Virtual Worship Resources
Guidelines and Helpful Tips
All COVID restrictions have been lifted by the Diocesan Standing Committee. Click here to read the announcement.
Virtual Worship
Prayer
A Morning at the Office – Daily morning prayer including the Daily Office readings. This is available online or in your Podcast App.
Mission St. Clare – Daily morning and evening prayer and daily devotions. The website works well from the computer. If you are using your smart phone we recommend downloading the Mission St. Clare App.
Diocesan Prayer Cycle-Join others from around the Diocese as we pray daily for our Bishop, clergy and the various ministries in the Diocese of Albany. Some churches are also doing daily parish prayer prompts using email and social media.
Online Book of Common Prayer – In case you do not own a Prayer Book, here is a link to the BCP online.
Study
Bible Gateway – In case you do not have a Bible at home, you can access it online. You can also contact your parish leaders, they may be able to bring you a Bible.
Truth for Life with Alistair Begg – Truth For Life’s mission is to teach the Bible with clarity and relevance. Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. He has written several books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. You can listen online, on the radio or subscribe to his Podcast.
Bible in On Year with Nicky Gumble – Start your day with the Bible in One Year, a free Bible reading app with commentary by Nicky and Pippa Gumbel. Nicky Gumbel is the Vicar of HTB in London and pioneer of Alpha.
Beaver Cross Ministries – Fun, Jesus-centered programming for youth during this situation.
Other Resources
Cleaning Guidance for Houses of Worship Attached please find guidelines from the New York State Department of Health for cleaning churches
Resources for Conducting Email Voting for Vestry Meetings
In 2014, the New York State Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, which pertains to religious institutions, was revised for the first time in many decades. The change that could impact the parish vestry during this time concerns decisions and actions taken by the vestry:
- Vestry actions using email as the voting mechanism for such actions are only valid if 100% of the vestry participates and the decision is unanimous.
- If 100% of the vestry does not participate in the email (i,e, doesn’t have access to email, chooses not to participate in this manner) or all participate but an email vote is not unanimous, a meeting is required.
- Under the law, meetings may occur in person or by video or teleconference or some combination thereof.
- Actions taken by email or video or teleconference should be memorialized in the next in-person meeting of the vestry.
