Online Worship: The Sanctuary
“I watch one of the two worship services three out of every four weeks on Sunday afternoon. On Monday, I meet with staff responsible for worship visuals and camera operations to review what happened the previous day and to plan for the coming week’s service.” Rev. Bob Bekkerus, St. Mark Lutheran, West Des Moines, Iowa
“[Jesus] stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him…And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.” Luke 4:16b-20
There are many ways to welcome digital age worshipers. Congregations adopted their worship spaces to digital worshipers through the placement of cameras and adjusting some liturgical elements. Worship activities were modified both for public health and for the worship experience of online participants. Congregations that have navigated the introduction of online worship in some way during the past year and have found their own rhythm of ‘pre-recorded to premier’ or live-streaming or a combination of the two. Some congregations have already, and some soon will be negotiating the return of worshipers to sanctuaries where they will join online worshipers. Congregations we visited have invested time and resources to provide the opportunity for digital worship and intend to continue to offer online worship even after there are no restrictions for gathering in-person.
At the time of our congregational visits in the spring of 2021, each congregation had adapted and evolved to offer engaging online worship at the time of their pre-pandemic “prime” worship hour. The question we ask is, what will in-person and online worship look like six months to a year from now? Consider the variety of liturgical adaptations that have been used in the past year for health and safety and that have evolved with an eye primarily toward an online congregation. Which of those changes will be retained and which will need to evolve again as congregations commit to serving both in-person and distant worshipers? (See article: Who is my neighbor?)
Common worship adaptations from the pandemic:
Readings: People from multiple congregations described times that scripture readings used for worship were recorded in advance, often from people’s homes, and inserted into worship services. Families could sit together on a couch or in a kitchen and bring the Word of God to the assembly.
Offering: Each congregation at the time of our visits had some form of offering plate or box near the entrance to the worship space and included a verbal invitation to drop off an offering, bring it to the church office, or use one of the electronic giving options. The invitation during worship was tailored primarily for the online worshipers. As worshipers return to sanctuaries, congregations that have a tradition of passing the plate may consider alternatives or language that continues to invite online worshipers to participate.
Extending words of Peace: Without people in the sanctuary, the extension of God’s peace was communicated through the camera to the online worshipers. As people are returning to sanctuaries, but still not shaking hands, the wave of peace continues. As handshakes and hugs return, the sanctuary community needs more time than the online worshippers do.
Communion: At the time of our visits, each congregation had welcomed people back to in-person worship and was offering communion. As part of communion, the explicit invitation was given for those worshiping online to join in the sacrament. The distribution of communion for those in-person continued to be modified for pandemic health concerns. Trinity Lutheran in Crookston, Minnesota; Calvary Lutheran in Clarkston, Michigan; and St. Thomas/Holy Spirit Lutheran in St. Louis, Missouri, had those gathered remain in their seats and use prepackaged bread and wine. St. Mark Lutheran in West Des Moines, Iowa, invited people forward to commune during the service, and Christ Lutheran in Charlotte, North Carolina, extended the words of invitation to those at home during the service, and invited those present to come forward after the dismissal for communion (and then leave the building while maintaining social distancing). As more people return to sanctuaries, consider the engagement of those worshiping online during the distribution.
Music: Choirs, song leaders, worship bands, bell choirs, and congregational singing have all created music to praise God during the pandemic. Some congregations shortened music selections, some have the ability to stream lyrics, had the technical expertise to record and sync a “Zoom Choir” or musical selection.
As we look to the near future: Be intentional about how worship works for those in the sanctuary and those worshiping online.
Shoot it: Adequate equipment is essential to producing digital content. For many congregations a smartphone was good enough to get started, and allowed for time to explore other camera and sound capture options. As congregations look to the next chapter of digital church, refinements in hardware and software will continue to evolve. Systems need to be robust enough to project an adequate product, but simple enough for sustainable, ongoing operation by available volunteers or staff.
Publicize it: Finding worship links should be easy, published worship times must be accurate, and the links need to work.
Stream it: Many congregations jumped into the deep end of the pool of video streaming worship at some point during the pandemic. Facebook Live and YouTube presented the lowest entry barriers for congregations. None of the congregations that we visited used ZOOM for their worship streaming, but employed that platform for a variety of classes, and meetings.
Watch it: If you are a worship leader, watch the recording of your own services. It sounds basic, but it is necessary. See what your worshipers see. Worshipers access online content through a variety of devices from phones to smart TV’s. Worshipers may or may not see chat features. Are people able to see what they need to see to worship? Do you see things that distract from worship?
Worship practices for in-person worship have some well-established patterns that have been around since before Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth. More recently, worship leaders and participants have been exploring new patterns that help people connect with God. Whatever platform is used, the best advice is to be intentional about the experience of both the worshiper in the pew and the worshiper participating through a screen.
Rev. Kristina Weber, Senior Pastor Trinity Lutheran, Jamestown, North Dakota
Rev. Erik Weber, Senior Pastor St. John’s Lutheran, Jamestown, North Dakota
July 2021