Dear Friends,
I greet you well. It is almost two years now since Jamaica experienced patient zero infected with the Coronavirus. Since then, life for us has been completely transformed, disturbed or different. One of the ways we have all been affected is through reduced face to face activities and an almost dependence on online technology namely zoom, Facebook, YouTube etc. for worship and other meetings.
Many persons have been affected by another bug not unrelated to the pandemic. It is the Internet fatigue. Students are affected, teachers are affected, other workers are infected and a large part of the church community is showing symptoms. In the January 22, issue of Christianity Today, a worship leader of a 200-member church stepped down after 27 years due to pandemic induced burnout.
How can users of these media continue to use them effectively and still maintain their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health? How can worship be conducted or participated in virtually and still maintain its effectiveness and how can church continue as church without losing its soul?
I want to suggest a few tips.
Covid is here to stay-adjust
I believe we need to develop the mindset that covid is here to stay and adjust our life around the pandemic. Worship must not be diminished, even if the form has changed. We cannot keep postponing activities until “the pandemic is over”. Let us do what we can now, maintain fellowship with one another, using blended format where possible and now that the curfew is relaxed, some face-to-face meetings can happen, especially with the youth and young adults. A part of the senior choir can resume meeting, so that they can alternate with the praise team. There are gifted singers on the choir whose gifts can still be exercised in worship when is safe to do so.
Attend church when you can physically
Attend church face to face when it is physically possible for you to do so. Many of us still go to work, the supermarket, crowded PriceSmart, the pharmacy and the bank. Don’t despise church. And there are other important places we go. I suggest even once per month make a face-to-face visit and do not sit with the online as the only option.
We do not want to get so comfortable with being at home that we forget what real fellowship with the brethren is like.
When online, prepare for church.
You can get easily fatigued from keeping your eyes fixed to a screen every day. Therefore, as you would on a normal Sunday morning, wake up, clean up, eat up and dress up. Position yourself for worship, even though you may not be leaving the house. Call a friend to join and with you or another family member. Stand for the songs, the responsive readings, take notes during the sermon, be engaged so you can maximize the worship experience. You are at church (online) so dedicate the time to the Lord.
Manage self-care
Take care of yourself. Get enough rest, exercise and use the phone sometimes for a quick call, rather than keeping your eyes glued to the screen for a meeting. Develop healthy distractions from the distraction of social media and take meaningful breaks.
Care for one another
All of us are vulnerable to burnout. Look out for one another. Check on one another. Be generous with the support and commendation, and sparing with the criticism. Develop appropriate emotional health towards yourself and towards the other. During this time, we all experience fear, sadness and anger, more than other times. Be aware of these emotions in yourself and in others.
Trust these tips, though not exhaustive will assist you in managing this period with a little more awareness that despite this virus, and for some a perceived pestilence, remember the Lord is still in control and has the final word on our lives. We were reminded by the Apostle Paul, and it is true that nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:38-39).
Shalom.
Pastor