Lockdown has brought a lot of changes to our lives and our even our worship looks different. Before March, we were recording our sermons and posting them as podcasts and that’s about as technical as we got. By the end of March we’d had online Deacons’ Court and Kirk Session meetings, we had experimented with live broadcasting and then we set up a YouTube channel when it became clear that we couldn’t meet to worship any more. Although online church has it’s own difficulties, it has been a good reminder that Buccleuch is not a place or a building, Buccleuch is a group of people but more than that Buccleuch is a branch of God’s family and we continue to be family whether we meet face to face once a week or not. Now that we have the hang of it, we have Junior Church, a weekly prayer meeting, and our Community Discipleship Groups online.
Yesterday we took it to another level and had a zoom meeting so that we could get together and take part in a Family Service. So that we all started the service at exactly the same time the service premiered on YouTube with a rather snazzy two minute count down clock.
Service Countdown!
When the service started, we were all put on mute so we kept our fidgeting and our singing (!) between ourselves and God. We learnt a Bible verse using sign language, sang praises, Buccleuch members lead us in prayer and Bible readings and our minister James gave a short devotion on how Jesus speaks to our fears. Twenty-five households joined in with Zoom on one device and YouTube on another and it was lovely to be able to see each other as we participated in the service, knowing too that there were others who hadn’t Zoomed in.
Buccleuch on YouTube and Zoom at the same time.
Just as different styles of worship suit different people, we are aware that online meetings are difficult for some. Joining a zoom meeting can be challenging, navigating YouTube can be tricky, online conversation can be awkward, and in truth nothing replaces meeting together face to face. Until we can get back to real instead of virtual meetings, we are very grateful for the technology God has given us.
If you weren’t able to join us last night for our Family Service, it is available now on the Sermons and Services page of this website and on YouTube. All our services since the 22nd of March are available on YouTube, you can see them all on the videos section of our channel. Our sermons are still being posted as podcasts which you can find here, on your usual podcast provider or on SoundCloud.
In all the changes and restrictions that we currently face in our lives, the uncertainty and the stress, take comfort knowing that Jesus cares about you and has a solution for your anxieties and fears:
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” Luke 12:27-30