Spiritual and Worship Resources for Personal and Congregational Well-being

As our community struggles with the impact of a pandemic, we need to find peace and connection with each other, with our communities of faith, and with God in new and meaningful ways. We offer this selection of resources for your use and inspiration for the days and weeks ahead. If you have a resource you would like to share, please email it to us at povertyinstitute@ambrose.edu and we will add it to this collection.    

Statements of Solidarity and Encouragement

ARTICLES

SPIRITUAL SELF-CARE AND WORSHIP

  • Rev. Anna Greenwood Lee (Anglican) is sending a daily email prayer / meditation.  If people want to be added to that list and get a daily prayer from her every morning they can email rector@stlaurence.ca  

  • St. Laurence Anglican has created and will continue to create online worship for each Sunday we are closed. The one for this week is here and they will be posted under Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee’s Vimeo account and at www.stlaurence.ca

  • Online Life Church - Each service lasts about an hour and features worship music and a relevant, life-changing message. Attend by yourself, or join the conversation on a live chat platform hosted by caring, helpful volunteers.  Join a service   Join a life group  

  • Live Church Service Schedule  Looking for online live church services? Check out the live streaming church schedule for upcoming church events in your area.  View Schedule.

  • Max Lucado is hosting an online worship service via Facebook Live at 8:30 am CDT on Sunday, March 15, for a few minutes of prayer and encouragement, and will continue for the next several Sundays. Join us and invite others as well. https://www.facebook.com/maxlucado/

  • Anxious for Nothing Online Bible Study – starting Sunday, March 22, we will be offering a free online Bible study based on the book Anxious for Nothing. My prayer is that this study provides practical help for all of us as we seek to entrust our fears to God. The five-week study will conclude on April 25. We would love for you to join us at http://bit.ly/2WcdjlI.

  • Submit a Prayer Request. Several Churches are welcoming prayer requests related to the Coronavirus.  Submit Prayer Request to: coronaprayerline@gmail.com

CONGREGATIONAL RESOURCES

  • World Council of Churches. Staff from the World Council of Churches are available for consultation with member churches.

  • Prayers In View of the Coronavirus.

  • Community Without Communing: Resources for Virtual Church Digital pastors weigh in on shepherding congregations through quarantine.  

  • Mennonite Church Canada has updated pandemic preparedness resources for churches, including suggestions on how to equip your congregation. Plus, there are links for staying informed with the latest government updates. https://canadianmennonite.org/stories/mc-canada-offers-pandemic-preparedness-web-resources-congregations  

  • The Anglican Diocese of Calgary has created a Lenten reflection on the virus in the Diocesan homepage https://www.calgary.anglican.ca/   

  • Vineyard Canada Prayer and Reflection Guide. Epic Vineyard offered a Prayer & Reflection Guide via email to their congregation as well as on their Facebook page to catch folks who haven't signed up for emails, or who don't read them. A guide like this is good tool to help people deepen their journey with God. Like the Guelph Vineyard Epic used their private Facebook group page to invite people to share what they experienced, are learning, ask for prayer support, and share felt needs. Using a tool like this can help facilitate personal engagement in prayer, worship, contemplation, and action that invites the participant to go beyond mere "spectating" online.  

  • The Vineyard Canada has developed free booklets to send to your congregation. All the resources are FREE (no membership required) and SHAREABLE.

    For Kids (and parents). Each booklet has activities, coloring pages and action steps to provide relevant Kingdom engagement while school’s out. Great for use on Sundays and/or at home.

The 5 Step Prayer Model – For Kids! | English | Español

5 Steps To Worshipping God – For Kids! English | Español

For Adults. Each booklet works for study during anxious times. Great for online small/book groups or individual study.

How Is Your Soul? English | Español

The Lord’s Prayer (English & Español)

What Is The Kingdom Of God? (English & Español)

For Youth. Learn how to pray for healing. Great for Instagram or zoom groups and easy to facilitate.

The 5 Step Prayer Model  

ALTERNATIVE WORSHIP IDEAS  

Vineyard Canada has provided the following ideas for creative alternative forms of worship.

  • DEEPENING DISCIPLESHIP
    The Vineyard is well poised to lead our congregations differently during this time - after all we've said for a very long time that the Church is not a building, it's the people. So no need to feel like there's no Church if there's no building to gather in, or we can't all be together. We understand the Church scattered! We're relationally driven and our values encourage everyone to participate with whatever the Holy Spirit has given them. This is a time where we really could see deepening discipleship. As leaders we must ask the Holy Spirit to help us find diverse ways of helping people lean in to the Spirit and to one another - and then help those stories emerge within our communities.

    Stories are easily facilitated using social media. Invite people to make 1 minute videos sharing an "ah-ha" moment they've had with God since Covid-19 changed our daily realities, or speaking to something they're learning through Lent, or sharing how God has given them wisdom to help their children navigate big changes and anxiety. Even a video of a family sharing communion, or housemates reading scripture can be a big encouragement to others in our churches! These videos can be shared in a variety of ways - on a private church Facebook group (this is different than your church fb page), on insta stories that tag your church, or even uploading to your church Youtube channel. This is a time when people are seeking connection, even as they are experiencing increased isolation. We know that social media can be a great tool when used in these ways.  

  • ONE GOOD OPTION FOR SMALL GROUPS
    One option that really works with all the current health recommendations is walking small groups. Gathering outdoors reduces risks, enables social distancing naturally, and is easily managed in groups of less than 10 people. A walking small group can be as simple as telling people where to meet, inviting people to share on the walk about what the Lord has been showing them over the past week, and sharing prayer needs. Praying for one another before heading home is an important point of connection. 
    An important caveat - no medical professionals should attend even a walking small group. While the risk is small, the government has asked for extra diligence in protecting all our front line workers during this health crisis. Additionally ensure that everyone in your community knows that anyone who has a cough, fever, sore throat, or muscle aches - any illness at all - should self-isolate for two weeks.  

  • OTHER CONSIDERATIONS It's important for us to find ways to serve one another during this crisis. Some churches are identifying people over 60 years of age and rallying others in the church to do their shopping for them in order to help mitigate risks. Assigning a point person to be notified of any daily prayer requests is also an important way to strengthen the community and will enable good pastoral care responses as well. Kids are home and often experiencing lots of stress with the changes they are facing. Invite your kids and youth leaders to divvy up the students in your community and have a 15 minute FaceTime this week to connect and pray for them. Instead of preparing for real time gatherings your kids/youth teams can prepare resources to help parents disciple their kids meaningfully at home.