Posted this on another UC site. They don't like to laugh there. That's what makes me think it isn't very funny.

It is funny in that it is a "reductio ad absurdum" on our social media and technology obsessed culture. I did chuckle a little as I read it.

It is not funny in that I can actually see someone trying something like it and that would not be a service that I would want to attend.

Mendalla

can't stop curious, insatiable, inventive, absurd humanity :3

i look forward to such things:

as Muslim congregants in space knowing which direction to pray based on their 'Mecca App'

Hindu congregants who have genetically modified themselves to have animal characteristics

Jewish congregants acknowledging their pig-chimpanzee heritage and selling bacon at Temple

Anglican congregants who have go to their church in age regressed (minors) bodies

Catholics walking around in bodies with beautiful wings (bat or feathered)...

Congregants who, when listening to a sermon, have a brain app that immediately gives hypertextmedia links...

Voluntary holy wars, based around the ancient traditions of taking the piss/playing the dozens...

The world is changing.  Moment by moment...

look what some Catholics are doing

Tiny Saints

ah well.  some people just take themselves too seriously :3

know your audience :3

There's a UC site that doesn't like to laugh? Say it ain't so!

I didn't find it to be rolling on the floor stuff. I smiled a couple of times. A lot of it's familiar. There are already attempts at online churches (not exactly what this is about) and at least one church that I know of in Second Life (I think it's Episcopalian, but I'm not sure), although I'm not into Second Life, and someone once made a proposal to Niagara Presbytery that we consider establishing a Second Life church. We didn't. Out of curiosity I did set up a Second Life account because I wanted to check the church I had heard of out, but frankly I couldn't figure the thing out - certainly couldn't figure out where the church was.

As to the post, I can imagine even now that some (especially younger folk) bring their tablets with them instead of a Bible, there are certainly people who only watch, listen to or read the sermon on the internet, many churches now have "donate" buttons for poeple to give online. Online prayer requests, Facebook pages, online Bible studies, pastoral care through social media - all happening. The post just has it all put together in a sort of recognizable (in the "old-fashioned" way) service form.

As Steven just said, on-line churches already exist. And some congregations have one "modern" and one "traditional" service on Sunday morning. I never went to one of those "modern" services, and have always wondered what goes on there. If it is anything like like crazyheart's parody, though, then I'll stay away.

I posted it when they were talking about offering plates at the door instead of passing.

My understanding of "modern" vs. "Traditional" is that it more about the format of the service and the music. Traditional is your classic three-part liturgy with traditional church music. Modern is looser in form and heavy on gospel, praise bands, and other more contemporary musical styles. My UU fellowship kind of skirts the line. Sometimes we are rather traditional (by UU standards of traditional), others we veer into fairly contemporary territory (e.g. back when we had enough jazz musicians in the congregation that we could put together a jazz band for the odd service).

Mendalla

Instead of bringing in a sheet of paper with his notes on it, my minister has been known to keep his sermon notes on his tablet, which he places on a stand. That's never bothered me, but I must admit that it was a little weird the first time or two that he read the Bible from there!

crazyheart, I find it interesting that you made this about a Pastor. Is it not just as likely to happen with a Minister in a UCCanada congregation.

I'm pretty sure she didn't write this Jae - I'm guessing she copied and pasted it from another source.

Why do you assume that the word "pastor" isn't used in the United Church. I use both. Many of my parishioners refer to me as "the pastor." I generally introduce myself to people as "the pastor," after which I tell them that they're welcome to call me "Steve," although in anything formal I would use "Rev." I agree that "Reverend" is more common, but "pastor" is not uncommon.

Also, I agree that the story is printed as she found it. She didn't "make it" about a pastor. It's simply written that way. I think you're looking for reasons to be offended.

do people call you Revered Elder yet?

Jae, it is not likely to happen in any congregation regardless of the denomination. It is a parody of modern times.

While this is a joke, it does have some basis in truth of what is happening in many churches now as we switch to the use of modern technology.

PAR is an example. People preauthorize the church to take a designated amount out of their bank account electronically rather than put the cash on the offering plate.

Technology projecting images, hymns, readings on the screen at the front of the church rather than printed in hymn books or bulletins, and/or read from the pulpit.

Technology in recording the service and making it available on-line.

On-line prayer and discussion groups.

and the list goes on.

Of course it does.

I chair Board meetings with The Manual open on my e-reader in front of me.

PAR is a bit awkward for the ushers. I always recommend my system. Give roughly half of what you plan to give in a year via par. Make up the rest with offering envelopes/donations. It eases the pain of the Treasurer if you give a significant amount by PAR, eases your budgetting woes if you can shuffle a bit.

It was in an e-mail. I received. Im not that literate is computer speakese.

I could have changed it to reverend, pastor, rabbi, father- what difference does a name make?

Thanks, Mendalla, I sort of guessed that. Maybe I should give one of those modern services a try.

One option used in some churches is to have PAR cards (they look like business cards) available to pick-up at the back of the church before service. That way those donating by PAR can simply drop a card in the offering plate to show they are supporting the church digitally. The cards can be re-used many times. You can usually order these for free from UCRDstore.ca, but they are currently out of stock.