Situation

As of March 19, 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order prohibiting gatherings of 11 or more in Texas.  While the Governor later clarified that churches are not included in this order due to constitutionally protected freedom of religion, he also called on churches to care about the health and safety of all people and find alternative ways to worship and carryout ministry (Click here for Gov. Abbott’s clarification on churches).
 
Therefore, we have created this page to be a resource of ideas churches can use carryout effective ministry amidst this crisis. Please read through the ideas below. If you have something to contribute, please submit your idea using the form at the bottom of the page. For more information and tips on how to execute any of these ideas, email bryce@lcmctexas.org or call 512-942-7776.

 

Worship

 

Online LIVE Video

Facebook, YouTube, and other video platforms allow for free online LIVE broadcast video over the internet. You can livestream from your smartphone a small group worship gathering (perhaps just your worship team) to your congregation. Use your regular worship space and include a full worship service with your music leaders if possible. Use of a handheld stabilizing device called a gimbal (about $100 and available on Amazon) will allow you to have smooth and stable video and move your camera and will result in far better video than either a fixed position on a tripod or trying to handhold a phone. In addition, it is best to avoid having a pastor in an empty room speaking a liturgy and pretending to preach to a room full of people. It is usually best for the pastor to speak to directly to the camera.

 

Online Pre-Recorded Video

Similar to LIVE video, you can pre-record and edit a full worship experience to then share online via Facebook, Vimeo, YouTube and other platforms. This requires someone to have basic video editing software and some technical expertise. Consider having instrumentalists and vocalists audio record music. You can create lyric slides in a video to go with the audio in your finished video. A pastor can give a message from a desk and speak directly to the worshipper at home. This can result in a very conducive aid to home worship when done well.

 

In-Person Small Group (10 or less) Worship Gatherings

Using an online sign-up such as SignupGenius, you can schedule multiple worship gatherings up to nine plus the leader. These can happen in homes or at the church. Those who are not feeling well should be reminded to stay home. Social distancing and facility sanitization is recommended. Worshipers can reserve a spot at one of the worship gatherings which could happen at different times and on multiple days of the week. Larger congregations would require multiple leaders, but smaller congregations could be handled by the pastor. Worship gatherings could include prayer, scripture, a message or devotional, and singing. One of these micro-church gatherings could be recorded for online publication or livestreamed for those unable to attend.

 

Drive-In (Parking Lot) Worship Gatherings

Consider holding worship in your parking lot! You can either set-up for a Low-Power FM radio frequency to broadcast audio right into the cars, have congregants call into a teleconferencing solution like Zoom (with one-way audio), or set-up a large portable sound system and worship together Drive-in theater style.

 

Drive-Through Communion Distribution

Works with or without the Drive-in Worship, consider offering sacrament distribution one vehicle at a time at regular intervals. Be sure to practice safe handling of communion.

 

Email / Mail Worship Resources

Consider developing home worship liturgies and devotional messages that can be used for families to worship together at home. These can be emailed out to those who have the ability to print, and mailed to those who do not.

 

Online / Radio Audio

Similar to video solutions, some congregations are utilizing audio only recordings of sermons and/or worship for podcasts, posting on church websites, sharing on social media platforms, and/or broadcasting on local radio stations.

 

Youth / Children’s / Small Groups

 

Web-Conferencing

There are several low cost web-conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, that are commercially available and can allow you to stay connected to your groups (youth and adults). Anyone can join on a device with a camera and an internet connection. Groups can be listen only or allow for interaction. Don’t let the virus stand in the way of connecting with your groups.

 

Devotional Video Messages

Offer encouragement via pre-recorded or live video messages. We all need hope and encouragement. Videos can be sent out via email or posted to Facebook or church websites hosted on sites like YouTube or Vimeo.

 

In-Person Groups (10 or less)

Don’t forget that Jesus did some of his best ministry with a small group of people. For those who are healthy and well, you can still gather in small groups. Practice social distancing and sanitization of hands and anything that hands will touch. Avoid handshakes and holding hands for prayer time. But build community and pray and care for one another. Those who are not feeling well should be reminded to stay home.

