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Your Turn / Re: Online Worship Resources
« on: March 24, 2020, 07:48:41 PM »
How often should pastors 'take to the airwaves' to communicate with their parishoners? Until we can join together as one as a congregation in worship - together as one not from our living rooms but side by side in the pew.
Two weeks ago we held our last worship service in who knows how long. Governor Murphy didn't outright ban religious services but we thought it prudent, especially given the population density of the state, the proximity to NYC, and our own cases rapidly growing.
We were instructed to tune in to our Facebook page at 10:25 and immediately names started popping up - people announcing their presence. When the service started (Pastor, organist, and tech guru) I just cried. The tears were more of joy. I can't tell you the peace I found not only in the worship service but in seeing my Pastor lead, preach, caring for us in a new way. I hope pastors understand how intimate the relationship is between pastor and lay member. You are on the front lines of our highs and our lows. When my husband died I called 911 but my next call was to my Pastor who was by my side in about 10 minutes. I realized how important it is to be able to have some type of contact with my pastor and how important it is to have contact with the members of the congregation.
We have dealt with the lack of the Eucharist and that is paramount in our virtual worship. But for many laity the relationship of pastor and congregant is, in a sense, sacramental. By virtue of your ordination and the Call extended a unique relationship is born. We do long for the Sacrament but we also long for the caring presence of our pastor - one who Christ placed in our midst.
My Pastor knows the past weeks have been difficult and we are in touch often. Today he asked if i wanted to work on an on-line service using Service of the Word (which is what we decided to use) and the Great Litany for the Fifth Sunday in Lent. He knows me well. I enjoyed having something to focus on and I love liturgy. Then we sadly acknowledged that we should probably start putting together some worship resources for Holy Week and Easter. It's highly unlikely we can return for some time. But I pray that God will strengthen him in his ministry to lead us, week after week as I know that not only did it offer me peace but others as well. And I will pray that God will strengthen the pastors here to the ministry to which you have been called.
Short question but, as always, long answer.
Two weeks ago we held our last worship service in who knows how long. Governor Murphy didn't outright ban religious services but we thought it prudent, especially given the population density of the state, the proximity to NYC, and our own cases rapidly growing.
We were instructed to tune in to our Facebook page at 10:25 and immediately names started popping up - people announcing their presence. When the service started (Pastor, organist, and tech guru) I just cried. The tears were more of joy. I can't tell you the peace I found not only in the worship service but in seeing my Pastor lead, preach, caring for us in a new way. I hope pastors understand how intimate the relationship is between pastor and lay member. You are on the front lines of our highs and our lows. When my husband died I called 911 but my next call was to my Pastor who was by my side in about 10 minutes. I realized how important it is to be able to have some type of contact with my pastor and how important it is to have contact with the members of the congregation.
We have dealt with the lack of the Eucharist and that is paramount in our virtual worship. But for many laity the relationship of pastor and congregant is, in a sense, sacramental. By virtue of your ordination and the Call extended a unique relationship is born. We do long for the Sacrament but we also long for the caring presence of our pastor - one who Christ placed in our midst.
My Pastor knows the past weeks have been difficult and we are in touch often. Today he asked if i wanted to work on an on-line service using Service of the Word (which is what we decided to use) and the Great Litany for the Fifth Sunday in Lent. He knows me well. I enjoyed having something to focus on and I love liturgy. Then we sadly acknowledged that we should probably start putting together some worship resources for Holy Week and Easter. It's highly unlikely we can return for some time. But I pray that God will strengthen him in his ministry to lead us, week after week as I know that not only did it offer me peace but others as well. And I will pray that God will strengthen the pastors here to the ministry to which you have been called.
Short question but, as always, long answer.