The Holy Gospel: Maintaining a Virtual Connection
As a liturgically centered tradition, Episcopal churches encounter a unique combination of blessings and challenges as we reach out in the “digital world”.
We are blessed with a liturgical structure in the BCP and other resources, and are blessed with beloved sacred spaces that are both missed – yet open to rediscovery.
At the same time, technology has often been embraced slowly by the church, and a reluctance to try new things tempered by the very tradition we love, financial constraints, and the age-old tensions surrounding change.
In my experience, technology is introduced most effectively by uplifting the beauty of the church experience “where we first fell in-love with God”, and finding new vehicles to begin moving the familiar into the future. This process is intertwined with learning how to adapt our best liturgical offerings using new tools in the most creative and cost-effective way possible. In other words, use of one cell-phone camera can rival more elaborate infrastructure if it brings creativity, thoughtful and prayerful planning, imagination, and the simple care of doing ones VERY best with the resources with which one is blessed. Also, one with a decent camera and mic doesn’t hurt, either!
New Opportunities for God’s Gifts
Why Now?
As churches look at returning to communal worship, they are wondering how much of their resources should return to “traditional church” as we once knew it – and what role (if any) new tools that were used to “see us through” our period of physical distancing may have.
Most communities want to retain the best from these lessons in service to the church. From fresh organizational, gathering, and educational models to the liturgy itself, good stewardship means embracing all we have learned. In the last few years the Gospel has been nurtured for long standing members of our community, and has been offered to those for whom it had been distanced, lost, or never known.
With new technologies making broadcast communication ever easier (if not more complex) parishes of any size – beginning with “a will, a cell phone, a free platform, and a little vision” – can do far more than ever before.
Episcopalians Sharing God’s Community
How We Can Help…
Many years ago I started a new worship service employing technology our parish had never used before. The leadership was concerned about staff time, funding, and being able to offer the beautiful worship experience they had come to know in a traditional yet meaningful “brand new way” (the project tag-line). They knew of my love of formal liturgy, as well as my decades-long hobby of film making, stage direction, and crafting the illusions that come with being a “showman” in the theatre. Parish Leadership also knew my gift was more as liturgical visionary and less as technological expert.
They asked: “Are you up to the challenge? This project may need all your ‘smoke and mirrors’ to be a success…” To make a long story short, the project WAS a success and went on for many years – even after I had left that parish. And YES, it took all the “fire and smoke of the Holy Spirit” to create worship that “as in a mirror dimly” – did indeed behold the the face of God.
This ministry continued on the diocesan level in Southern Ohio for over a decade, and applied most recently during the pandemic to assemble a wonderful team dedicated to use of technology in worship, which went on to blossom in the months following my retirement in 2020.
An Holistic and Aesthetic Approach
What is Offered?
Our hope is to prayerfully help churches in the digital age enhance their own version of “smoke and mirrors” – or liturgical “stage-craft” (pardon the whimsicality). In other words, to assist in making the best of limited resources to spread an infinite gospel in a beautiful, authentic, and life-giving way.
This includes:
+ Five consulting sessions: three “on-site” and two via teleconference – one session includes a musical, auditory and technological expert familiar with implementing this process in their own Episcopal congregations.
+ Building of an Online Resources Map of best practices. Shepherding a prayerful, visionary new scope for presenting worship. Creation of a unique “Electronic Liturgical Customary” for each parish,
+ Unlimited follow-up via teleconference – or on-site (plus travel expenses) by Paul St. Germain.
What are we not able to Offer?
Areas that move beyond our experience and expertise – though opinions are always gratis! These include:
– Professional installation or maintenance of specific technical platforms.
– Programs for computer networking and wireless building infrastructure.
– Ongoing technology support for electronic communication and broadcast formats.
Follow these links for more information: