Now we have encountered a sudden shift in the age, a pandemic that has driven us out of our conventional ways of doing church. Large gatherings may never be as safe as they’ve always been. Choirs will be on hold for a while yet, as will sipping sacramental wine and shaking hands. The bottom line is — most of our churching will have to be done at a distance for some time to come. We’ve had to put on our innovation caps and find ways to worship online.

We can look at this is a setback, or we can look at it as a golden opportunity. People are already steeped in cyberspace and always looking for new adventures. Well, we have an adventure for them. The beginnings are starting to emerge. In only a few months, more and more churches are experimenting with online prayer and liturgy, and getting the hang of it. Various people who have never set foot inside a church or have left it long ago, are dropping in on services online where they can lurk anonymously and have a peek. Because they’re curious. We may have opportunities to ask them how they enjoyed it and see if a conversation ensues. Think about online venues that may allow for that.

Pastoral care can get a shot in the arm. It can still be conducted by clergy, one-on-one or in small groupings, within quarantine rules. But also, parishioners who might have left it to clergy in the past may now be interested in joining a phone tree to make sure everyone is coping well. Prayer circles can continue to thrive in new venues. There’s plenty of evidence that these things are beginning to happen already, and some even claim that quarantine conditions have produced an upsurge in pastoral care.

Other possibilities beckon. People who were only Sunday friends may take an interest in getting together more regularly in newly-discovered online venues. New ideas can emerge as parishioners surprise themselves, becoming literate in communication technologies. Online get-togethers never considered before — to collaborate and compare notes and enjoy working together like a true community of God — suddenly become feasible and attractive. Those who jump on the bandwagon bring others with them. It can become as much of a community as it was before, if not more, with a little encouragement from clergy and staff.

Parish leaders — indeed leaders at all levels — are quickly beginning to realize we have an opportunity at hand to revitalize the church.

Still to Come — Workbooks from Church of England and Anglican Church of Canada.

Stay tuned!

Canon Dr. Gary Russell
Anglican Diocese of Rupert’s Land
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
gary@gwrussell.com