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REFLECTION
How do we worship God when we can only attend church online? When we worshipped in person, it was easy to see. We sang, we prayed, we listened we read in unison. But now, we can’t do that. We can watch. The reason, however, that we livestream the service the way we do is to replicate, as closely as possible, the prayerbook worship that we have done in the past, sadly, without the congregation.
The other reason we do that is to make it as easy as possible for you to participate in the worship each weekend. Unfortunately, it’s also easy to sit back and become spectators rather than participants. How do I know that? Because I face, and all too often succumb to, the same temptation when I watch an online service. I’m not sure why, but I feel a bit uncomfortable singing and praying out loud without a group of people around me. But with a bit of perseverance, I’m usually able to get past that and become a part of the service. And being a part of the service is how we worship God, from our hearts.
I would encourage you to focus your attention on the service in the bulletin which is provided along with the link to the service in the Friday Briefs or on the St. Michael’s website. In fact, it would be a great idea to print it ahead of time and read the Scriptures, meditating for a bit on what they have to say that applies to you. You can print it out, or you can watch it onscreen alongside the service video. I also recommend, even if it makes you feel uncomfortable at first, that you stand for the hymns, say aloud the Trisagion, the Psalm and the prayers. Stand again for the Creed and the Prayers of the People, kneel for the Confession if you are able, or sit. Sing and say the congregational parts of the Holy Communion.
And please remember, the spiritual reality is exactly what it says in the words of the Holy Communion, “We join our voices with angels and archangels as we sing….” The church is far from empty, and so is the place where you worship.
The short version of that is, do everything in the service as closely as you can to the way you would do it if you were in the church. In my experience, this will help you to be fully present in worship, and to experience the peace of genuine worship.
Blessings,
Alan+
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