May 3, 2020
In the past, I have FaceTimed in as families opened gifts on Christmas Day. But now there is a new technology and a new reason to join families who are celebrating the Sabbath by going to church – going to church at home. I am wary about the new technology. But by now I know, even if things go wrong, nothing is broken. And if the prompts go well, families who were once far away and distant are right there on my computer, this time having church.
I was wondering about the old form and substance of church and wondering how this was going to move over to a more intimate setting. There is no doubt that a few years ago there was hope that teaching would turn from the usual Sunday group setting, to the more intimate family space. Trying to practise that I have heard push back in this family. For example, Rebecca saying to her dad, does this really mean you will be home with us more, or is that empty rhetoric and you will still be at the Chinese Branch for church. Problems like that still had to be sorted out.
But ahead of us now was something new. Just like the theatres go black on Monday night, church buildings have gone black on Sunday – not a light on, not a car there.
What that looked like, the first time I was invited there, is that crayons and coloured pencils were spread all over the table and Catherine had produced a paper that was 1/3 thought bubble, 2/3’s a simple line drawing of King Benjamin and a tower – not many lines, and a hope in the artist that the colors would be grabbed off of the table, and used on the paper as the group were told to individual write down 5 things they would tell someone if it were the last advice they could give.
Then it was ready, set, go and five minutes of time at the table.
When the five minutes of work was over, there was a lot of negotiation at the table.
The instructor wanted everyone to read only one of the five thing they had written, but all seemed to want to read everything.
The instructor was flexible so we all got to tell all five things we would say to others.
I liked that.
Small group flexibility.
How we think outside of the box is often determined by how we used to think inside of the box.
I think on this day we pushed a few boundaries to find a more intimate spiritual space.
Arta
In the past, I have FaceTimed in as families opened gifts on Christmas Day. But now there is a new technology and a new reason to join families who are celebrating the Sabbath by going to church – going to church at home. I am wary about the new technology. But by now I know, even if things go wrong, nothing is broken. And if the prompts go well, families who were once far away and distant are right there on my computer, this time having church.
I was wondering about the old form and substance of church and wondering how this was going to move over to a more intimate setting. There is no doubt that a few years ago there was hope that teaching would turn from the usual Sunday group setting, to the more intimate family space. Trying to practise that I have heard push back in this family. For example, Rebecca saying to her dad, does this really mean you will be home with us more, or is that empty rhetoric and you will still be at the Chinese Branch for church. Problems like that still had to be sorted out.
 |
| ... comes in green, pink and many fluorescent colours, some even scented ... |
Then it was ready, set, go and five minutes of time at the table.
 |
| ... right from the crayon box to adult Zoom Church ... |
When the five minutes of work was over, there was a lot of negotiation at the table.
The instructor wanted everyone to read only one of the five thing they had written, but all seemed to want to read everything.
The instructor was flexible so we all got to tell all five things we would say to others.
 |
| ... charcoal pencils ... |
Small group flexibility.
How we think outside of the box is often determined by how we used to think inside of the box.
I think on this day we pushed a few boundaries to find a more intimate spiritual space.
Arta
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