authorities (as long as they are not contradicting God's command).
e. Not bringing the gospel into reproach by being careless of those around us, some of which do not have the hope of the gospel yet.

And we can still share the gospel where we are at, or online, etc. Some churches have started sharing content online that never did before, and getting community response. That may not have happened otherwise. And people are looking for some hope in this crisis.

Can you explain how you see Jesus' lesson regarding faith on the earth, at the end of the parable of the widow and the judge, as relating to the churches at this time?

Also, is there a reason you chose that particular user name?

Religiot · Mar 30, 2020

tall73 said:
I agree with you on the general principle of not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together, as the body needs to build each other up.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

However, we can still adapt this to changing circumstances, while building each other up.Paul was ministering to the congregations when was in prison for Christ, and wrote to encourage, rebuke, instruct, etc. Today we have far more ability to minister to people without being in close proximity than even then. And by doing so we are

a. protecting people's heath.
b. teaching lessons that the church is not a place but a body
c. teaching about submission to authorities (as long as they are not contradicting God's command).
e. Not bringing the gospel into reproach by being careless of those around us, some of which do not have the hope of the gospel yet.

And we can still share the gospel where we are at, or online, etc. Some churches have started sharing content online that never did before, and getting community response. That may not have happened otherwise. And people are looking for some hope in this crisis.

Can you explain how you see Jesus' lesson regarding faith on the earth, at the end of the parable of the widow and the judge, as relating to the churches at this time?

Also, is there a reason you chose that particular user name?

Yes, brother, of course.

Simply, I see our Lord's lesson as a warning of a coming future that now is, wherein the love of most has grown cold, and religion has become commerce, and the fear of God, a joke... ...will He find faith? I say no, not by the time He returns.

For when He returns, the righteous shall meet Him in the air, from where He, and us, will judge the world, as faithless.

When He shows His face the second time, it will be to set the world ablaze.

Concerning my user name, yes, a very particular reason, indeed; which I hope you don't mind my keeping it a secret for now.

Ignatius the Kiwi · Mar 30, 2020

Easter services, at the very least, ought to happen (regardless of the consequences). I am not advocating that people do not take precautions or that Churches be generally reopened but on the holiest day of the year should we not have the freedom to worship together? Leaving it up to the individual whether or not they want to attend during a quarantine and not judging them if they do not.

I think this blanket suggestion of shutting down all churches completely when we allow other industries to remain open to provide 'crucial' services shows us what we truly value. We value our lives more than we value God.

I can understand secularists wanting to completely shut down Churches, but not other Christians.

Paidiske · Mar 30, 2020

There was a wedding near here, where one guest - not knowing they were positive - gave the virus to 37 other guests.

No, I do not believe we should have the freedom to gather when that is likely to contribute to mass death. We cannot worship the God who is the source and sustainer of all life by engaging in death-dealing actions. Life is a sacred gift, and our actions should reflect that.

There is no sin in foregoing gathering for a brief time in order to protect the lives of those around us. That is not devaluing God; it is putting how highly we value God into action in a particular context.

How the decisions are made about other industries is fraught, and I am very glad that I am not having to calculate how many lives might be lost if this or that service continues, or does not. But it will not kill us to worship in our own homes.

As I think I said upthread, suspending services is not shutting down the Church. We are the Church, and we will continue to be the Church even while we cannot gather.

Church while there's Pandemic.

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