With the advent of online services and bountiful supplies of religious teaching and broadcasting the question comes to mind, "Why do I go to 'church' rather than watch 'church' on my video screen?"
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Well said! I completely agreeAn excellent and important question. Here are my own answers, listed approximately from most to least important.
1. To receive Communion. This was what I missed most desperately during the COVID lockdown.
2. Singing. Singing alone at my TV screen is not at all the same experience as singing in a group of people.
3. The physical ceremony of it, for lack of a better term. Bowing, kneeling, the cross in procession, lighting and extinguishing candles, all the physical actions and imagery that are part of liturgical worship. I did a little of this during COVIDtide -- I had a candle that I lit during the Zoom service, for example -- but doing it alone isn't the same as doing it in a group of other people.
4. Sacred space. I know that this won't be meaningful to everyone, but a place where prayers have been offered over and over for months or years becomes a sacred space, or at least that's how it feels to me. I created a couple of spaces like this at home during COVIDtide, and they continue to be important to me. Still, there's something about a place where dozens or hundreds of people have gathered over decades and offered prayers -- a sense of the numinous, for those who have read Otto.
Religious teaching, interestingly, is not a reason I go to church in person rather than Zoom. My comfy chair in my living room is a fine place to read theology books, and our parish has found that Zoom works well for Bible studies and book study groups. It's the worship -- gathering with other people to make our offering to God, and to receive God's holy Presence in the Eucharist -- that needs to be in person.
To worship with the body of Christ.With the advent of online services and bountiful supplies of religious teaching and broadcasting the question comes to mind, "Why do I go to 'church' rather than watch 'church' on my video screen?"
People go for fellowship and to talk to people. It is amazing how wonderful people are in some of the churches I have attended. If anything the weak link is the pastor who sets no bounds for himself."Why do I go to 'church' rather than watch 'church' on my video screen?"
BeautifulSacred Space
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One word - fellowship. Humans are social animals, it's not good for man to be alone. On a practical level, "solo Christians" are the easiest targets for Satan to pick up, we either hang together or hang separately.With the advent of online services and bountiful supplies of religious teaching and broadcasting the question comes to mind, "Why do I go to 'church' rather than watch 'church' on my video screen?"
Use zoomOne word - fellowship. Humans are social animals, it's not good for man to be alone. On a practical level, "solo Christians" are the easiest targets for Satan to pick up, we either hang together or hang separately.
THanks, I've gotten enough of zoom gloom, and the p(l)andemic is over.Use zoom
Yes, to the liturgy as Catholics practise it today. The breaking of Bread is one thing that cannot be done over a video link. One must be physically present to receive the consecrated host and the precious blood of the Lord, Jesus Christ. One must be present to be in the physical presence of Christ.They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
It's not just for fellowship. "When two or three gather together, I'm in your midst," that's not just a saying from the bible, when you're in public, other people's presence has an active effect on you, you automatically behave differently than you are in private, and it's not limited to church settings. When you attend in person, you're more likely to focus, the worship session, the sermon, the communion, the prayer and other activities will become a part of your experience and sit in your memories much longer and deeper than watching it on a screen.Yes, to the liturgy as Catholics practise it today. The breaking of Bread is one thing that cannot be done over a video link. One must be physically present to receive the consecrated host and the precious blood of the Lord, Jesus Christ. One must be present to be in the physical presence of Christ.
I know of who we see and hear in Zoom but who are we actually with in Zoom?Can't you do that in Zoom?
Actually my focus was on the fellowship part.Yes, to the liturgy as Catholics practise it today. The breaking of Bread is one thing that cannot be done over a video link. One must be physically present to receive the consecrated host and the precious blood of the Lord, Jesus Christ. One must be present to be in the physical presence of Christ.
I know, but that is not the focus of worship.Actually my focus was on the fellowship part.
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