Virtual Communion and the Call to Discern the Body
What would a practice of virtual Communion show us about the nature of Christ’s real presence in the consecrated elements?
(Don’t) Take and Eat: The Eucharist and Spiritual Reception
By Junius Johnson
It is a strange moment in the life of the Church: to show love to our neighbors we refrain from what is most vital in our outreach to them, namely, meeting together to celebrate word and sa... Read More...
What Your Parish Priest Misses Most
By Clint Wilson
I miss the silence of the church before anyone has arrived,
I miss the altar guild faithfully serving in unseen ways,
I miss the embrace of so many, touches serving as pastoral promissory notes,
I miss the handshakes that express in... Read More...
Two Ways of Common Praying
This paper is one liturgical theologian’s attempt to reflect on what it can mean to be the Church for an extended period of time when we will be gathering virtually.
Communion in Chaos in the UMC
The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered United Methodist Churches throughout much of the United States. Over the past week Methodist pastors have made many difficult decisions. More are still to come.
Treasures for the Partially-Connected: Offline Ideas for an Online Forum
By Paul D. Wheatley
I begin this reflection on the nature of connection to the life of the church in a socially-distanced and virtually hyper-connected time in era of COVID-19 with a story of my own physical and spiritual disconnection while living abroad s... Read More...
Unintended Blessings of the Pandemic
Many of us, in addition to much prayer (and, to be honest, not a little worry), have started to think about some of the potential benefits of this experience of pandemic.
Worship in a Time of Pandemic (Part 2)
By Matthew S. C. Olver
Part one of this essay considered questions of administering Holy Communion during the pandemic as well as the question of whether or not to hold public worship. Today I consider the r... Read More...