This thread is for those who see regular worship as a part of their life and want to share resources. It's intended as a respectful, open place for anyone, of any faith persuasion, to share what might be important links for others, and to uphold the examples of creativity and excellence in music, speaking, reading, children's presentations, etc.
Students and faculty and their families are missing their religious connections as well as many other types of community, so this is germane. These may be posts that can be useful in such discussions; they may rarely, or never, come up, unless you meet a student in the course of your own faith practice...but they might.
This can also be an arena for respectful theological and practical commentary, so long as it remains positive and compassionate towards other posters:
- If someone wants to offer a critique on their issues with the life of faith in some way, that's fine, but please don't bomb this thread with those comments.
- If someone has an issue with organized (or disorganized) religion in general, start your own thread, please. This is meant to be a place of sanctuary.
For example:
I've been grateful for the efforts made by many to offer worship opportunities for all those unable to attend. Some programs have been ongoing for a very long time; others have just recently sprung up since March or so. (When Zoom went down this AM, I thought to myself...Hmm, it's all those churches--what an interesting problem!)
Some are offering occasional concerts and Choral (sung) Evensongs for people to listen to and consider:
https://chapel.duke.edu/events/online-choral-evensong-worship-service-rebroadcast-1589745600-1589749200
One has had an ongoing online ministry for many years (transparency: I was raised in this church):
http://fcchurch.tv/live-sunday-worship/
This one started just recently (and is working out some kinks...):
https://zoom.us/j/6341203607?pwd=REtIdVExdzVRZ1hQOXlVZk9zWm9qUT09; Mtg ID: 634 120 3607/Pswd: 155144
This group has offered a chanted evensong for several years and has now put most of their tapes online:
http://nightsong.org/ (main page);
http://nightsong.org/listen/ (taped services)
I'm curious to see what other congregations and faith communities have created, of whatever denomination, confession, or religious belief. I happen to be Christian, but work interfaith and ecumenically, so I've also been grateful to see these postings:
An Adhan/Azan (Friday, or any day at prescribed times) call to prayer:
1) part of the British channel 4 broadcast of daily calls to prayer during Ramadan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3paZoyU-1aE
2) Emphasizes the large space through which many people come to join in prayer (Casablanca, Morocco):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwnV2OK7E9Q
3) In Jerusalem: several are resonating together
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OG9NXvDA_c
Sabbath Temple worship (New York congregation): (lively music, excellent address to the children at 18.00 or so)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOyMBaPHpXc
2) U.S. congregation Beth Israel (city not given): copy of a recent live-streamed service
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQJr7fZxL-g
3) In a Jerusalem apartment, on Feb 8, preparations discussed, students' safety invoked; service begins at 7:30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTYJGF5pSiU
The emphasis appears to be on love as taking care of each other by making worship possible despite necessary constraints.
What offerings do others want to share?
M.
It seems late to be sharing these resources since even my state has now allowed church services in person after weeks of YouTube/FaceBook/Zoom services for all the houses of worship around us.
Thanks for the observation. Appreciated.
I realize some states are doing that, but not all are.
Also, in several places, congregations are either choosing not to meet in person, or have found such strong interest in online offerings that they will probably continue them.
I'm also guessing that after a few weeks, with renewed spiking of case numbers, we're likely to back in quarantine, possibly until December in some locales.
In any case, as long as it's OK to do so, I'll be interested to see what people have to contribute.
M.
States may be opening up houses of worship, but my Canadian province certainly isn't. Even if it does, it's unlikely that people will be attending in person any time soon. The Moderator of the United Church of Canada released a statement last week saying that we should avoid singing for the foreseeable future, so the church I attend has been thinking about how to make services available online, even when we are allowed to meet in person again.
For me, the value of online services has been (among other things) that it's the one thing each week that happens with regular predictability. We cast the service from YouTube to our TV. It's also allowed us to maintain some sense of community as we continue to practice physical distancing -- these are people I care a great deal about and am glad to see, or "see," I suppose.
Yes, the connections with those we are used to seeing for other reasons than work or family become attenuated; online services help address that.
