Home-Based Worship and Community
Thank you for visiting our Home-Based Worshiping and Community page. We’re glad you’re here and hope you will find resources to inspire and support you in your communities of faith during this time of limited in-person contact.
Tools for In-Person Gatherings
We often think of “in-person” as meaning physically together. Yet we can also gather together in online spaces. In these spaces we can see and hear each other, worship together, have Bible studies and discussions, and simply check in with one another. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20
One of the best tools for online gathering is Zoom videoconferencing. We encourage each congregation to purchase a license. The Pro Plan for $14.99/month will work for most congregations. Learn more >
Technology Requirements for Zoom
- High speed internet connection (over 10Mbps download)
- Computer, tablet, or phone with a video camera and microphone – less than 5 years old (without camera, people will still be able to participate with voice only)
- Chrome browser
Best Practices for Zoom Gatherings
- Test your audio and video.
- Adjust your camera so your head is visible.
- Look at the camera.
- Mute yourself when you are not speaking.
- Hold off on eating.
- Try not to multitask; be present to the people gathered.
Worshiping Together Resources
Gather together as a congregation or in small groups. Morning Prayer is a good option for online gatherings. Post your worship times and links for joining worship on your website, in your enewsletter, and on Facebook. Include some basic instructions for joining Zoom worship, e.g., “Zoom is an easy-to-use online meeting platform. Simply click on the link below and follow the prompts. You can join by computer (preferred), tablet, or smart phone; or you can dial in using the number below.” During worship, share your screen so participants can follow along without a prayer book or other print materials.
Following are resources to support in-person online worship.
This is a complete online version of the Book of Common Prayer.
From the Diocese of Chicago.
Complete Public Domain Hymn List.
Prayer Resources
The following resources provide inspiration and support prayer wherever people may be.
An Episcopal Morning Prayer Podcast
The online d365, with its format of Pause, Listen, Think, Pray, Go, provides daily scripture readings, reflection, and prayer for young people (although adults will find it inspiring as well). Users can subscribe through email or download the app. The format is succinct and engaging, start-to-finish requiring approximately five minutes.
An online portal (or app) to pray the scriptures. Pray As You Go is a daily prayer session, designed to go with you wherever you go, to help you pray whenever you find time. A new prayer session is produced every day of the working week and one session for the weekend. Lasting between ten and thirteen minutes, it combines music, scripture and some questions for reflection. It’s aim is to help you to become more aware of God’s presence in your life, listen to and reflect on God’s word, and grow in your relationship with God.
This site offers the daily selections from Forward Day by Day, a liturgical calendar, and more resources to strengthen your faith and heart.
Pray with us. Pray along with our community… or submit your own.
Gathering for Online Faith Formation
Consider using the following resources for weekly online faith formation gatherings via Zoom.
This Forward Movement initiative welcomes organizations of all kinds to gather and equip Episcopalians to read a particular book of the Bible throughout a season.
Youth Group
Use these tips for online youth group during this time of social distancing:
- Invest in Zoom. For the average youth group, Zoom accounts will range from free to $15.00 a month (depending on your length of meeting and participant needs). Meetings can be accessed easily on a laptop or a phone by clicking a link. Learn more at >
- Can’t do your normal lessons? Consider using the Work of the People. This site is full of videos that can be viewed together (the leader can easily share their screen so everyone views at the same speed). Most series come with a downloadable guide. Subscriptions are $7 a month for personal use and $25 a month for groups. Learn more >
- Still at a loss for what to do? Try Compline and let the youth take turns leading it.
- Keep it fun! Have your youth join the video meeting with their favorite beverage in hand, ask the youth to show up in their (appropriate) pjs for a lock-in feel, play show-and-tell with one unexpected thing from their room…Ideas like these will help you feel like you are together and will help you continue to build community.
- Don’t be afraid of silence. Silence on video calls is especially awkward; it can feel even longer than face-to-face silence. It’s okay. Hold the space for people to think before responding just as you would with face-to-face meetings.
- Having a hard time hearing everyone? Remind your group to mute themselves when they aren’t speaking. This will get rid of background noise that may be distracting and household conversations that your family may not want overheard.
- Have meetings just to check in. Have meetings to talk about how the group is feeling as they process the reality we find ourselves in. Have meetings. The worst thing you can do is not meet at all. You want to make sure your group knows that they are cared for. Keep your community strong, check in with each other, support each other the best way you can. Online faith formation may feel clunky at first, but will help keep your group together and remind youth of how important they are.
Living into the Season of Lent
Check out our Seasonal Resources for Lent page. There are a number of downloadable resources and ideas for experiencing Lent in the home. Go to Resources for Lent >
Discover, Embrace, Become
The Episcopal Church in Colorado’s modern-day catechumenate, Discover, Embrace, Become, is available as an online hybrid model, with all gatherings and communications happening online. Participants come together weekly for an in-person gathering and communicate between sessions using the Canvas online learning system. Faith Formation staff are available to train group mentors. Learn more about Discover, Embrace, Become >
Families
During this time of more home-based activities, stay in touch with families with children and encourage them to go deeper in their faith together.
Household Bible Reading with Lectio Divina introduces families and small groups to the practice of studying the Bible using Lectio Divina. “Sometimes the Bible can be confusing and difficult to understand. With Lectio Divina we give ourselves permission to let the Bible be what it is. Questions will undoubtedly surface. If you like, search for the answers. Seek out conversations. Or simply let the questions be. (https://buildfaith.org/household-bible-reading-with-lectio-divina/)
Blessing Children in the Home is a lovely practice for reminding children how loved they are.
The New Zealand Prayer Book Compline is well worth exploring, offering a peaceful prayer service for end of day with the family or with others online.
Grow Christians from Forward Movement is a great website to find inspiration for faith at home, describing itself as “striving to create an online community of discipleship focused on the practical details of life at home.” It includes reflections, stories, images, and recipes from diverse Episcopalians, celebrating the presence of God through the Christian year.