Brethren Calling – Brethren Telephone “Service”
Champaign Church of the Brethren faces the same issue of the drop in attendance that occurs as members spend time in therapy centers after a fall or injury, move into assisted living situations, take fewer driving or walking risks in inclement weather or when failing energy and health prevent members from attending worship or small groups.
Deacon visits and mailing bulletins are some of the ways that we have kept members in the loop. Audio CD and DVD copies of the Sunday worship service are others. Not all the missing members are familiar with or have the technology to use some of the newer devices.
This is where the Telephone “Service” comes in, and why there are sometimes cell phones on the pulpit. Members attending service use their cell phones and 3 way calling to connect to 2 missing members who are the able to “attend” service in real time by using the speaker phone button on their home phones.
During a snow storm this past winter, when a 10” snow fall kept some members away, missing members were called on the phone and they were able to listen to the service on their telephones.
Along with keeping temporarily home bound members engaged in church activities this method has the added benefit of being a “no cost” "soul_ution", as many cell phone carriers provide free nights and week end service and incoming calls to land lines are also free.
God has provided all the tools we need to help His people come together to worship!
Things we have learned:
If possible mail bulletins at mid week for the coming Sunday.
Have all comments and prayer request spoken into a microphone so that they are not muffled for the phone attendees.
Call a few minutes early and pass the phone around so that members can greet one another as they would if they were in the building.
Remember charge up your battery the night before and after service.
Using 3 way calling allows two missing members to speak with one another and fellowship over the phone line too.
submitted by Dawn Blackmon
<< Home