 

Email / Mail Lessons for Home Instruction

Consider sending activities and instructional materials to parents of children and youth. Families will be spending a lot more time with one another as long as this endures. Let’s help parents to leverage that time by resourcing them to teach their children the Good News of Jesus. Think about sending instructions for fun and engaging crafts, games, and activities as well as basic Bible stories that anyone can do with their children. Send home confirmation resources to engage parents in teaching their sons and daughters the basics of the Christian faith. Be sure parents have Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms to be well-equipped to share these truths with their teens. After all, this is what Martin Luther wrote the catechism for!

 

Outdoor Gatherings

Outdoor events with social distance are still allowed. Consider utilizing local parks to encourage exercise and fellowship. Be sure to maintain distance and practice good hand sanitization. Think about your activity to avoid common hand contact. Playing catch with a Frisbee would not be advisable. Playing Frisbee golf where everyone has their own Frisbee would be okay.

 

Care / Outreach

 

Helpline

Some congregations are utilizing this opportunity to communicate to their community that the church is here to help. Community members are invited to call into the church office to ask for help or share a need. Churches can reclaim their role of loving their neighbors by meeting these real-life needs.

 

Food Distribution / Errand Running

Some churches are focusing on distributing food to and running errands for the elderly or vulnerable who feel it is unsafe to leave home at this time. Take note of who inside or outside of your congregation may need someone to do their grocery shopping. Consider helping schools and feeding ministries in your community to make sure those who have food needs are able to be fed during this crisis.

 

Phone Tree / Calling on Members

Some churches are having their church council members make regular phone calls to the church family to help ensure that the church stays connected and no needs get overlooked. 

 

Mail / Email / Social Media Posts

Stay connected with your congregation through written communication via email, mail, and social media posts. Keep everyone up-to-date with the latest information and send out regular scriptures and devotions to keep encouraging your people.

 

Providing Nursing Homes with Worship Videos / Devotional Resources

Only essential personnel are being allowed to visit nursing homes and elderly communities. Contact staff at care facilities to see if you can share video worship or Bible study resources with the community in the absence of visiting pastors.

 

Adopt Your Neighbors

Anyone can care for their immediate neighbors. One suggestion if you live in a neighborhood is to adopt your eight closest neighbors to love and care for: the three directly across the street, the two on either side of you, and the three directly behind you. Let this be a time of building loving community with the people that we are physically closest to.

 

Self / Family Care

 

Slow-Down

The gift of this crisis is a pause of regular life. We go through life longing for time. This crisis has given us time and yet many people are going stir-crazy and feeling anxious. Don’t forget to slow down and de-stress and practice quietness and stillness with God. If you are leader, not only practice this, but share your experience with your people to help others slow-down as well.

 

Pray & Read the Bible

Speaking of quiet time with God, now is a great time to recommit to some healthy devotional habits and daily connecting with God through prayer and Bible study. This is good and healthy for everyone, but leaders, share your journey to help others see your example.

 

Spend Quality with Spouse / Family / Close Friends

One of the gifts of this time is to reconnect with the people that we are closest with. Be sure to enjoy the fellowship of your spouse, family, and friends.

 

Exercise and Eat Well

It would be a shame if we spent the entire time away from normal activities watching TV or playing video games. Don’t forget to care for your body and get up and take walks, visit parks, and eat healthy meals.

 

Stewardship

 

Communicate with Congregation

Many congregations are concerned with a potential decline in giving with the cancellation of public worship services. This often puts pastors and ministry staff in an awkward position. It would be best for congregational council leaders to communicate regularly with the congregation on behalf of the church to make an appeal for members to continue to contribute and tithe to the work of the church. Ministry and bills don’t stop just because the building is closed on Sundays.

 

Distribute Church-Addressed Envelopes

One idea to encourage giving is to distributed church-addressed envelopes to each giving unit to make it easy to mail in contributions. You may even want to go so far as to provide the stamps!

 

Set-up Online Giving

Perhaps the best solutions for engaging giving among younger generations would be to set-up and communicate online giving opportunities. There are free options such as Venmo, but there are also several specific ministry providers that have inexpensive and robust solutions. Check out ShareFaith Giving (our provider), BlueFire, or Planning Center Online. Each have solutions that allow people to send money electronically in either one-time or recurring contributions.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Need Help?
For more information and tips on how to execute any of these ideas, email bryce@lcmctexas.org or call 512-942-7776.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Have Something to Contribute?