How does everyone feel about the online church sessions?

[oauccer972]

With the whole COVID situation appearing to not go away, how does everyone feel about the online sessions of church? I've even seen some that relate to bible studying, and other sessions that are now shifting from a small in person class to online.

For me, it honestly feels just like the older days when it was broadcasted on the television on certain channels throughout the day - however I personally can't seem to adjust since it feels different (probably, the environment honestly) compared to actually being there.

 

[Forgiven1]

Honestly, I found it hard to concentrate on the service when we were online. Thankfully, we have been worshipping in person since May.

 

[NewCreation435]

Well, it is easier to turn it off if you don't like the sermon topic. But, it is also much easier to listen to pastors and teachers in other parts of the country or other denominations you ordinarily wouldn't listen to

 

[tango]

I'm really not interested in watching things online. If I'm going to see someone and hear them I want to see and hear in person. If all I've got is a face on a screen I'd rather just have a transcript so I can read it at my own pace and in my own time.

 

[Lamb]

My church still offers online worship but it's not live streamed and the sound is oftentimes lacking in quality so I find myself fast forwarding through the video at times. They meet in person but have the windows open and for someone like me who suffers from Raynaud's I'd prefer to not get cold so I stay away. Plus, I still want to get my surgery this year so I only go out to the grocery store and sometimes to Walmart (once a month?).

 

[tango]

With the whole COVID situation appearing to not go away, how does everyone feel about the online sessions of church? I've even seen some that relate to bible studying, and other sessions that are now shifting from a small in person class to online.

For me, it honestly feels just like the older days when it was broadcasted on the television on certain channels throughout the day - however I personally can't seem to adjust since it feels different (probably, the environment honestly) compared to actually being there.

It's good that we can meet virtually when meeting physically isn't an option (for whatever reason, COVID or otherwise). It's not so good if we make it too easy for people to just stay home and tune in rather than making a little effort to gather in person. Some things just don't work as well on a screen.

 

[Lamb]

It's good that we can meet virtually when meeting physically isn't an option (for whatever reason, COVID or otherwise). It's not so good if we make it too easy for people to just stay home and tune in rather than making a little effort to gather in person. Some things just don't work as well on a screen.

I don't plan on watching at home forever but with the elderly it's actually a great option who want to remain a part of a congregation

 

[tango]

I don't plan on watching at home forever but with the elderly it's actually a great option who want to remain a part of a congregation

Very much so. We have several older people in our congregation, some of whom are also vulnerable because of specific health issues. It's good that they have an option to connect without having to come out. The crucial thing is to encourage people not to consider this to be a new kind of normal and to resume in-person attendance at some future time.

That leads into a question of when people will consider it safe to come out again but each person can make up their own mind when they want to return to normal.

 

[Arsenios]

The Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Faith really needs face to face Services, because we partake of the Body and Blood of our Savior, and that Body and that Blood do not go online at all... As a fill in for those who cannot attend, it is a poor substitute, but yet a substitute, and if carefully attended, followed by Antidoron and Holy Water, it is sometimes the best we can do... Different Churches are dealing differently with the challenges...

A.

 

[MicheleMarie]

I feel it good. Um, even when Covid wasn't around, its beneficial. With the pandemic happening tho, I think its great to hold services online.

 

[Pedrito]

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The concept isn’t exactly new, although the technology has changed a bit.

Robert Schuller, of Crystal Cathedral fame, opened his Garden Grove Community Church in a drive-in movie theatre in 1955.

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

==============================================================================

 

[mailmandan]

I'm glad that we can watch church sermons on TV, but we want to get back to going to church regularly every week soon. We have visited church in person off and on over the last year, but sooner or later a covid outbreak at church scares us off.

 

[Lamb]

I think by next month or so that the majority of the people at my church will have been vaccinated since they're an older group of people. My age group isn't until the last group and even though I have auto immune disorders I'm still not on the early lists to get it. So maybe by late spring or early summer I can return to church and everyone can feel safe again.

 

[tango]

WE have quite a few at our church who are waiting to get the vaccine before they return. Interestingly we have a lot of older people who still come out regardless. One friend of ours is in her 70s and has been virtually isolated for 12 months now because she's so afraid of the virus. Another friend is more or less the same age, has health issues of her own, and lives her life as normal.

I'm looking forward to having more people in church again.

 

[Faith]

With the whole COVID situation appearing to not go away, how does everyone feel about the online sessions of church? I've even seen some that relate to bible studying, and other sessions that are now shifting from a small in person class to online.

For me, it honestly feels just like the older days when it was broadcasted on the television on certain channels throughout the day - however I personally can't seem to adjust since it feels different (probably, the environment honestly) compared to actually being there.

I think it’s a good idea for those who don’t want to go to church in person but my Church requires masks, hand sanitizer (which is available at the doors) and social distancing, I prefer going in person.

 

[Josiah]

I have mixed feelings.....

On the one hand, I think this is HIGHLY destructive to the church.... which is the COMMUNITY of believers, the FAMILY of God, the "coming together" (the literal meaning of the word "church"). While circumstance may require this not happen for a period (such as during the London Blitz), an essential nature of the church is the gathering, the coming together, the assembly, the communion of faith. I think a year of this has likely damaged most churches as relationships weakened, ministries together declined (or stopped altogether), new (bad) habits developed. We'll see.... in the US, we might be back in a few weeks (some areas already are)... I'm sure it will vary a lot. I have a co-worker from Florida who says attendance at his sister's church is down by half.

