Someone has their TV on Spectrum News

Yep. Now I know how to dress the rest of the week :)

thanks to them

Amen!

amen

Hello from Wingate UMC, Uwharrie District

Welcome everyone! We are so glad you are joining us tonight.

Sybil Perrell here from the Lilesville UM Charge in Uwharrie district.

Hello, friends and colleagues. Good to be with you! Lynne Blankenship Caldwell, Bethel UMC, Winston-Salem

please mute yourselves

Hello from Jacqueline Tookey, The Arbor UMC, Uwharrie

Technology has been trying but has been major blessing

Making us step our outside our wheelhouse to grow

I can't and don't want to imagine what it would be if we didn't have the technology.

How has the pandemic caused you to embrace discipleship or how has it revealed glaring gaps that existed before the pandemic?

The foundation for evangelism is prayer. I pray for God to give me opportunities.

Using the FRAN plan:

We do a weekly zoom Bible study...very few attend, but a few from other churches have expanded us a bit.

Friends

Relatives

FUMC Stanley opened our outdoor facility, CommonGround, to the public before the pandemic. But we are seeing far more people enjoying our trails and outdoor facilities even more now

Acquaintances

Pandemic has opened up new dimensions of reaching persons outside of our normal worshipping community. Conference call line has opened a weekly prayer ministry

I saw our discipleship go up due to pandemic because people who were too tired after work or on weekends could now do it from home and it was more convenient.

I have found that I have time to study further on the daily devotional. I just take a few extra minutes for it and amazing what I am learning.

Neighbors.

My husband and I also participate with another clergy friend and some of her church members with another study. Which has been great!

I have so many without internet so I'm trying daily phone messages with scripture and questions for them to ponder

we have focused on congregational care which has offered more platform for relationships and fellowship to be fostered through prayer and caring for o there’s.

Before the pandemic, we did no discipleship opportunities online...we've shown that it CAN work!

Partnering with other pastors committed to Evangelism and discipleship.

Has allowed time to listen in depth and to deal even more deeply into racism .

Learning and preparing to do Sketchboard evangelism.

God brought an opportunity to me. I was able to witness at the pharmacy.

We have worked to be creative in our online services and actually have greater online attendance now than we had for in-person services a year ago.

Our weekly pastor Bible study has made it possible for those who would not venture out at night to be a part of a night study. Zoom book studies have enabled intergenerational groups to occur.

Backyard Sunday School has brought better attendance than regular church. Contacts with families have been strengthened. We need to celebrate positives and how to carry these forward when back at church.

Doing a weekly devotion on line has caused for more learning for me, like Nancy mentioned.

My most popular thing with some folks is very one-sided...I do a daily Front Porch Prayer on FB, but I need to make it a more interactive thing.

we are rural so very few with technology. I do a facebook sermon every Sunday, We have been outdoors when the weather is warm. Now we have an FM transmitter we can use when cold.

Technology has allowed us to reach way beyond our church doors. Sharing online services on social media are reaching (or has the possibility) many, many more.

Building bridges with unchurched groups.

Surprised by the resiliency of our folks in their continuing ideas. Offering to live stream into retirement homes is now a possibility for our disconnected older adults.

Opened prayer groups... Pavilion for small groups …. Cell group ministry and accountability groups that focus on bible study and support.

Doing more missions work in the community

Getting to know my neighbors, asking them how I can help them and pray for them.

Our dependence on internet/technology has helped reach new people..... but it also has isolated us from shutins, elderly, ndd those wihtout reliable internet.

It has made me realize how much more I need to create my own devotional and faith practices (to provide those resources REv. Sam spoke of. It has revealed that we have not done well in teaching our congregation to be disciples or carry out the ministry of the laity. I think our laity has gotten too used to pastors doing the work, forgetting that we are also called to do that.

When a clerk says have a blessed day, Ask them if the love Jesus. People are listening in.

one struggle is finding out about congregational care needs on Facebook because they feel it is quicker and it feels that I am the last to know.

I feel closer to the group doing the Bible Study,

zoom worship services and Bible Study and other small group studies are working well with our congregation

Passing along recordable bears that contain a message of hope for our inactive folks.

Reading some new books on disciplemaking.

Service project that involved many people working and mission gift to those deeply in need.

What keeps you hungry?

Wednesday moments email devotions, Refuel Moments on Facebook to be outreach and uplift

People need Jesus more now than ever!

we have reached to a mom and two kids, Her husband dies suddenly in July. I am trying to set up discipleship with the two boys on face book. We had a member give their $600 to the family

I love music and refuel in worship to connect with God

journaling has helped me.

