Strategies for Being the Church During Social Distancing

We are pleased to share some guidelines and strategies for sustaining your ministries during the Coronavirus pandemic

Many have called inquiring about pastoral care protocols and ways lay people might reach out to those who are isolated. Jane Anderson offers some helpful tips on Caring for Congregations in the midst of this pandemic.

Rob MacDougall focuses on community based ministries so necessary to those in need and so essential to the mission of the Gospel. Rob reflects on Community Service in a Social Distancing Style.

Some congregations are worried about upcoming Installations, Ordinations, Call Sundays and seasonal services. Lorraine Ceniceros has some wisdom for those anticipating Special Sundays.

Andrew Warner offers helpful strategies for sustaining stewardship when we can’t pass the plates via the Extravagant Generosity video, handout (pdf), and through his online office hours.

Guide for Christian Funerals During Covid19
From the Massachusetts Council of Churches.  Please take into consideration current activity restrictions that may not be reflected in this document.

Principles for Online Ritual Design from Sacred Design Lab “Amidst hardship, this is an unprecedented moment for extending the reach of ritual to online participation–crossing barriers of geography, generation, and time like never before. Here are five design principles that we’ve developed for our work at Sacred Design Lab, which we hope will support you in crafting and leading online rituals of your own. While far from exhaustive, these ideas can be applied to anything from funerals and weddings to birthday parties, holidays, and rites of passage.”  Download the PDF

We especially welcome your creative alternative ministries ideas and some uplifting stories about unexpected blessings during these trying times.  Share with us at resourcecenter@wcucc.org.