Thursday, March 26, 2020

Worship Resources

In the Baptist tradition, worship is not the same necessarily.  In my work with the ABCNYS Region, I am with a different congregation every week.  You can expect some elements:  preaching, singing, praying, and the giving of tithes and offerings.  How worship unfolds differs, and the praise of God goes upward.

Right now, we’re in a liminal time where we have realized something that we have in common:  in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic, we are not able to gather as we are accustomed.  Church leaders are learning how to adjust to forms of virtual worship, sometimes feeling stretched to our ends, and in other ways, reminded how we can still worship in unique times, in dislocated times, as the people shaped by the Gospel.


The worship resources I am listing are by no means the only ones out there.  In the whirlwind of people scrambling to help out each other, I am grateful for colleagues who keep sharing ideas and links as we all struggle together to keep our church bodies nourished with worship that invites reflection, inspiration, hope and yes, lament as we navigate uncertain times yet return (in modified form) to a corporate body of believers to listen to the Word, to sing and pray to God and support the ministries of the local church, our shared ABCNYS family, and the communities who need the Gospel to be made known in word and deed alike.

 ABC/USA:

The Office of the General Secretary is soliciting and posting worship materials, prayer requests and other devotional materials to inspire and support fellow American Baptists. 
http://www.abc-usa.org/21daysofprayer/

WORSHIP RESOURCES:

These two resources offer a variety of materials:

 
https://preachingandworship.org/search/COVID-19?pqid=4253898&page=1

FIGURING OUT ZOOM FOR WORSHIP:

Facebook tools for faith communities:

 
A church provides their congregants with an intro to Zoom---use link to download PDF file:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.cloversites.com/03/03aa9732-dbdb-4c30-bdbb-e85552b73c26/documents/ZOOM_Startup_Guide.pdf

A helpful overview of understanding Zoom as a platform for facilitating worship:

 
Using both Zoom and FB Live together:


PASTORAL CARE

Blogs and posts abound online in many ministry websites and forums.  For now, I share a couple of posts from Eileen Campbell-Reed as she offers some thoughts:
 
 
https://eileencampbellreed.org/2020/03/23/resources-for-pandemic-pastoring/
 
FUNERALS

The New York State Council of Churches has a variety of pastoral resources as well as issues related to public policy and challenges COVID19 raises:



A challenge right now is how to care for the dying, to care for their loved ones, and to deal with restrictions that make funeral planning and services challenging at the present time.  The Massachusetts Council of Churches offers these thoughts, somewhat contextual to MA, but good to read as you ponder—link will download a PDF:
 

Thursday, March 19, 2020

ABCNYS Churches Offering Online Worship

In response to the COVID19/Corona Virus and the need for caution and social distancing, many churches are cancelling "in person" worship services, meetings and activities.

Some churches are shifting to teleconferencing for worship and meeting needs. (Curious?  Set up a free account with www.freeconferencecall.com, which allows many people to connect by phone together!)

Other churches are already established with online presence, providing worship by livestreaming on Zoom, Facebook Live, or similar.  Or, they are recording and then uploading content to YouTube or equivalent platforms.   Questions about making this move?  Please contact jhugenot@abc-nys.org.

We are pleased to share this information about where and when you can find an ABCNYS congregation providing a worshipful experience or devotional opportunity.  We will update this list as you tell us by emailing jhugenot@abc-nys.org.  Please refer any corrections as well to this email.)

UPDATED 3/31/2020

WORSHIP SERVICES:


Adams, Honeyville Baptist, FB Live temporarily with 10 AM Sunday worship and Wednesday Bible Studies YouTube (www.youtube.com/channel/UCVv0fuxr34akKLrSJK1sh7q

Booneville, First Baptist.  FB Live via church FB Page, Sunday’s 9:30 AM

Bottskill (Greenwich) and Lakeville (Cossayuna).  FB Live via their shared web page on Wednesdays and their website: www.bottskillbaptist.org

Burlington Flats Baptist Church, audio file from Rev. Jay Henderson jayhenderson56@gmail.com

Carthage, First Baptist Church, FB Live via the church’s webpage with a new YouTube channel as well.

Clayton, River Community Church, FB Live 10 AM each Sunday

Clifton Park Center Baptist Church, FB Live 10 AM Sundays & Wednesdays

Clifton Springs Baptist, 10 AM Sunday Via their FB page

Coooerstown, First Baptist, 10 Am Sunday via their Facebook page 

Croton Falls Community Church.  Webcasting via: http://crotonfallscommunitychurch.com/

With a Prayer Service Monday - Friday at 7:30 pm; Our Sunday Service Webcast is at 10:30 am.   

Cuba, First Baptist.  FB Live from their church’s webpage at 10 AM.

Delhi, First Baptist Church.  Via their FB page on Sunday mornings.

Duanesburg-Florida Baptist Church (Delanson, NY).  Worship:  Sunday, 9:45 AM.  Facebook Live.

Endicott, Cornerstone Community Church, Sundays via their FB Page

Ft Edward, Village Baptist, livestream on FB page at 10 am Sunday then posted www.fbcgf.org 

Glens Falls, First Baptist, livestream on FB page at 10 am Sunday then posed www.fbcgf.org

Genoa, United.  10 AM Sunday. FB live under page name “Friends of the United Church of Genoa”

Govenuer, Fowler Baptist, FB Live on Sunday 11 AM via their church FB page

Hamilton, First Baptist, YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn2DOItqXNGik0d5EvdD15w?view_as=subscriber

Ilion, First Baptist Church,  via their FB page (FB live)

Meridian Baptist, FB Live via their church FB page on Sunday morning 

New Hartford Baptist, FB Live vis their FB Page at 9:30 AM

Odessa Baptist Church, available Sunday mornings via their FB page 

Oneida, First Baptist, broadcasting live on local radio and online:  www.wmcramfm.com 10 AM, Sunday

Ossining, Star of Bethlehem Baptist, FB Live, 11 AM

Poughkeepsie, First Baptist Church.  FB Live 10 AM Sundays.

Schenectady, Emmanuel Friedens.   FB Live 10 AM Sunday 


Syracuse, First Baptist.  Streamed FB live on their page "First Baptist Church of Syracuse, Jamesville, NY" and ZOOM (Zoom: +1-646-558-8656 or +1-312-626-6799 and Meeting ID: 337 519 701)
Trumansburg, First Baptist Church, Posted on FB Live Sunday mornings (tburgbaptist) or www.tburg.com

Utica, Tabernacle Baptist.  Streamed on FB Page “Tabernacle Baptist Church” and “TBC Christian Endeavour” and later on church website www.tbcutica.org.

Walton, First Baptist.  Streamed on FB Page from 11 AM to 12 PM each Sunday.

Wappingers Falls, Community Baptist.  Worship via YouTube (audio only): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChMTTiBmupU8R2ItvwzVvoA or via the church website www.communitybaptistwappingers.com

Waverly, FBC.  Streamed on FB Page. 


West Winfield, Federated Church, FB page Sundays services (@FedChurchWestWinfield) available in early morning, YouTube channel with updates:  Pastor Ken McKenzie

Williamson, First Baptist, streamed on FB Page as well as https://williamsonfbc.org 

Wolcott Baptist.  Sundays, via their FB page.