Making Sure ALL People Can Come to God's Table| The COVID-19 pandemic transformed how we connect with our faith communities, leading many of us to discover the joys of online worship. Prior to that time, I found only one MCC church that streamed its services online. My son Marco and I enjoyed watching it occasionally when we couldn’t get out. Soon after the lockdown, most churches began some form of online worship. This was thrilling for us, and we often watched as many as seven services live on a Sunday! I have been blessed to attend a great number of churches in my lifetime, in person and online. We had choices locally and globally for our church membership. Resurrection stands out among the rest in so many ways: Mission and values are evident throughout the services and ministries. There is a long history of vibrant, relevant sermons through a variety of preachers who teach, inspire, and challenge. Amazingly talented worship arts continue to evolve and reflect a commitment to diversity; each person is likely to hear familiar and resonating music and something new that will move them. No church can claim to be striving for full inclusion if accessibility is not a priority. Removing barriers creates welcome. RMCC does it right in so many ways!For example, brilliant ASL interpretation is visible to in-person and online participants in Sunday morning services and congregational meetings. You just don’t see this level of commitment to inclusion in many places. Elevators and proper ramping have been a priority ever since moving into the current building. This goes way beyond legal requirements. The altar/choir area can be accessed by a wheelchair, and let me tell you, this is quite rare among churches. That is not only important for worship leaders and participants who might need it, but also for those of us watching who need to see ourselves reflected in the worship team. RMCC has the most vibrant online ministry of any church I’ve ever seen. Incredible visuals are streamed into homes worldwide, with attention to details like displaying the words to songs and ensuring the interpreter is visible, thus making at-home participation possible. This is yet another way that RMCC is a leader for churches everywhere. But streaming the service is only part of a beautifully coordinated and inspired virtual ministry. Online and in-person ministries and activities and opportunities for engagement or service abound to such an extent that one person could never attend them all. There are multiple chances to connect virtually. I am proud to be part of RMCC and look forward to enhancing connections among our virtual participants and the larger church community. Together, we can continue to build a welcoming, inclusive space for all. |
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| Rev.-Elect Dr.Carol Kiesling Online Ministry, GodTalk and Daily Devotional Facilitator Carol@ResurrectionMCC.org View Last Sunday’s Service HERE |