Guidelines

We believe that there is value in tangibly meeting together, but we also respect and support the decision to seek an alternative to meeting for worship on Sundays. Please spend time reading through the following list and subsequent Guide in order to be prepared for your gathering this Sunday.

  • MC Leaders should identify the most suitable online meeting option for the group and share that platform with digital attendees. We suggest using Zoom, though you are welcome to consider other options including Google Hangouts or Skype.

  • MC Leaders should send a digital invitation to everyone in the MC via email, text message, or Group Me, so everyone is prepared to join on Sunday morning. 

  • The host should identify and communicate a specific date and time for the MC video call. This information should be dispersed by MC members prior to 6pm on the Saturday before the corresponding Sunday gathering. 

  • Encourage all digital attendees to use WIFI if they have access for better video quality. 

  • Spend time in prayer before meeting digitally to bring “a song, or a word of instruction, an exhortation” or some other encouragement “so that the church may be built up.” (1 Corinthians 14:26)

  • To listen to online teachings and resources that will be provided, please make sure that you have access to some means of watching and listening to the teaching. (e.g. video sharing via Zoom)

  • “Official” organized Sunday gatherings should last between 60 to 90 minutes. 

Gathering

Each Sunday that you come together digitally with your Missional Community (MC), we encourage you to spend time centering on God’s presence through worship, public reading of scripture, learning from the scriptures, praying, and spending time together. 

Worship

Some of us may think of worship as a time to sing with a band at church. But worship is much more than that. To worship is to turn your attention and affection towards God in adoration and awe. Below are a few suggestions for worshipping digitally with your MC on a Sunday:

  • If someone in your MC is able to lead worship through song, spend some time singing together. 

    • If they have a guitar and lead in song, they are great candidates to lead.

    • While one person is leading in song, we recommend everyone else mute their devices. 

    • Please feel free to sing along while your device is on mute. 

  • If you don’t have someone in your MC who can lead worship through song, here are a few other options:

    • Pick a few Psalms and have one person at a time read them out loud together. We recommend Psalms 8, 9, and 17:7–11.

    • Spend a few minutes expressing gratitude out loud to God.  

    • Soma Downtown has a Spotify playlist. We would not recommend listening to the playlist over video. However, this is a great resource to use in your personal time of worship through song.

Prayer 

As you meet digitally, consider spending some time in prayer with one another. Keep in mind while using video communication that praying one at a time can help the audio quality. Before praying, take a moment for each person to share what God may have laid on their heart to pray for. Then begin praying. If nothing comes to mind to pray for here are a few general prayer points

  1. Eradication of the Coronavirus

  2. Healing for the sick

  3. Protection of the elderly

  4. Healthy church gatherings 

  5. Wisdom for our leaders (government, church, household, school, work, etc.) 

Sermon & Discussion Guide

Access the sermon audio and discussion guide on the “Coronavirus Downtown Updates” webpage. One member of the group should play the sermon audio while the rest of the group listens through the online meeting platform. Then work through some of the discussion questions with one another.

Soma Kids

Soma Kids resources will be available to families to enjoy together in their own homes. We suggest that MCs keep childcare simple during their gatherings, allowing parents to be spiritually encouraged so they can continue on in discipling their children throughout the week.