Sermons, songs and sacraments are now available over the Internet. Local congregations have caught on to this trend.
Churches of all sizes and denominations are expanding their congregation base through the Web. According to an Associated Press article last month, not only are sermons being posted to church Web sites, but entire services – including sacraments such as baptism and Holy Communion – can be participated in from home.
Kelly Ping, the public relations coordinator at Trinity United Methodist Church, said that the church’s Web site is used in a variety of ways by the congregation and provides information for people who are considering coming to the church. Not only does the church send out a weekly e-newsletter, but it has also created Facebook groups for various campus ministries there.
This Web site, however, does not provide Internet sacraments, and Ping declined to comment on the issue.
Glen Vassou, liturgy coordinator at Queen of Peace Catholic Community, said that the church uses the Internet every day. It does not, however, conduct sacraments via the Web site because those are private to the person participating.
“We cannot violate that privacy,” he said. “Your faith is private, so having it publicized is not something the church should do.”
Ritual and sacrament are important to the Catholic religion, he said.
According to the Associated Press article, Flamingo Road Church in Cooper City, Fla., has conducted two baptisms over the Internet, in addition to full services.
“To each his own,” Vassou said. “If it works for one denomination or parish, keep it. Maybe that’s the dynamic.”
While neither Trinity nor Queen of Peace have their full worship services or Masses on their Web sites, both do have the weekly sermons posted and are working toward the technological ability to post services as podcasts.
“The more information that is out there, the better,” Ping said.
Vassou said he would love to be able to make the Mass available on the Web site so those who can’t make it to the service can still celebrate it. The church used to take tapes of the Mass to people in nursing homes, but he said a future goal of the parish is to record them online once they obtain the correct equipment.
While the Associated Press article said that critics of churches’ Internet use don’t like how it limits in-person contact, both Ping and Vassou believe the expansion of their Web sites and churches’ involvement with the Internet is yet another avenue to reach out to people.
Ping said that Trinity wants everyone to feel welcome, which is why the Internet is a positive option. Vassou agreed by saying the effects of the Internet are amazing, and that Pope John Paul II, at 80 years of age, even said that he did a lot on the Internet.
“The church shouldn’t have any reservations,” he said, “because it’s part of life.”
Vassou is also not worried about losing person-to-person contact with the expansion of the Internet. Queen of Peace has office hours Monday through Friday, and he cited age differences as a major part of keeping in contact – there are still enough Baby Boomers who are going to want to talk to people, he said.
Vassou compared the idea to online banking. Though many people now use it, they still like to walk into a bank and see people managing their money. At Queen of Peace, members still must prepare for baptism and receive Holy Communion in person.
“Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is physical,” he said.
Tithing, however, no longer has to be done in person at Queen of Peace. For the past year and a half, the church has used the Parish Pay program on its Web site, making it convenient for frequent Internet users to donate, Vassou said.
“We’ve got to keep up with the pace,” he said. The Queen of Peace Web site includes the history of the church and contact information. The new generation wants to read it rather than talk about it, he said. Vassou also likes how his family in Australia, India and Britain can access the Web site.
Ping agreed.
“It’s really about family,” she said.
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