This episode speaks to the unique role that each staff member is playing at this critical moment in the life of the church. We encourage you to listen to it….pray for each staff member in the days ahead….and offer assistance if you feel called to do so.
Palm Parade Montage (2020)
We had a wonderful Palm Sunday Celebration yesterday. We’ve added some extra photos and videos to this montage. Thanks to all our participants, past and present alike!
You can watch the entire service by clicking on this link.
Palm Sunday
A poem entitled Palm Sunday, by Malcolm Guite
Now to the gate of my Jerusalem, the seething holy city of my heart, the Savior comes. But will I welcome Him? Oh crowds of easy feelings make a start; They raise their hands, get caught up in the singing, and think the battle is won.Too soon they’ll find the challenge, the reversal He is bringing changes their tune. I know what lies behind the surface flourish that so quickly fades; Jesus, come break my resistance and make me your home.
Painting, Palm Sunday by Kai Althoff
Readers: Kristen Cavallo and Phil Dawson
Music by Ryan Corbitt
Church helping CHURCH: practical thoughts for Pastors navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Pastor Friends, many of us, if not all of us, are struggling to determine the best way for us to lead our flocks in the COVID-19 Pandemic. I’ve struggled with where to begin. I’ve found it incredibly challenging to navigate leadership in the current moment while simultaneously planning for a long season ahead. It’s easy to feel stuck.
I’m hearing from friends serving in smaller congregations. Many are struggling with the lack of resources, time, and the technology gap.
I’ve created a series of five brief videos to share some observations, offer practical advice, and urge us to work together. I share it hesitantly as I don’t want to suggest that I’ve got anything figured out. Many of the ideas that are shared are simply ideas. We’re still trying to figure out implementation. That said, I have a conviction that we should be learning from one other, through failure and success alike.
If you find these videos helpful, please pass them along. Iif not, just ignore them and press on. Regardless, I hope you will consider practical ways that you might share your insights and encouragement to one another.
Lastly, sisters and brothers serving in congregations that are further along with the technology gap, let’s do everything in our power to make space in our digital spaces. Let’s think creatively about how we can share our resources with generosity and humility. We’re in this together!
1. This is the first video in a series of brief/specific recordings created for Pastors navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. The first video offers a brief introduction and shares some ideas for setting priorities.
If you find the series helpful, please feel free to pass it along. I encourage you to find your way to offer support to sisters and brothers serving in pastoral roles. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s share our resources. Let’s use this moment to show the world what unity looks like in the body of Christ. Let’s use this moment to mobilize compassion.
2. The second video in this series focuses on the unique challenge of Pastoral Care and some pratical thoughts on how we mobilize our congregants to offer care to one another.
If you find this video helpful, please feel free to pass along. I encourage you to find a way to offer support to sisters and brothers serving in pastoral roles. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s share our resources. Let’s use this moment to show the world what unity looks like in the body of Christ. Let’s use this moment to mobilize compassion.
3. The third video in this series focuses on our prioritization of churches directly sharing resources and connecting in unique ways.
If you find this video helpful, please feel free to pass along. I encourage you to find a way to offer support to sisters and brothers serving in pastoral roles. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s share our resources. Let’s use this moment to show the world what unity looks like in the body of Christ. Let’s use this moment to mobilize compassion.
4. The fourth video in this series focuses on practical ways we can connect with congregants not comfortable with technology or don’t have the means to access the internet.
If you find this video helpful, please feel free to pass along. I encourage you to find a way to offer support to sisters and brothers serving in pastoral roles. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s share our resources. Let’s use this moment to show the world what unity looks like in the body of Christ. Let’s use this moment to mobilize compassion.
5. The fifth video in this series offers practical advice on the use of technology and the importance of what we’re projecting to our congregants.
If you find this video helpful, please feel free to pass along. I encourage you to find a way to offer support to sisters and brothers serving in pastoral roles. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s share our resources. Let’s use this moment to show the world what unity looks like in the body of Christ. Let’s use this moment to mobilize compassion.
Being the Church in the Coronavirus Pandemic: A one hour conversation with Dr. Art Wright, Theologian in Residence at CBF VA
We have experienced tremendous disruptions to daily life as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across our nation and the globe. Many of us as church leaders are struggling to find ways to adapt to the situation. On Thursday, March 19, 2020, Sterling Severns (Senior Pastor, Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond, VA) and Art Wright (Theologian in Residence for CBFVA and member at Tabernacle Baptist) talked via Zoom about how Tabernacle is navigating these challenges and adapting to offer worship, educational and fellowship opportunities, and pastoral care right now. In our conversation we discuss some of the practical challenges that we are facing, key technology that we are using as we strive to be church virtually, and we also reflect on deeper theological and spiritual dimensions of leading churches during these trying times. We are sharing this conversation in hopes that it is helpful for churches near and far.
