Tips on long-distance worshiping

Here’s a list of online resources to explore as you consider ways to worship during this time of social distancing. We’ll add to this list as needed. (Hat tip: North Carolina Conference of the UMC):
Livestreaming

• Facebook Live
  • Getting started: https://www.facebook.com/help/www/1636872026560015
     
  • Tips from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/facebookmedia/blog/tips-for-using-live
     
  • Local church guide (courtesy of the West Virginia UMC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EycdbaiFuio
     
  • Any size church can do it (Bobby Gilstrap): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNcIFnx67ys
     
• YouTube Live
  • Getting started: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2474026?hl=en
     
• Zoom teleconference
  • Getting started: https://zoom.us/home?https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362033-Getting-Started-on-Windows-and-Mac=2478
     
• Resources
  • Tips for Live Streaming Worship Services (hackingchristianity.com): http://hackingchristianity.net/2020/03/covid-19-lockdown-creating-live-streamed-worship-in-3-days.html
     
  • Tips for Using Livestream Worship with Children (Rachel Doboney Benton): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c8SjEolHfH6HtHah9Z-UHFCQoWLA_7aj/view
     
  • Worship in the Midst of Outbreak (greaternw.org): https://greaternw.org/worship-in-the-midst-of-an-outbreak/
     
  • Church Online Platform (Life.church): https://churchonlineplatform.com/
     

Prerecorded

• Record and upload to Facebook Premiere, Vimeo, YouTube, then share the link with your congregation. https://www.facebook.com/help/publisher/580544922399103, https://vimeo.com/, https://www.youtube.com/
   
• Repurpose older content: If you have sermons you’ve already shared or other content, consider steering people to it.
   

Audio

• Podcast
  • Share your sermon as a podcast (tips to get started: http://www.umcom.org/learn/3-free-steps-to-start-your-podcast-today)
     
  • The advantage podcasts have over live-streamed events is the ability to produce polished content without worrying about real-time technical glitches.
     
• Post your sermon on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/
   
• Google Drive: record, upload, and then share a link. If you have a Google account (such as a Gmail address), you have access to Google Drive.
   
• Host a conference call using FreeConferenceCall.com or a similar service. https://www.freeconferencecall.com/
   
• Phone tree: Use a service like OneCallNow (https://www.onecallnow.com/) or do it the old-fashioned way. Assign groups of telephone numbers to church members and have them reach out to share important information.
   

Email (or even snail mail!)
Email or mail sermon notes out to your congregants, such as sermons or notes, devotions, Sunday school lesson material., short liturgies, daily prayer guides, etc.


Website

• Make sure your church website is up to date with information about schedules, contact information, and other ways to stay connected.
   
• We have some techno-experts in the Kentucky Annual Conference, Mark Walz, the Director of Communications and Technology at St. Luke UMC in Lexington, who has been assisting churches in that area and will also assist and advise churches elsewhere  by phone. Email him at mwalz@stlukeumc.org.  And Craig Taylor, Pastor of Stovall UMC in Radcliff of the Heartland District.  You can contact him via email at craigtaylor13@gmail.com (If there are others in the Conference who can assist, please reach out to us and we will list you here, as well.)

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More resources can be found under Helpful Links too.