ONLINE CHURCHES

No

No. In general, while I think online is a great adjunct to bricks and mortar church, I don't believe we can do everything online that we should do as a church. (For example, from the frame of reference of my tradition, sacraments cannot be validly celebrated other than in person).

So in lockdown I'm livestreaming morning prayer and holding small group discussions via Zoom, but there's no communion (or baptism, for that matter).

Hebrews 10:24-25
24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Jeffwhosoever said:

Does anyone belong to a online church where you can be a full member, watch worship online and participate in small group activities through technologies like Zoom?

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If you are housebound then this is a way of maintaining your membership of a church you used to attend every Sunday.
If you are not house bound, why don't you want to attend church?

If you have a mental issue with meeting people, rather than avoid that issue you need to seek help in dealing with it.
If work commitments make it impossible to attend church, talk to your boss so you can at least attend every other week, or change jobs.

Have you talked to any local pastors? If there isn't any way to assist or offer physical accommodations, some churches have homebound and elderly ministries. A church I used to attend would have people go visit and minister to these congregants in person, perhaps local leadership would be able to point you to some additional resources where even if you aren't able to attend servces in person, and leverage tools like Zoom and streaming, you can still be planted in a local body where hopefully opportunities come up for you and members to get together. Grace and peace to you brother!

Absolutely I would expect someone local to be willing to visit in person, and bring you communion. Perhaps a small group could meet at your house and worship together there, or something like that, too.

Anyone who would refuse to visit doesn't deserve you...

Paidiske said:

Absolutely I would expect someone local to be willing to visit in person, and bring you communion. Perhaps a small group could meet at your house and worship together there, or something like that, too.

Anyone who would refuse to visit doesn't deserve you...

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I guess visitation ministry will be in demand more so than before for years to come.

I don't know. I think that demand has always been there, but perhaps some churches have been too willing to ignore people or let them fall through the cracks?

Paidiske said:

I don't know. I think that demand has always been there, but perhaps some churches have been too willing to ignore people or let them fall through the cracks?

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I attended a church who had one person who was very devoted to doing visitation ministry, as he aged and was unable to do it anymore he expressed at times being lonely. Since pastors tend to be the only people available during the week (because everyone in the congregation is ideally working) the main culprit may be the lack of emphasis on the assisting those who need it passages. A lot of moralistic emphasis, but not so much on the relational element of that.

May differ in your locale, but that's my observation.

Jeffwhosoever said:

Does anyone belong to a online church where you can be a full member, watch worship online and participate in small group activities through technologies like Zoom?

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As Paidiske has said, ideally church membership would include baptism (have you been baptized already?) and regular participation in Communion. But with that noted, I'll say this about my parish: During the last year-and-a-half, we've been streaming our services on Facebook and Zoom, and we've been holding weekly Bible studies and book discussions on Zoom. The services, Bible studies, and book discussions all include regular participants who are not local to our area and who participate in our church only through Zoom. Our church has decided to keep offering services and study/discussion groups via Zoom, even after COVID ends. If you're interested, send me a private message and I'll give you the contact information for our church.

Jeffwhosoever said:

Does anyone belong to a online church where you can be a full member, watch worship online and participate in small group activities through technologies like Zoom?

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Hi Jeff. Contact these churches, one or more of them might be able to fit your needs. God bless you!

5 Biggest Online Churches

Jeffwhosoever said:

Does anyone belong to a online church where you can be a full member, watch worship online and participate in small group activities through technologies like Zoom?

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Yes Granite Bay Hilltop Seventh Day Adventist Church (granitebaysda.org)

They have a church bible study via Zoom on Wednesday evening and you can be an official online member for those who do not have a church nearby or have medical issues like you mentioned. You can watch the sermons on YouTube, the website or Facebook. I go to a local church now, this was my previous church before I moved and I miss it dearly, but thankfully I can still watch the sermons online.

God bless