I also found myself able to re-connect with a congregation at a distance from where I am now, which I have missed for a very long time. That in itself has been valuable....I'd go there when at my parents' home, but was out of touch otherwise.
The various ways people have found to make it work are also interesting. One friend asked for links like the ones I put up here because their congregation was sorting out what they could do, and how to do it.
Does anyone have links to put up that they feel OK about posting without "outing" themselves?
It hadn't occurred to me that that might be an issue; the ones I posted are all over the place, i.e., none of them identify where I am now.
Or maybe people could feel free to post the link without saying whether it's their own congregation or another one.
Ideas welcome.
M.
This is a partial listing, and some of the information might be out of date, but unprogrammed Quaker meetings in the Western US:
https://westernfriend.org/quaker-worship-and-fellowship-online
I used to attend a local meeting for worship on Sunday nights; I didn't realize there were daily meetings in some places as well.
Thank you!
M.
While opening churches may be happening in some places, most of the ones I'm aware of are planning to continue to offer remote services until the fall at the very least.
What are you hearing or seeing?
How are various groups you're aware of handling this?
M.
This Pentecost weekend, some parishes in my archdiocese have reopened. My parish priest plans to reopen for weekend Masses in mid June; the church is open for private prayer during the week though.
Quote from: mamselle on May 31, 2020, 11:32:59 AM
While opening churches may be happening in some places, most of the ones I'm aware of are planning to continue to offer remote services until the fall at the very least.
What are you hearing or seeing?
How are various groups you're aware of handling this?
M.
My church started worshiping last Sunday. However, we cannot accommodate all of our regular attendees and still maintain distancing, and we have many members who are unable or unwilling to attend anyway (due to health concerns). So we're putting our worship on YouTube (after the fact, not live). Basically, I see this as an opportunity to do something that we should have been doing for a long time. Right now, I'm the person doing it all; someday, I need backup for when I travel in order to be sustainable. I don't know if we'll ever livestream, but who knows?
Oouff, that's a lot of work.
Older teens with some technical savvy might make good assistants.
That was one of the ways our choir director used to "reward" good singing, you got to go into the area where the taping was done to help out...
M.
The local Episcopal church has been doing Morning Prayer via Zoom for a few years, with old folks handling everything. It really isn't that hard as long as you're not insisting on doing it perfectly. Just hook up a laptop with a webcam in a reasonable spot. If there's no WiFi, tether a phone.
Unless there has been a very recent update, Episcopal churches in Connecticut will not open until "at least" June 20--which means that it could be pushed back even more. In New York City (Episcopal Diocese), public worship is suspended until July 1. As in other churches, the reopenings will require social distancing, thorough cleaning, etc.
My husband and I are in an age bracket that is urged to keep on staying home. I really miss going in person--I find the Zoom services off-putting. But we probably will resist the desire to attend in person. Our goal is to stay alive until November 3.
I hear you.
I'm wondering if specific confessions treat decisions about remote worship differently.
Also, I'm interested in what is off-putting or attractive about the services people have participated in so far?
M.
Double-posting quite a bit later...
This has just come out through the Hymn Society of the U.S. and Canada:
https://congregationalsong.org/resuming-worship-a-guide/
Just if it's useful...
M.
Quote from: mamselle on June 16, 2020, 12:11:58 PM
Double-posting quite a bit later...
This has just come out through the Hymn Society of the U.S. and Canada:
https://congregationalsong.org/resuming-worship-a-guide/
Just if it's useful...
M.
We sang when we reopened, but we were socially distanced and all masked. And we had no choir.
This came to me via friends from a church I visited awhile ago: the regional Presbytery created a worship service to be shared among its member churches for the holiday weekend:
https://presbyteryofboston.org/Resources/COVID-19-Resources/Worship-Services
I've heard of individual churches doing services, but this is the first judicatorial/confessional offering I've seen.
Anyone else?
M.
