Dear Friends, 

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Blessed Easter to you all

I’m writing today to send you Easter greetings, but also to introduce a new standard for Sunday worship. We will now move to what many are now calling Virtual Holy Eucharist.

We will continue the practice as long as the pandemic requires that we stay at home for the common good. I take this measure because there have been indications that we may be in for a longer haul than was initially anticipated.

Simply put, priests who have the technical know-how, the equipment, and the inclination will live-stream the Holy Eucharist on Sunday (or other appointed times). Instead, they may refer you to my weekly Eucharist. The people will attend from their own homes, maintaining physical distance as before. The people will provide for themselves bread and wine (bread alone is also permissible) and place it on a table in front of them.

The priest’s consecration of elements in front of her or him extends to the bread and wine in each of family’s household. The people will consume the consecrated elements.

Do watch for announcements from your own congregation. My worship service will come to you through Facebook Live. Others may decide on a different approach. As mentioned above, priests also have the option to direct their congregations to the Virtual Holy Eucharist that I will celebrate every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. CDT.

Take care of yourselves, my friends. Make space for your own time in prayer and study. Tend your body’s needs of rest and nourishment. Nurture your souls with friendship and outdoor time. Bless you all. You are loved. 

Peace, 

+Jake 

The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, PhD, DD

As we continue to remain at home and do our part to slow down the spread of COVID-19, it’s important to find ways we can still connect with each other and with God. Last week Joy Owensby, diocesan Missioner for Formation and Community Engagement, shared some resources families with children can use together at home. She has updated this list with new suggestions and will continue to do so each week. Click here for the most recent version of this list.

Check out these upcoming events this week for youth! Maintaining connection and community is important to us, even while physical-distancing. To access these events you will need a computer (ideal) or smart device with video capabilities, and to message  @EYCWLA on instagram or   email Katie Chapman for event access.

Webcasting or Live-Streaming

As you consider alternative ways of using technology to meet people where they are, remember that personal connections, the connections that are made from an individual to an individual, are important. How can you create communities within your community to maintain personal relationships? How can you shift meetings, worship services, or youth events from in-person gatherings to online gatherings? Could you offer morning prayer or a daily reflection virtually rather than in-person?  Learn more and view resources

Worship Community Video Conferences

If you hold an online-only service where the online audience is the sole focus, you could utilize Zoom as a meeting space. The service bulletin could be shared on a webpage for everyone to access or simply in a group chat. The readings could be done together. The preacher could share their sermon. Questions can be asked and people can give reflections to the readings, or a list of questions could be provided to guide conversations in breakout rooms of smaller groups. Participants can make prayer requests and people can pray online together. Video conferencing can a powerful method to engaging your worship community online in new ways. You can utilize a video conferencing platform such as Zoom, UberConference, Google Hangouts Meet, or Cisco Webex Meetings. Zoom is a widely used platform that is user-friendly and inexpensive. The Pro plan for $14.99 per month allows up to 100 participants, with the ability to upgrade that plan based on your number of participants beyond 100.  Learn more about video conferencing

Community Building Using Technology

Organizations have been thriving for years, building community virtually and through tech-supported meetings. Church can thrive too with virtual vestry meetings, ministry meetings, and community events. You can create relationships, be pastoral, care for your community, and be innovative in how you meet and share and care.

Group Messaging: Group Texting & Group Calling Resources

In this time where people want to hear from their church in many ways, not just via email or via an eNewsletter, texting and calling can be a great way to send important time-sensitive information. View Resources for group messaging