For the children who are being used and re-used by professional border-crossing guides, for the children and women who, while seeking better life have been trafficked into situations of modern-day slavery, for those who have paid for their passage with money and again with rape, Lord have mercy.
For Border Agents hired to serve people coming to the United States, agents who have been pressed into duties beyond their time and ability to accomplish, agents who are broken-hearted at the situations they witness every day, we pray that you will sustain and strengthen them. Give them grace for each new day, compassionate hearts and wisdom to serve well.
One of the ways that we involved folks when we were entirely online was to invite them to help lead worship with a video: a call to worship, a scripture reading, words of assurance. They created the video, sent it to us, and we played it as a part of the online worship.
Another idea was to have the kids of the church help to illustrate lyrics for a new song we were teaching. Each grade level took one phrase of the chorus of "Waymaker" and wrote those words with a picture.
On our FB page, we initially tried to interview a person or family each week... just to stay connected. That was not as much a part of worship as it was congregational life.
Another key to involvement in worship is the use of the comment section on our FB page. As the service proceeds, members greet one another, and then also respond to the worship with comments... and support each other with prayers based on the comments. As worship leader, in those days I always watched/worshipped the service again, because I wanted to experience the community that was going on while we were leading worship, alone in body.
Since that time, we have begun outdoor worship, and we are able to have readers, testimonies, etc. in person. Also, as the congregation (in lawn chairs, spaced out under the shade trees) worships, the camera will move to include them, so that those at home can see their sisters and brothers worshiping.
Just a few ideas! Praying that the Spirit continues to guide and prompt us!
Posted in: U.S. Southern Border Crisis Litany
For the children who are being used and re-used by professional border-crossing guides, for the children and women who, while seeking better life have been trafficked into situations of modern-day slavery, for those who have paid for their passage with money and again with rape, Lord have mercy.
For Border Agents hired to serve people coming to the United States, agents who have been pressed into duties beyond their time and ability to accomplish, agents who are broken-hearted at the situations they witness every day, we pray that you will sustain and strengthen them. Give them grace for each new day, compassionate hearts and wisdom to serve well.
Posted in: How Are Churches Encouraging “Participation” of the Body at This Time?
One of the ways that we involved folks when we were entirely online was to invite them to help lead worship with a video: a call to worship, a scripture reading, words of assurance. They created the video, sent it to us, and we played it as a part of the online worship.
Another idea was to have the kids of the church help to illustrate lyrics for a new song we were teaching. Each grade level took one phrase of the chorus of "Waymaker" and wrote those words with a picture.
On our FB page, we initially tried to interview a person or family each week... just to stay connected. That was not as much a part of worship as it was congregational life.
Another key to involvement in worship is the use of the comment section on our FB page. As the service proceeds, members greet one another, and then also respond to the worship with comments... and support each other with prayers based on the comments. As worship leader, in those days I always watched/worshipped the service again, because I wanted to experience the community that was going on while we were leading worship, alone in body.
Since that time, we have begun outdoor worship, and we are able to have readers, testimonies, etc. in person. Also, as the congregation (in lawn chairs, spaced out under the shade trees) worships, the camera will move to include them, so that those at home can see their sisters and brothers worshiping.
Just a few ideas! Praying that the Spirit continues to guide and prompt us!
Posted in: Reflection on Mark Stephenson's Leadership as Director of Disability Concerns
Thank you, Mark, for your years of service and for your passionate example of leadership. God bless your years of retirement!