Our Wednesday evening chapel service, WNL, just ended a little bit ago. This is a liturgical rundown of the nontraditional means of celebrating ancient and traditional rituals.
For a prelude, we had a flurry of conversations via text message between our worship leaders and two students who were accompanying their friends to the hospital for illnesses that were urgent enough to need emergency care. Those at the hospital kept us apprised of the conditions of the ailing students throughout the service, too.
Our opening prayer was spoken via speakerphone by a student who was sitting with his father at a far-away hospital awaiting test results from cardiac issues.
Our sermonic element was delivered by a student whose family had planned to drive the 2 hours to hear him speak. His brother had come down with a nasty flu and the family decided to stay home. His father posted on my Facebook status update regarding my excitement over the service, saying he wished he could be there. We set up a computer and he and the family worshiped with us via Skype.
Tinker Toys were used to symbolize our places in the Body of Christ during the testimony. We gathered around the Tinker Toy Masterpiece, photographing it with our cell phones.
Our benediction included a song, sung while we were gathered photographing the lovely symbology. I posted one of the photos, which i borrowed from a student's Facebook page.
At SU's worshipping community, we define "koinonia" as "an ancient word for 'authentic community.'" Technology is not a substitute for real, live ministry with one another. Technology-aided communication does, however, offer opportunities for community in real-time ways that haven't been available until recently.
Perhaps we might consider prayerfully blogging about that ;).
In the mean time, you are invited to read this "Good Word", or "Benediction", that we used tonight, paraphrased from Aaron's ancient blessing as we photographed (on our smart- and not-so-smart-phones) some Tinker Toys.
God bless you and keep you.
God's face shine on you.
God's peace surround you and lead you. Amen.
1 comments:
I Try to think of how Jesus might have used Technology. I believe he would have embraced it. He wouldn't let it get in the way of Our Fathers plan, but he would have used it to spread the news of God's love. Thanks for allowing us to be part of the service.
Blessings,
Tim and Kathy
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