RESOURCES:
How to Lead Online Worship Without Losing Your Soul—or Body 8 tips for stewarding church technology in a time of social distancing by W. David O. Taylor
ZOOM Meeting- Supporting Older Adults during Covid-19, March 27
Leading Churches during the Coronavirus Pandemic
We have experienced tremendous disruptions to daily life as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across our nation and the globe. Many of us as church leaders are struggling to find ways to adapt to the situation. On Thursday, March 19, 2020, Sterling Severns (Senior Pastor, Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond, VA) and Art Wright (Theologian in Residence for CBFVA and member at Tabernacle Baptist) talked via Zoom about how Tabernacle is navigating these challenges and adapting to offer worship, educational and fellowship opportunities, and pastoral care right now. In our conversation we discuss some of the practical challenges that we are facing, key technology that we are using as we strive to be church virtually, and we also reflect on deeper theological and spiritual dimensions of leading churches during these trying times. We are sharing this conversation in hopes that it is helpful for churches near and far.
A Message to TBC from Will Cumbia
We will vote to affirm Will’s calling, and an additional 2 important items on March 31. Click here for more information.
LOVE GOD. LOVE NEIGHBOR. A significant update on the COVID-19 Situation.
LOVE GOD. LOVE NEIGHBOR.
A significant update on the COVID-19 Situation.
We have decided to cancel all in-person church events for the remainder of March. Our concern is the wellbeing of the city and the most vulnerable among us. Our hope is that keeping a social distance for this short time will help the community by slowing the spread of the virus.
We want to use our facilities to serve our neighbors. In this instance, one of the best ways we can offer care is to sacrifice our time together in those facilities. Of course, we will also be looking for opportunities to use the facilities in unique ways, should something come to our attention. We will be using technology creatively to worship, remain connected, mobilize care, and meet together.
We encourage you to carve out 20 minutes to watch this video. The content of the recording offers information about how we came to this decision, what to expect in the next few days, and opportunities we’re praying about.
Please visit www.tbcrichmond.org for a quick Q&A about this weekend.
Our free Church App, and the website, are your best source of up-to-date information.
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"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your God in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16
What to Expect Over the Next 7 Days
SATURDAY: Community Ministry will be open as we know that our neighbors are in the need of the food that will be distributed. Volunteers that are over the age of 60, younger than middle school, or have compromised immune systems and/or heart and lung issues are requested to stay home. We want to keep you safe! We know that we will need help tomorrow. Please click here for the specifics. If you are showing ANY sign of sickness, please stay home. Many of our neighbors that will come to receive food are over the age of 60.
SUNDAY:
Sunday school will be available via Zoom. We’ll post the link and also instructions by 5 p.m. on Saturday.
The Neighborhood Listening Project Orientation Breakfast has been postponed until early April. That said, say posted for some fun videos in the next couple of weeks.
We will worship via the Livestream. The service will be interactive, we will post song lyrics/stanzas, etc. A “talk back” will be available, after the service, for anyone that wants to hop over to Zoom.
It is important for us to continue to create space for our brothers and sisters from Burma. Thus, Lisu Grace will be invited to use the Blue Room, but under rigid boundaries contained to the blue room.
MONDAY:
- Church Staff will be present in the building, during regular business hours. That said, please don’t assume that you will be able to access the building. Please call first!
- Our Child Care Center Ministry is officially closed for the next two weeks. Full-time employees of the Center will be in the Center/Nursery area for deep cleaning of space and training.
- One of the ways we can offer care for our community is using space to support local business owners. We have 2 different music teachers that offer one-on-one classes in our building. They will offer instruction in specific classrooms on the 1st level of the main building. Signage will be posted and all other rooms will be locked for safety purposes.
TUESDAY:
- The Richmond Concert Band will be on official hiatus for the next two weeks.
- The Administrative Board will meet via Zoom (Expect instructions by 5 p.m. on Monday)
WEDNESDAY: The Pastoral Staff will create an online interactive program for children, youth, and adults alike. We will likely use both zoom and livestream. (Expect details and instructions by Tuesday at 5 pm)
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY: We will publish a schedule for the week ahead.
Click here to access a 20 minute video explaining the decision-making process, what to expect next, and opportunities we’re praying about.
The church website and our Free Church App are your best two sources for up-to-date information.
Epiphany 2020: Supplemental Article
Our Epiphany Season Theme, “Belonging to One Another” fits into a larger narrative on what it means to be “Neighbor”. Jesus calls us to love God and love neighbor as ourselves. The tone we set in our community of faith helps us to live in community with neighbor. We encourage you to take some time in the week(s) ahead to reflect upon Jeff Chu’s article, entitled “What Happens When We Share a Meal?”.
You can listen to an audible recording (thank you Tori Tyndall and Ryan Corbitt) or read the article. We will use Jeff Chu’s honest reflection as a conversation starter around tables.