Socially-distant gatherings

Here’s the layout of the service

1. Informative countdown, with visual demonstrations of filling out digital connect card, and other desired actions for viewers to take.
2. Creative greeting by ladies, who converse with each other.
   1. If the hosts are the same each week, this builds community and consistency.
   2. They speak to viewers as welcome guests and friends coming to their home.
   3. The first speaker asks for interaction within first 30 seconds. (thumbs up (“Like”) for “Jim and Judy’s cookies and coffee”) Within 4 minutes, they ask viewers to answer “What are you missing right now?” They invite viewers to take red ribbons in prayer. They invite all to post prayer requests, and to share the video, and visitors to post “New” in comments. (with words reinforcing this on the screen)
   4. They personally connect with people in both positive memories (cookies) and disappointments (missing 16 b-day party).
3. Worship team is seen up close, with lyrics on screen.
4. Associate pastor uses a story & Scripture to invite joyful, faithful giving. Then he clearly explains how to give, with words on screen.
5. Sermon by lead pastor
6. Same ladies give caring closing.

Each set of people had their own location in the what seems to be the same house. In the chat section, the church page representative wrote friendly replies with both regulars and visitors. In the title, they gave clear label “Sunday service // [Date]” In the title, you could also label by language (“Spanish”) or audience (“Kids”). In the video description, they included clickable links to visitor connection card and to giving page. Then they ran Facebook ads on the Facebook post of the service

Open video of online church service here.

To prepare, they tag certain people on social media and announce “Push party for tomorrow morning’s church service”

Push party for tomorrow morning’s church service … @nigelchanakira @mikemadoda @TeeKayZim @rabisonshumba @NewsDayZimbabwe @DailyNewsZim @HeraldZimbabwe @iMisred

— Celebration Churches International (@celebrationmin) April 4, 2020

During their 5-minute countdown, the make two cycles of promotion on each of the following: three radio programs (in 3 languages English, Shona. Ndebele), an English podcast “on your preferred podcast app,” a Thursday night message, a youth broadcast on Instagram Live. It has an ad “Singles (35 and up), Whatsapp the word “Single” to [phone #] to join the community.”

When countdown completes, announcer says “Welcome to [Church Name] Online. We are so glad that you joined us. We want you to share this broadcast with as many people as you can. We believe it will bless and encourage us all in this season. It showed icons for 1) thumbs up (FB) 2) Share (Youtube) 3) comment box. Remember to stay in touch with your loves ones, and to keep in touch with each other. The bible gives us a pattern to watch after each other. (Verse; and icons for Zoom, Whatsapp, Skype, and icon for their cell groups) His Sunday night “time of devotions with Pastor Tom” is geared towards radio audience. It then asks people to check in on Facebook or website to see new content. Share this with family and friends.” It shows call centre numbers for calling, texting, and Whatsapp. Announcer says “As a church, we are about people. If you need help, or prayer, or just someone to talk to, we are here for you. Call numbers on screen, or alternatively, send call me back message, and someone will call you back Remember: you are not alone. Together we will get through this season.” It then transitions with a request “Join us now for praise and worship”

The worship team opts for singing from a studio rather than from a stage. This gives them optimal sound. They also just show two people rather than their entire praise team. They show the words on the screen. The first song is English, and the second song is in Shona (with English subtitles) which someone from their church wrote.

As we continue in this atmosphere of worship, we want to give you an opportunity to prepare your tithes and offerings.” Then it lists giving information (options like giving via website, EFT banking info or mobile giving, bank transer, giving in foreign currency) Though its many numbers, it will be more useful to those who watch on replay and can pause the screen. Then it shows quickly how to give via website. After this, it makes an appeal for a missions project. Part of this is by a representative of that project, and part are video clips and image slideshow of the ministry itself. Then it provide giving information for that missions project.

Before the sermon, it has a brief encouraging and confident word from the pastors wife to fear not and trust the Lord, stay connected to the church, and create atmostphere of faith and praise. “Know that I’m praying for you. There is no distance in prayer.” It transitions again to “Join us in praise and worship” with another song. Then sermon.

Throughout most of the sermon, the screen shows the numbers for people to call or Whatsapp.