There's a monthly prayer meeting that use to meet in person in New Jersey and now does virtual prayer meetings. You can join here: https://www.meetup.com/1514f61a-e776-4c87-a97d-cef09f6fd627/events/bxwdvrybckbpc/
We're now meeting face-to-face, but still recording services for those who don't attend. And still masking and social distancing at church.
The far-distant service I've been watching was thinking of going live but have now pulled back to the fall.
I think that's probably wise, given the city they're in and its case numbers.
M.
A wonderful blessing online, picking up on what is often done live, at the beginning of the school year.
"The blessing of the backpacks and laptops" is not entirely new in several of the churches I know of, but one of the services I've been attending virtually has worked out a way to do that next week, with a "cereal social" to follow!
The sense of sending young students out into the upcoming school year with their faith community's love and blessing persists despite many obstacles.
I think this puts the St. Francis "Blessing of the Animals" into a good light as well.
Hope and humor (bring your 'Lucky Charms'!) are a part of the encouragement to follow.
Rising above constraints is itself a kind of resurrection...a symbolic teaching for children in particular, but teachers are invited to bring their briefcases and syllabi, too.
Think I'll have my PowerPoint and book chapters open...
M.
This group of chant services is described curatorially by Daryl Bichel, director of Night Song, and an organist/vocalist who plays, sings, and writes chanted works as well; I'm just copying his latest send-out here, as an example of what's available for compline (Evening Prayer) and Morning Prayer services:
Washington National Cathedral
Morning Service, August 23, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIAW9GUkGdc
"I listen to this Sunday service weekly, not because they sing chant but because they often use music I'm not familiar with plus they have made a commitment to using traditional as well as "contemporary" music, which they have elevated. If that's of interest to you, listen to the entire service to see how they blend it. Of note, the sermon is worth listening to as well.
The real reason I'm bringing this to your attention is the piece "Kaddisch" by Maurice Ravel. It's chant-like, stunning and powerful in a performance by baritone Matthew Goinz and organist Thomas Sheehan. If comes 18 minutes into the service, after the organ prelude and the welcome by the presider, the Rev. Canon Cope."
St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle, Complinee
Men's Compline Choir, August 16, 2020
https://complinepodcast.org/?p=1852
"As you know, I greatly admire the office of compline from St. Mark's Cathedral. I do wish, though, that they didn't punctuate the singing with announcements. This service contains the hymn "God That Madest Earth and Heaven" (Tune: Ar hyd y nos), a hymn I love but haven't thought of or used in some time. The first verse is in traditional four part harmony. In the second verse the melody is sung by the baritones.
You can go to the Compline Underground site (https://complineunderground.wordpress.com) to see the program and texts for this service. Scroll down past the August 23 listing (that podcast hasn't been posted yet) to August 16. In addition, you can explore to learn more about Compline Underground."
Voices of Tranquility Gregorian Chants
Canto Gregoriano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcCcUEYzGyo&t=1956s
"You will hear solo voices as well as groups of men and groups of women singing chant in this meditative recording."
Just FYI!
M.
Just found this: music and dance historians will note that not only is the singing glorious, the tune is a Renaissance galliard!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4JPftadPj0
If one can't be in Notre Dame, one can at least remember being there...
And yes, restoration after the fire does continue.
M.
And to follow on, for those not interested in French cathedrals, perhaps an English cathedral's Evensong will do?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2gxt2QhlVM
Canterbury is a cool place, too...
M.
Quote from: mamselle on November 09, 2021, 08:23:42 AM
And to follow on, for those not interested in French cathedrals, perhaps an English cathedral's Evensong will do?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2gxt2QhlVM
Canterbury is a cool place, too...
M.
I checked out
Notre Dame de Paris by Kathy Borrus from the library not too long ago. Beautiful pictorial book about the cathedral's history!
Canterbury (cathedral and town) is a worthwhile place to visit.
Re-opening, just to say I "returned" to Canterbury today; glorious music and helpful words and actions, as always. (My 'usual' online church is in abeyance for the month).
AM Eucharist here:
https://youtu.be/WiBLCb3qyKs
Evensong here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS8tJLfxXSs
M.