Daily devotions, walks/hikes in nature

I love education and learning more about the history of the time and what things mean. For example, over Christmas I studied what the 12 days of Christmas means in the song and that my true love is God.

Practicing humility, grace

reading through devotional reading...prayers

I confess and repent every day for not winning souls and not discipling believers. This reminds me and empowers me.

Laity led Prayer Call on Tuesday and Friday has fed my soul

Doing/leading deep studies that are focused on spiritual formation for people in church and taking classes online outside the church that expand my heart soul mind spirit

reading the Bible more.

Youversion bible devotional app

Walking/hikes and really spending time in the sanctuary as if holding space for the congregation. It has been lovely.

daily devotion and zoom Bible study

I have been doing daily mindfulness practices.. And it feeds what I tell my congregation as well.

we do a monthly drive-by for a few members who cannot get out and about

Mindfulness from Selah. I am in a contemplative order. Music, humor, my dogs morning devotion

the nice thing about working from home is that I can crank up my radio and have church while I am working.

Reading and journaling and exploring the contemplative practices of old.

Accountability Group that meets weekly over zoom. Personally use the Daily Examen.

Daily Examen through Selah has been a blessing too!

Easy to share with others too

actually singing is great on online worship because we can sing our hearts out at home whereas at in-person gatherings we cannot sing.

Have a testimony and memorize Romans 10:9

Upper Room

We weren't supposed to do that in my office

lol

A clergy women's covenant group that meets monthly on zoom.

Upper Rooms are mailed out to members

staying on a routine where care for self is 1st. Worshiping with churches that I normally wouldn’t be able to worship with.

http://reimaginingexamen.ignatianspirituality.com/

And I have a sabbath keeping partner and we talk at least monthly. Another friend and I have a weekly call to each other to encourage each other.

Pandemic has forced me back to focusing on relationships and shift away from programming

walking with my dog and being in nature

Journaling

no sound

no sound

How do we lead people to Christ?

How do we train them to lead people to Christ?

How do we know how we are maturing in Christ? Bear fruit? Serving with gifts? Putting on the full armor?

Great question, John. The more work we do with discipleship to help our people become more mature disciples, we are better able to help them reach people in their lives for Jesus.

when we live into the worship then others see that it is an authentic witness of what a life with Christ looks like.

Are we experiencing "Professions Of Faith"?

I love what you said that Discipleship is who we are, it is nota program

What does it say if we allow COVID-19 to keep us from the Great Commission? Isn't God giving us opportunities THROUGH C-19?

Amen

I don't think we "train to lead to Christ"; I think we need to teach how to reflect Christ, to be the hands and feet and mouth of Christ. How do we practice presenting Christ everywhere and in everything we do. It will be unique to each disciple, but still presenting the same Jesus to the world.

I love that, Susan.

If someone asks us how they can become like our holy lives, do we know what to tell them?

Same here Lory Beth. We had to pause for a period and are reshaping.

All creation will be shaken so that only unshakable things will remain. Heb 12:27

Ive tried to communicate that we are on faith is a process instead of a destination. Transformation at time appears to take a back seat

Do we have good news to share in a bad news world?

Is Jesus still able to heal?

Yes, we do have good news in a bad news world!

Psalm 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side...

Stuart- great point. Discipleship is definitely a process and even now- doesn’t have to come to a grinding halt. We can still be formed even if it’s in different ways.

you are so welcome Rod!

Yes! Start with what you have! Fresh Expressions calls it the "Moses question" - what is that in your hand? You start with that.

Yes! I now have become friends with my neighbors. We even planted a neighborhood garden last summer!

That is wonderful, pisgahlincolnton !

Why can choirs not zoom together to create music?

Some of my neighbors have started "attending" our vitual worship on Zoom and facebook. I love sharing the links.

At NC State University one of the music student groups made a twitter concert. It was all online and they were all at home and playing the same song.

I agree,Katie.

We plan to keep the virtual service when we do return to in person worship

Hey Cannon- they can but it’s hard. Because of the delay you can’t sing at the same time. It sounds like the Tower of Babel!

choirs will not be in sync, however, some editing has to be done to create the finished product

From Social Media to Social Ministry - Nona Jones

Ellen Ringer- Clemmons UMC. Our choirs on line are wonderful. They work at it amazingly. I am not in the choir, so I can tell how well they do.

What a blessing @Cannon!

@Ellen

Would like to know how to do with choir. We "meet" but have to mute everyone except the choir director when we sing.

Can we share groups if we have ones?

Sean, if you set up a group you can invite people into the group. If it’s an open group - people can ask to join the group.