At end of sermon, it replays a worship song from earlier years. Then it reminds people to listen in for the 15 minute Sunday evening radio spot.

This video features a welcoming couple doing an introduction, a 10 minute pause (could be with background music) getting settled until the formal start of service,  a scaled down worship, couple doing announcements, then sermon. This seems engaged many viewers. It has a very simple non-distracting background.

Other “online church options” try to replicate typical Sunday services. This is not necessary. Avoid just putting on a production. Go authentically live and minister to people. Provide a platform for connection. They’ll want that interaction. Make videos seem natural even if you post-produce.

You’ll want to be aware of basic principles related to long-form videos.

1. Get your viewers to feel an emotion through story.
2. throw in a few unexpected parts to keep them engaged. This could be 1-2 illustrated video clips, 1st half of testimony (w/ second half shown at end).
3. Inspire a next step.
   1. Identify their pain points.
   2. Share riveting facts/testimonials to expose the depth of their problem,
   3. then propose the benefits and relief that God’s word provides.

To find out, search for Twitter account of your governor or state health department on Twitter to find a link to most recent statement concerning permission for drive-in church activities. You can also request help finding this, or perhaps search online or Facebook for other churches in your state that have done drive-in services to ask them. If you are one of the first one’s in your county to have drive-in church services, contact your county sheriff’s department or emergency management agency to coordinate with them. Also, check to see if local sound ordinances will be a factor.

Some states allow windows to be open. This can allow churches to use outdoor speakers, and allow cars roll down their windows if the weather is tolerable. If your services require open car windows, church volunteers and signage should direct traffic flow and make sure people are parking at least 6 feet apart. Another option for inclement weather or for states requiring closed windows is that your church can also broadcast via its own FM or AM radio transmitter (details below), though most now are on back-order.

Some states allow up to 10 people to be out of their vehicle at a time, including those on front platform. Church volunteers need to wipe down bathroom handles, door knobs, and microphones between uses. In some cases, you may choose to require that no one should leave vehicles for any reason, and require that people use the bathroom before coming, or leave the premises to use if needed.

Some states have removed the outdoor limitation, so that any attendee can sit in a lawn chair near their vehicles or on the back of their truck.

Samples are churches in Arlington, VA, Shenandoah,VA, Harrisonburg, VA, Front Royal, VA 1 Waynesboro, VA, Chesapeake, VA, Fredericksburg, VA, Lenexa, KS, Culloden, WV, Maumee, OH, Keyser, WV, Dola, WV

Megachurches: Tulsa, OK, Winnepeg, Manitoba (Canada) 1, Virginia Beach, VA

Those with drive-in services should still also make your service available for online audiences. This can also serve as a back-up plan due to rain or government restriction changes. Promote this drive-in service on your church’s Facebook or Youtube page or as a Facebook event. 

In most drive-in services, attendees honk instead of saying Amen or clapping. “Raise your hand out your car window and wave at each other. Honking the horn is an amen. Turning your lights on means you’re moved by the spirit.” says this Alabama minister.

Using advanced livestream tools, it is possible to switch to a lyric screen during worship songs. Here’s an example at 15 minute mark using OBS synchronized with ProPresenter (instructions). It is also possible to put the chyron and church logo, like this.

It could be in a church parking lot, a park, fairgrounds, at a hospital 1 2 or down by a river. Some say that having it off of church property can make it easier for people to visit from other churches. Depending on the location, some have had the preacher and worship team sing from a trailer, from a stage, from a platform scaffold, from the porch of the front door of the church, from the church roof, from a pickup truck, or even have the preacher high up on a scissor lift.

Whatever your solution, make sure that the wind does not blow on the microphones and overpower the audio. Consider getting wind screens for your microphone. Mics for headsets are also an option. All speakers and musicians on the outdoor platform should practice social distancing, and not sing towards each other. Here is an well-done safe example.

