by Mary Frances
This post is part of our Keeping Congregations Connected series and includes information on our upcoming webinar: Reopening Church in a New Reality: Re-Visioning in a Changing Context.
We used to say “The more things change, the more things remain the same,” but in 2020, that old saying has been turned on its head. Today the one thing that remains the same is change. We live in a new reality. Each day we turn on the news or look at our social media feeds to find our way of life challenged as never before. In the midst of so much change, how do we move forward? How do we think about thriving as the church rather than just surviving?
In the weeks after Covid-19 hit, churches across the country pivoted from in-person worship to online worship in the blink of an eye. I’m not sure the church has ever seen such a rapid change without major resistance! There were no committees, no focus groups, no church council discussions. It just happened. And it was good. Churches adapted to their new reality.
Then we began to address what other essentials needed to change. Online giving took priority, new ways of doing pastoral care, phone trees were initiated, and members were contacted one by one. “Are you okay?,” we asked. “Do you need anything?” “Can I pray for you?” All was well. Congregations were now safely ensconced on Zoom or Facebook Live. Whew!
[Read more…]