A “Generational” Moment

Dear Partners in Mission:

“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24

The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus has created a “generational” moment. These are moments—like 9/11, the Challenger explosion, Kent State, the Kennedy assassination—that can be simply referred to in a word or short phrase but evoke vivid memories and emotions.

What is somewhat unique about this moment is that it is being fully shared worldwide. No part of our global community is untouched, either by this disease or its economic and social ramifications. This moment is also unique in that it isn’t an instant event, that then creates reaction; instead, it is unfolding over days, weeks, and months. While along the way there are multiple points of significance, we are going to be living this “generational” moment for quite some time.

This duration is important. This moment is going to be more like a marathon than a sprint.

We honestly prefer the sprint. It is intense, difficult … but over relatively quickly. While both require intense training and discipline, completing the marathon requires the athlete to combine physical and mental strength to have patience, adapt, and learn along the course as conditions and their own body changes.

What does this analogy mean for us as members of the body of Christ in this moment? Continue reading this message from Bishop Gronberg.

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COVID-19 Resources

With everything changing so quickly, and so that we’re not continuing to email everyone multiple times per week, we have created a single webpage that we will update as needed:

COVID-19

 

Items on this page are listed in date order, with the latest post first, so that you can see at a quick glance what you have missed since the last time you accessed the page. We pray this helps us all as we live into a new reality around worship and community.

Important note: We have included resources for how to facilitate online worship and other gatherings. Here’s one example: https://get.tithe.ly/blog/virtual-church-live-streaming. For some of our congregations, moving online for worship is beyond their technical capabilities. As such, we have also created a page with information about congregations that are already offering, or beginning to offer, online options: https://www.ntnl.org/online-worship/. Let’s worship together.

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Zoombombing and Why You Should Care

If you are hosting Zoom meetings, please take the time to read this TechCrunch article: Beware of ‘ZoomBombing:’ screensharing filth to video calls.

The world is vulnerable to a new type of trolling as people turn to Zoom video calls to feel connected amidst quarantines. Jerks are using Zoom’s screensharing feature to blast other viewers with the most awful videos from across the internet, from violence to shocking pornography. Continue reading.

This can be a problem in open events, which are likely to be used in Zoom worship and other virtual meetings / gatherings. Only allowing folks to participate by registration lessens the dangers but is also not welcoming the way we likely want to be.

Check out Preventing Zoombombing from our friends in the SEIA Synod for a 5-minute video tutorial to walk you through several recommended prevention steps.

If leaders or congregations are hosting Zoom events, here are a few important notes and suggestions:

• any open Zoom event is truly open, you can be found and entered with no authentication
• the host needs to be sure that taking over presentation mode by any participant is turned off
• especially if the host is presenting during the broadcast, it’s good practice to have someone watching for unacceptable activity, including on camera and in chat; this is good practice anyway to allow for the most engagement by participants

Bishop Gronberg:

Leaders: COVID-19 Resources, ELCA Coaching, Worship Online, and more!

(https://www.ntnl.org/leaders-covid-19-resources-elca-coaching-worship-online-and-more/ – published Mar. 17)

COVID-19 Guidelines, Recommendations, And Resources

(https://www.ntnl.org/covid-19-guidelines-recommendations-and-resources/ – published Mar. 17)

Sunday Morning Going Live Online

(https://www.ntnl.org/sunday-morning-going-live-online/ – published Mar. 22)

Pastor Smith:

Briarwood Summer Update

(https://www.ntnl.org/bw-summer-update/ – published Mar. 19)

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Where in the world is?

Based on recommendations from public health officials, and to live out our call to love and protect “the least of these,” Bishop Gronberg, Pastor Totzke, and Pastora Bañales are suspending all congregational visits, in-person meetings, and travel until further notice. They will continue to meet with individuals and groups virtually. Though many buildings are closed, the church is all of us, and ministry continues.