On the other hand, while many larger congregations were already streaming their services, this is new to most churches (including mine) and we're finding a lot of people "tuning in". SOME of these are fearful of in-person worship (which is allowed in VERY strict limitation in my state), even never leaving their house (is enabling fear a good thing???), some say they like worshiping in their PJ's while eating and at a time of their convenience (is Christianity about convenience)? We've re-established relationships with former members now living elsewhere and never found a church there. And we've had a FEW (I can count them on one had) who first visited our church online I think because it was less-threatening, they checked it out online, liked it and are now involved (ONE of those actually came to live, in-person worship).

There is a (weird) opportunity for evangelism here.... but I sense the negatives (the impersonal, non-community nature) outweighs the positive but it probably varies from church to church.


Just my take...


- Josiah




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[Josiah]

I read this somewhere....


Many years ago, a pastor visited the home of members who had stopped attending church regularly....

He was escorted into the Parlor where a nice fire was waiting for them in the fireplace... Upon entering, the pastor played with the fire briefly, removing a hot coal and putting in on the hearth...

The pastor and the members talked about this and that, and finally he came to the subject of his visit.

He said, "Remember when I entered your home.... remember how there was a hot, glowing coal in the middle of the fire, warming the other coals and being warmed by them. Remember how I removed it and placed it by itself? See it now. It no longer glows. It is no longer hot. It no longer is warming others or being warmed by them.

This is what happens when Christians remove themselves from regular worship.... Slowly, their faith stops glowing, they no longer warm others and they are no longer warmed by others.


When God brings us to faith, He brings us together. As a family, a community, a communion of faith. For good reasons.




.

 

[tango]

Good points there Josiah.

There are valid reasons for people to decide they would feel safer staying away, particularly people who are older and/or immune-compromised. And if you lose a certian number of the people doing stuff to make a service happen then sooner or later the service can't happen any more.

That said, a key part of a good church is that people notice if you're struggling. Maybe you don't even specifically say anything to anyone but someone notices you seem subdued, or you look like you've got a lot on your mind. Maybe you don't want to talk about it right there and then but appreciate an offer to "just call if you want to talk". At least you have the sense of meeting with other believers and enjoying fellowship with them. None of that works over a video link when everybody can see the speaker but the speaker can't see anyone.

When speaking to a group it's good to be able to see who is engaged. It can be disheartening if it looks like people are disengaging but at least you can see what's happening. Preaching to an empty room is difficult because there's just nobody there - no feedback, no eye contact, no sense that this person appreciated the point you just made while that person looks deep in thought.

Juggling weekend activities can be difficult for parents of school-age children, particularly where sports teams are concerned. It's good to offer options over and above "10:30 on Sunday, be there or miss it", but it's also not good to make it too easy for people to just become another faceless statistic on a web site. Sometimes getting up, getting cleaned up and going out to church on a Sunday morning feels like a real drag but often those are the days you need to be in church (at least they are often the days I need to be in church) rather than kinda-sorta watching something on a screen while only partially engaging with it.

 

[Lamb]

I read this somewhere....


Many years ago, a pastor visited the home of members who had stopped attending church regularly....

He was escorted into the Parlor where a nice fire was waiting for them in the fireplace... Upon entering, the pastor played with the fire briefly, removing a hot coal and putting in on the hearth...

The pastor and the members talked about this and that, and finally he came to the subject of his visit.

He said, "Remember when I entered your home.... remember how there was a hot, glowing coal in the middle of the fire, warming the other coals and being warmed by them. Remember how I removed it and placed it by itself? See it now. It no longer glows. It is no longer hot. It no longer is warming others or being warmed by them.

This is what happens when Christians remove themselves from regular worship.... Slowly, their faith stops glowing, they no longer warm others and they are no longer warmed by others.


When God brings us to faith, He brings us together. As a family, a community, a communion of faith. For good reasons.




.

That type of analogy might have been applicable before the internet but we have SOOO many ways to keep in God's Word now. For those who can't make it to church, they don't have to fear about the above as long as they take advantage of what's out there.

 

[Faith]

I read this somewhere....


Many years ago, a pastor visited the home of members who had stopped attending church regularly....

He was escorted into the Parlor where a nice fire was waiting for them in the fireplace... Upon entering, the pastor played with the fire briefly, removing a hot coal and putting in on the hearth...

The pastor and the members talked about this and that, and finally he came to the subject of his visit.

He said, "Remember when I entered your home.... remember how there was a hot, glowing coal in the middle of the fire, warming the other coals and being warmed by them. Remember how I removed it and placed it by itself? See it now. It no longer glows. It is no longer hot. It no longer is warming others or being warmed by them.

This is what happens when Christians remove themselves from regular worship.... Slowly, their faith stops glowing, they no longer warm others and they are no longer warmed by others.


When God brings us to faith, He brings us together. As a family, a community, a communion of faith. For good reasons.




.

Good post!