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Virtual Communion
Bishop Bickerton has given pastors special permission during this pandemic to hold Virtual Communion Services. So next Sunday I plan to include a virtual communion service as part of our 9:30 morning service. I encourage you to have some grape juice, cran-grape juice or red wine, and bread or crackers readily available so you can participate. I attended an online communion service hosted by the bishop during holy week and found it very meaningful. It might be hard at first for us to think about virtual communion. But I remembered that in Scripture, more than once, God worked remotely through someone. In the book of Acts, handkerchiefs that had been in Paul’s presence were used to heal people (Acts 19:12). Jesus healed the royal official’s son without ever seeing him (John 4:46-53). So, God can use the pastor’s blessing during the virtual service to bless the communion elements in your home as well. And the other necessary part is the preparation of your heart and your attitude of receptivity to the grace of God. You can have the right attitude at home as well as at church. So, I think virtual communion will work well and look forward to leading it next week. I believe it will strengthen our hearts and our faith in this time of need.
Working together
It takes a team to make our virtual services happen. We are grateful to Jonathan Griffin and Cory Schantz who provide the Zoom coordination behind the scenes. JoAnne arranges one of our inspirational pictures as a backdrop. I set-up our two computers and my iPhone for the feed from the parsonage. JoAnne spends hours preparing the slides and recording the music for them. JoAnne and I together plan the service. In addition,, we have been asking various people to participate in the service; Scripture readers, children on children’s moment, and Robert Loomis with history moment. This adds interest as well. Oversight of the process is provided by our COVID-19 planning committee which consists of JoAnne and I, Jonathan Griffin and Cory Schantz, Lay Leader, Robert Loomis, and Council Chair, Judy Holcomb.
Wonderful service – loved the history moment – our Holy Spirit is so creative – re new technology (for a better word) about infection. Message helpful for us today – I’ve had calls asking if I needed anything – people are kind. peace & God Bless.