Resources for Worship Planning

The United Methodist Rural Advocates would like to offer some help to churches who are struggling with worship in these tumultuous times. As churches decide to move back to indoor worship it is important that this decision be arrived at with much prayer and interactive planning. The virus is serious, as is the need for gathering as the body of Christ. Safety must be of utmost concern as we endeavor to do no harm, do good and stay in love with God. Our hope is to offer at the very least hope and acknowledgement that you are not alone. Here is some of the collected wisdom, as well as some advice from rural pastors.

If you’re looking for the best camera for your church’s stream, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve listed down the top webcams and cameras that are suitable for your church’s live stream.

The COVID-19 era has closed public gatherings, but social media and streaming has likely brought new virtual worshipers to your services. How do you form a lasting relationship with the people behind the screens? Strengthen ties with members who may opt to worship virtually even when buildings reopen?

We scanned the internet for resources that will be of interest and value to you and your ministries. This week's roundup includes: Advent devotionals, free youth worship lessons, spiritually healthy ways to take a break, and more.

In this episode, we take a trip to Simpson Gillespie United Methodist where the Rev. Darryl Dayson and his church gather in the parking lot for Park & Praise Worship. They’re in the midst of a sermon series entitled Reset and we can all benefit from pondering this question with them – will we resume or will we take this time to reimagine and reset to create something better than what we had before? For more information on the church and worship times, visit their website at https://www.simpsongillespie.com. Join them on Sundays at 10am online on Facebook and YouTube or in the parking lot on third Sunday of the month.

We scanned the internet for resources that will be of interest and value to you and your ministries. This week's roundup includes: Pandemic-proof ways to celebrate Pastor Appreciation Sunday, ideas for building and maintaining relationships with virtual worshippers, resources for Advent planning & marketing, and more.

As faithful disciples of Jesus Christ in the midst of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain committed to our Biblical mandate to "love our neighbors as ourselves" and our Wesleyan call to “do no harm.” In doing so, we seek ways to engage faithfully in worship, study, and ministry while ensuring the health and safety of our members and communities. We advise that all churches continue following CDC, state and local guidelines for indoor and outdoor gatherings, including handwashing, wearing masks, and observing physical distancing rules and group size limits.

"How do you plan for Advent and Christmas music when you don’t know what to plan for? Who to plan for? Where to plan for? What we do know is why we plan for the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany season."

"COVID-19 has disrupted United Methodist life in many ways and it’s done a number on congregational and choir singing, causing music ministers to scramble to keep music going and keep sidelined choir members engaged."

Six months into stay-at-home orders, every church has had to make significant shifts in their ministry. In this episode of Means of Grace, Jesse Enniss talks with Rev. Dr. Andrea Smith, pastor of West UMC in Mooresville, NC, and Rev. Dan Hester, pastor of Skyland United Methodist Church in Asheville, NC about leadership in this time of change. They discuss how they have adapted their use of technology, their engagement with their communities, how they, as leaders, have been making decisions, and so much more! Listen for free at www.wnccumc.org/meansofgrace or wherever you get your podcasts!

As faithful disciples of Jesus Christ in the midst of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain committed to our Biblical mandate to "love our neighbors as ourselves" and our Wesleyan call to “do no harm.” In doing so, we seek ways to engage faithfully in worship, study, and ministry while ensuring the health and safety of our members and communities. We advise that all churches continue following CDC, state and local guidelines for indoor and outdoor gatherings, including handwashing, wearing masks, and observing physical distancing rules and group size limits.

The experienced AV staff of GCFA can help enhance and elevate your church’s ministry and worship encounters. We can provide you with tools and technology that help you carry out the vision and mission of your church in real and tangible ways.

We can all learn and grow from our virtual worship experiences. As in-person worship becomes more frequent, we want to share some creative ways your church can merge your virtual and physical worship communities.

"Just about all churches have persons with hearing loss, a condition that is particularly true of seniors. In-person gatherings typically use public address systems as assistive technology, but online or live streamed worship services present challenges to ensure that persons with hearing loss can hear through computers, iPads, and laptops. We will look at several options to ensure that everyone can participate."

Many virtual choirs debuted out of necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspiring and comforting people during a difficult time. As I write, many of us are still practicing distance worship. Even after this crisis ends and potential weather-related closings begin, churches will benefit from having learned the steps to produce a virtual choir.

Even as many churches return to in-person worship, virtual worship is here to stay, which makes investing in the experience a worthwhile task. Here are some resources to help as you look to up-level your virtual worship experience.

"In a lot of small to medium churches, the digital platform is managed by a volunteer, a pastor, or someone on staff, but they are given a hundred other duties to do so social media and the online experience are not a priority...choosing the right set of volunteers to engage digitally is important."

We want to hear how COVID-19 is affecting your congregation. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey to let us know how the Conference can best support you at this time.

Numerous churches across the conference are livestreaming their worship services, Bible studies, prayer services, bedtime Bible stories, and more. Connect with them here!

Join us, on September 10 at 8 p.m. EST, as Ken Sloane (Director, Stewardship & Generosity) and his guest, Dr. Ed Phillips (Associate Professor of Worship, Candler School of Theology), discuss the past, present, and future of "the offering" in worship as the vehicle for funding ministry. They also mention some best practices for moving into the future.