Louise - it is complicated to do the editing for individuals to record themselves singing and getting it all synced up.

Thought so. Thanks!

Ellen Ringer CUMC The singers sing from their homes on zoom. Technology persons in the church coordinate. I know very little about this. Kathy Giff and Tammy Clapp from Clemmons UNC are in this group. Carol Covington is our choir coordinator. This presentation involves a number of technicians and musicians It is a real blessing. I can appreciate it as a church member.

https://smile.amazon.com/Social-Media-Ministry-Digital-Discipleship/dp/031010386X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1R9OLOBSHP6UO&dchild=1&keywords=from+social+media+to+social+ministry&qid=1610498948&s=books&sprefix=from+social%2Cstripbooks%2C183&sr=1-1

our amazing music and worship arts minister has done some unbelievable editing and production for virtual choirs and music.

What creative ideas have you tried or heard about for doing discipleship now/virtually? What’s one discipleship practice that worked so well that you want to share?

TIP: If you are broadcasting your worship service on Facebook, think about creating a Google Doc where people can "register" their attendance (name / email / phone number) in the same way that they would "sign a visitor pad". You can then post the link to the Google Doc as a comment several times during your broadcast. Then, you can use that information to send follow-up emails / texts / calls to those who are "visitors" to your service.

Great tip @John!

VBS

Planning to "borrow" multiple ideas...

Sunday School Class Notes. We are now coaching everyone on how to get Covid shots. A life skill we al need help ith

with take-home packets to use with VBS

We at St, Andrews have virtual VBS going on right now.

Children’s story time on Facebook live

A New Day in the City by Donna Clay Sikkim and L Roger Owens

Our preschool teachers read a book for the twelve days before Christmas

Drive through Bethlehem

Backyard Sunday School

Virtual children gatherings (i.e. stream a movie, etc.) and allow time before and after for the kids to talk with each other!

advent packets for home, children’s worship online, driveway evangelism

Prayers as class members go to medical appts. Texts as we go into meetings at medical facilities.’

Our church hosts a lunch-time Bible Study on Fridays for office rworkers

take home VBS

Involving folks in reading scripture by recorded methods or live. Some people will sing to a webcam but not "in front" of people...

Virtual Sunday School or via phone when too cold

prayer requests on chat during worship on FB Live

I taught our kids in our children's program how to play games/ uno etc on line and share.

virtual Bible Story Time for Children

Good Friday packet for a service for that

Lit home weekly for Sunday School

Been a great way to disciple parents to be the spiritual leaders of their children.

expand on drive thru Bethlehem pleases

children's bulletin to families by email

Drive Thru Communion

you need a host to watch the chats... on FB Live

We gave out candles and pre-packaged communion elements before Christmas Eve. We zoomed our service and could see everyone lighting their candles. Looking for creative ideas for Ash Wednesday!

Drive Thru Blessing of the Animals.

It was about 10 stations where you drove by each station and you, the visitor were Joseph and Mary

we did an outdoor live nativity

Matthews did drive through Bethlehem

We provided Advent packets for our church families, including devotional and materials to make Advent wreaths. Also provided packets for families to participate in a virtual Love Feast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkfElXcQs4s&t=592s

emailed participation in Christmas Eve communion. Clemmons UMC

That’s the link for a YouTube video of Skyland’s drive-thru Bethlehem

"Visiting" older members by parking at the end of their driveway and calling them on your cell phone. They will actually step outside and talk over the phone. Pretty Cool!!

Sounds a little like our cross cultural ministry Los Pasados which I love !

outdoor hanging of the greens

Trunk or Treat too

Thank you for this reenergizing conversation! What a gift and blessing.

Thank you for sharing some much information with us—it has been great to hear the shared ideas.

Is there a way to share the chat comments? So many great ideas.

We need to claim God's power knowing that it is not us but God that makes things happen

Than

Thank you h

this has been great. Thanks so much for the encouragement!

Thank you for this opportunity tonight.

yes, chat can be posted with the recording

Thank you to leaders, organizers, and participants. This has been very helpful.

This has been great!

Thank you so much for this wonderful session tonight! This has been the best one yet!

Our team of facilitators that are always helping us to become better followers of Jesus.

Many thanks for this opportunity. Ellen Ringer

Please pray that our churches be part of learning the truth and bringing our community together

Another online worship tip: Don't title your worship video as: "Church UMC Worship 1.1.21". Give it a title that might be the main take-away from worship. For example, someone might be searching for what it means to forgive and your worship service is more likely to show up in the results if forgiveness is in the title.

THANK YOU !!

Thank you.

Thank you everyone