You’re not alone. It’s weird for everyone. Singing along with your TV is weird. Listening to some talking-head on a screen for 30 minutes nonstop is weird. Taking communion on your sofa is weird.
Streaming Sunday service isn’t ideal, but apparently it’s what God wants for right now. So how can you make the best of it? Here are 7 tips.
1. Go to bed early on Saturday.
Since Saturday night is a weekend and you’re only venturing as far as your living room the next morning, it feels like you should be able to stay up late and watch a movie until 2am. But if you’re tired and cranky on Sunday morning from a lack of sleep, how are you ever going to meet with God? Go to bed at the same time (or even earlier) on Saturday as you do the rest of the week.
2. Get up early on Sunday.
Carve out some time for personal devotions. Dress up a little, like you’re actually going to church (kind of how work-from-home gurus say you should dress like you’re going to work to put yourself in the mood for getting work done). Make a special breakfast so the day feels unique. Our family has started making Belgian waffles or French crepes with mounds of Portuguese sausage or bacon on Sundays.
3. Play worship music.
You need to get your heart in right place, so put on some uplifting worship music in the house on Sunday morning. Turn off the TV and your devices. You need to turn away from the slow drip of bad news for a little while so you’re ready to be refreshed by the good news of the gospel.
4. Pray.
The encounter you have with God along with your (virtual) church family will be influenced by the encounters you have with God on your own. So take some time to pray together for the service. Our family does this at breakfast. We read the day’s Psalm and pray together. Pray for a powerful experience of God through the singing, through the Word, and through the fellowship. Then join us for prayer after the service on Zoom!
5. Remove distractions.
Once the service starts, put your phone in another room so you’re not tempted to look at it. Read along with the sermon passage in a print Bible (or if you’re so millennial that you don’t have one, put your phone in airplane mode while you use a Bible app).
6. Push past the awkwardness.
Singing in your living room probably feels awkward. Just make the decision to push past the awkwardness, and keep singing to our God. He is worthy! And yeah, paying attention to a talking-head on a screen can be tough. So try taking notes to stay engaged with the sermon. Doodling around your notes is even better! Check out these amazing notes from a member of the Harbor ohana for some inspiration.
7. Get your kids engaged.
Print out the Keiki Sermon Guide and the Youth Sermon Guide to keep your kids engaged with the service. Download Gospel Project curriculum and discuss it with your kids after the service so they can continue what they’ve been learning at church.