Worshiping During a Pandemic

How do we worship during a pandemic? With our connected world, we are fortunate to have the ability to still connect via the internet or devices such as phones, tablets and computers. While church offices may still be open and operating, social distancing is very important.

I thought I'd start by telling how First Baptist Church of Lake Wales, my home church, is still serving The greater Lake Wales community during this unprecedented time. I reached out to Sr. Pastor Dr. Scott Markley – via Facebook Messenger of course.

Pastor Scott, as many of us call him, said the church is online via several platforms: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, http://www.FBLW.com website, Comcast channel 6.

Comcast: Sunday church service has been broadcast on Comcast Channel 6 for as long as I can remember: 10:30 am Sunday morning.

FaceBook has brought a whole new opportunity to be "at church." Facebook.com/fbclw

YouTube: FBLW Live! Is the YouTube Channel but be warned, if you go searching FBLW on YouTube, you'll find Fat Boys Losing Weight. Not a bad thing, but not church.

Instagram: Follow First Baptist Church Lake Wales on Instagram Handle: fbclw

Website: http://www.fbclw.com The site has information about the church such as the physical address, phone number and all the activities. Starting this week, connection groups will be available via Zoom meetings on Wednesday nights starting at 6 PM.

I personally have watched First Baptist Church Lake Wales via Facebook Live from all over the world. This past summer, while in Croatia for a month, I was able to watch my church service on Sunday. One Sunday, my roommate who is from Russia, asked me what I was watching and I told her my church. She asked me who was talking, and I told her Pastor Barry (Reverend Barry Hooton is the Minster of Discipleship and Administration). She asked me what language he was speaking, and I told her English. She looked at me puzzled and said, "That does not sound like English." I said, "Oh, he's from Alabama." We laughed but it was a great opportunity to talk about being a Christian and what that means to me.