1. offering – Text to give, online giving, rectangular offering bucket that vehicles can drive by and drop in offering.
2. communion – Bring your own communion 1
3. Offering can be collected or communion cups (with wafer inside) can be delivered if an usher (wearing gloves) come with small container extended on rod. (eg. narrow swimming pool leaf skimmer, or mini dust pan attached to pole, or fruit picker) Those using poles should wipe down if anyone touches ending.
4. greeters – wear parking vest or special t-shirt (perhaps with radio frequency on it)
5. bulletins/worship slides – Have them email designated address (or text) to receive auto-response with bulletin and worship slides.
6. service duration – It could be same, or shorter. If longer, kids would need to stay home with one of the parents.

Make the rules clear, and reinforce with announcements from the platform, videos or images on social media, on the church website, and linked in emails and texts. Run these by the church board and factor in the needs of your congregation, any guidelines from your denomination (if applicable), and local and state restrictions.

“1. If any members of your household have not practiced social distancing or are sick with symptoms associated with COVID19, please stay at home! Please pray for your church family and make sure to care of yourself.

2. Please pay attention to the parking attendants (wearing safety vests) and follow their instructions as you approach the church building and park your car.

3. It will be chilly in the morning. Bring blankets and jackets for your comfort in your cars. Bring your own Bibles and well-charged cell phones if you wish to also watch livestream.

4 Every family unit stays at least 6 feet apart from other people, even if you are speaking or singing through an open car window. Do not mix. We can have no more than 10 people outside of vehicles (including pastor and volunteers) As much as possible, stay in your cars in order for us to be in compliance with federal and state guidelines.

5. Do not pick up or invite people or family members into your car who do not live with you. No one exchanges anything with other households. If any household member has not practiced physical distancing methods (eg. CDC) to avoid COVID19 infection during previous 2 weeks, then anyone from that household should attend in their designated or disinfected vehicle. Shared air in vehicles causes higher incidence of transmission than at home. 1

6. The church building will NOT be open, and no childcare will be available. No one should use the playground. Use the bathroom before you come. Bring snacks and quiet activities for kids.

7. We’re live-streaming, please keep your engine off the entire time of the drive-in church service. If you think you’ll need your engine on, park far away from the platform.

8. We will be taking an offering tomorrow. Your support is needed to help our church and our faith community to minister to those around us. You can drop the offering in the offering bucket, or you can flag an usher to bring a bucket (held out with a pole) for you to drop donation in. You can also text at [text giving info] in your donation.

We are excited to see what God will do tomorrow! May God Bless You!”

Rules revised from Lake Gaston A/G

For inclement weather, radio is better than live streaming because in rural area especially, the time lag of internet streaming is not as quick as low FM. The audio from radio is real-time, so that’s an ideal option. (sample use by a church in Florida) Some churches even get local radio stations to carry the service. “The service was aired on 92.1 WSVA and on Facebook.”

For those in USA: One pastor said:  “You don’t need a license. Part 15 of the FCC regulations allows low power transmitters. FM transmissions are regulated by field strength, AM transmissions are regulated by power.” For more info, you can join this Facebook group. The legal standard for the US in Ch I of FCC PART 15–RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES Subpart B–Unintentional Radiators Sec. 15.109 concerns radiated emission limits on fm is that you can not make a signal strength in the fm band that is “more than 150 microvolts per meter”.  Unlicensed FM microphones use 1/4 watt or so and some Drive-In theaters choose to remain unlicensed and use 1 watt or so to cover a larger area. Rarely does anyone receive a fine – though the FCC may drop in and ask someone to change channels and/or reduce power (change transmitter and/or antenna strength).  

If you purchase one, please make sure that it a) is for the FM frequency band (87.9 MHz to 108 MHz) and b) that it says that it is FCC Part 15 compliant.

 If you count on many to use internet streaming, provide external wifi access-points and blanket the parking-lot with the internet, and that those in their cars can stream the service. At a minimum, everyone doing drive-in should also either video record and upload to social media, or livestream  for those not present.

Phone conference Call audio quality could be used, but it would be pretty terrible for music.

Here are some potential radio transmitters you can order:

They have an outdoor antenna to reach all parking lot FM:  from Amazon 1 2 , 3. 4 https://wholehousefmtransmitter.com

AM: http://www.talkinghouse.com/

In the news: Time, WAVY

Insurance company statements Brotherhood