A different kind of Zoom meeting

To the Editor,

I am a member of Swarthmore Friends Meeting and would like to share our recent experience of meeting online for worship, in the hope that other faith communities might be encouraged to create similar opportunities in this time of outward isolation.

When we heard the news that the CDC was recommending social distancing practices and at-home isolation, several members of Swarthmore Friends Meeting decided to hold last Sunday’s morning worship service (which we call “meeting for worship”) online, using Zoom. 12 people or families participated, including one family with small children. Some members of the meeting who live at a distance and haven’t been able to join us in person for a while (including one now living in Hungary) participated. It was a joy to be together in that virtual way. Our hour of worship was blessed with deep silence and some vocal ministry. During this time when many are isolating themselves at home, Friends found the experience so valuable that there was a request for a mid-week meeting for worship.

So on Wednesday morning, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., we held a second online meeting for worship.  Again we were joined by people living at a distance, as well as by attendees who had not come in person recently. Again we were blessed by a sense of the divine Presence and some beautiful, spontaneously offered vocal ministry. Many had come with a sense of anxiety or uneasiness about the unfolding health crisis. Over the course of the hour of worship, many found a sense of greater peace and a wider perspective. Our hearts were opened more fully to God and to other people. As during our normal meetings for worship in the meetinghouse, the hour of mostly silent worship was followed by prayer requests, the sharing of joys and concerns, and a few announcements.

It is possible to attend an online Zoom meeting via computer, tablet, smart phone, or dial-in by regular phone. It is usually quick and simple to download Zoom onto your computer or device and install the app or program. Everybody is muted when the worship begins, in order to silence background noise. People can unmute themselves to offer vocal ministry or, at the end, for prayer requests, joys, and concerns, etc. 

To create these online opportunities, we are temporarily using a Zoom line to which a member of the meeting has access. Swarthmore Friends Meeting is currently researching which of many available options would be best for our community for longer term use, not only for worship but also for committee meetings, religious education, etc.

If there are any in the Swarthmore area who would like to join us for an online meeting for worship, or online meeting for prayer and healing, please contact me. I am working on creating a page on my website (awholeheart.com) with more information for faith communities who are exploring ways to meet online.

With hope and faith,

Marcelle Martin
Chester