An Outline of What We Are Doing in Gathering through Online Means

I thought I would write this down and hopefully be helpful to other churches who are looking to be faithful in this time.


Sunday:

A Sunday School lesson is given through Youtube. Afterward, those who listened can gather through the Jitsi app and ask questions about the lesson and fellowship with one another.
Then the church service begins on Jitsi where we go through an entire liturgy with one another. Announcements, creeds/confessions, songs, prayers, declarations of forgiveness, and communion are all included. Each household secures the physical elements of the communion and an elder prays and directs the ceremony. We partake of it in unison. A final prayer and/or benediction is given.
Then a sermon is given through Youtube followed by a song. Afterward, there is fellowship and questions about the sermon on Jitsi. 


Tuesday:

Bible study through Youtube. Afterward, we meet in Jitsi for questions and fellowship.


Wednesday:

Book study is held on Jitsi.


Friday:

Anchored Bible Study through Youtube.


Right now our studies are through Romans, Psalms, Leviticus, Hebrews, and the Prayers of Paul.


On top of all of this, the elders remain praying for the congregation, keep in touch through text, phone calls, facetime, etc. The physical and spiritual needs of the church are still all being met. All are still encouraged to text, phone, facetime one another. 

The Word, sacrament, fellowship, and the church's responsibility in meeting needs are all being met. 


It is really important to note that if your church is not meeting in such a way where these are all still being met then it is being disobedient. Listening to sermons online or through podcasts is not church. Calling some Christians during this time without the central element of the Word taught is not church. Fellowship is the meeting of spiritual needs by taking the Word that has been taught and expressed through sacraments by elders, in submission to the elders, and edifying one another with it in prayers, songs, counsel, etc., and the meeting of one another's physical needs. The church cannot take any of these elements away and still be the church.

Some have used Jitsi, as we have. Others are using Zoom or similar apps.