迫不得已的網上崇拜？
作者：劉凝慧 2020年2月16日
因著疫情的發展，香港眾教會的教牧同工需要應付突發的情況，一面關心疫情，一面關顧弟兄姊妹及有需要的肢體與鄰舍，不停開會，討論對策及應變安排，發佈消息，研究教會如何可持續作社區見證，卻又保持群體的敬拜生活，實在疲於奔命。在此時刻，教會紛紛需因時制宜地思考或開始進行網上崇拜。這方面對於眾教會來說未必是熟悉的操作，極之需要人力物力、計劃與測試、檢討與調整。近日亦有同工向筆者查詢有關進行網上崇拜事宜，筆者盼望以此文初探網上崇拜所牽涉的不同範圍與影響，絕對不是想要加重眾教牧的負擔，只是提供可思考及實踐的方向。深信若我們已盡了最大努力去獻上最好，神必定會悅納眾人的擺上。
有關 'Technology is not neutral’（科技不是中立的）這概念的文章及書籍已有不少，主要都是提醒我們應帶著批判的態度使用科技。因此，教會更應審慎使用科技，在牧養及造就弟兄姐妹靈命的方面加以考慮。迫不得已進行的網上崇拜應如何進行也是一個關乎神學、牧養及靈命培育的課題。雖然我們或許會認為疫情總會過去，此舉也只是暫時做法，但作為認真跟隨基督的教會，想必會常反思行事的利與弊。如要進行網上崇拜，在資源與能力許可之下，各教會或許亦可以再加考慮以下數點，以幫助會眾能於這非常時期，仍然能專一敬拜我們的三一真神，亦不失群體敬拜的精神。
1. 崇拜是神子民分別為聖與神相會的時刻
專心一意敬拜神
如要會眾不能親身在教會參與的時候仍能一同敬拜神，教會應先考慮進行實時直播。這做法讓在電腦前參與的弟兄姐妹即使在不同地點，卻能思想相同、意念相同地同一時間敬拜神，有助強化群體的意識。帶領者亦能憑信心及聖靈的引領作出合適的帶領與禱告，此舉令會眾仍可實時（甚至充滿期待地）以身心靈投入與其他會眾一同參與。
為何只是實時播放
在實時直播後，即使影片仍存在，會眾其實只是「觀看」著螢幕中崇拜的進行，而非正式「參與」任何與群體一起作的行動（或需要更大的信心與想像力）。故此，如情況許可，崇拜聚會原則上應只作實時播放（且直播與錄播的詩歌版權處理或有不同要求），講道部分則可按教會平時做法處理（如上載到教會網頁）。教會也可注意在文字上及報告中如何帶出崇拜的意義，如使用「參與實時網上崇拜」，而避免使用「收看崇拜」或「睇崇拜影片」等字眼。
不預先錄影的牧養考慮
另外，預先錄影而可任由會眾隨意選擇時間「觀看」的崇拜（甚至明顯經剪接的錄影片段），除了未能讓會眾感受到與教會群體一起敬拜外，更會容易讓會眾有「崇拜是可以隨自己時間參與的」、「崇拜是我個人的事」、「崇拜是一個節目」的誤解，這也有可能造成日後回復現場崇拜時難以改變的心態。
保持敬拜群體的應有本質
故在資源許可下，教會可以考慮以原本的堂數時段進行實時直播，以致不會輕易改變崇拜的定時（分別為聖）及群體參與的應有本質，而崇拜流程及內容也不宜因使用了網上媒介而變得過份簡化，與平日的崇拜截然不同。同時也可考慮加強代禱的部分，求神在逆境中賜下信心與盼望，祈求神的旨意成全。
2. 崇拜是全體會眾都要投入參與的聚會
會眾如要投入參與崇拜，必需明白崇拜所為何事。崇拜非一般在待辦事項清單上只待我們完成的事項，更非只為了聽一堂令自己有所得著的精彩講道，而是要藉著與神相遇的經歷更新與神的關係，回應神的呼召，提醒我們有另一個現實的存在。
如何參與網上崇拜
因此，要進行「網上崇拜」之先，教會可考慮在崇拜開始前幾分鐘（或以其他途徑），簡單講解或教導崇拜進行期間期望會眾如何參與，將時間與空間分別為聖，專心敬拜神，例如：穿著合適衣服、在安靜的房間內、有合適的空間（可按需要站立及坐下）、關掉手機或其他電子產品、預先下載程序表、預備聖經或紙筆等，開口唱詩或讀金句等、如何參與奉獻、專心參與直至崇拜完結（預先告知家人不要打擾、邀請家人一同專心參與、親子一同參與或預先安排小童的照顧）等。此外，教會也可鼓勵弟兄姊妹寫下崇拜或講道回應，除可幫助弟兄姊妹在崇拜中保持專注外，日後大家回望此段非常期間的筆記，必能驚訝上帝的恩典與帶領。
3. 藝術與科技為崇拜而服務
影象播放
所有出現或用於崇拜的東西都只是媒介，是為了崇拜的目的而存在或被使用。崇拜不是演藝節目或娛樂節目，鏡頭的運用更應與音樂節目及綜藝節目有所不同。因為崇拜不是以人為中心，亦不是以音樂為中心，每一個會眾看到的畫面都應是使他們更專心敬拜（包括合適的光暗度、人像清晰度及聲量等），更塑造出敬拜的意義的畫面（在不同的程序會眾的焦點應是甚麼內容）。教會可盡量避免以追求娛樂或「精彩」（fascinating）為主導。會否令會眾感到沉悶應不是鏡頭運用的主要考慮因素，只要把崇拜的意義借畫面的內容帶出，定能幫助會眾投入崇拜。
詩歌頌唱
如使用一位領唱者帶領頌唱的模式，教會需留意會眾在電腦中只能聽到領唱者的聲音，而非平時崇拜中全體會眾的歌聲。因此，可考慮在詩歌部分，由一小撮在會眾席的同工或義工組成的詩歌小組一同頌唱，影音同工在收音時也包括他們的聲音，讓會眾可感受到與其他弟兄姊妹一同頌唱詩歌，加強群體的意識。
簡報投影
簡報或會成為網上崇拜使會眾投入參與的重要一環，如因作網上崇拜而需要比平時崇拜額外使用簡報的教會，可留意以下各項建議：
1. 簡報頁的轉換需要特別留心，太早（上一程序未完成已出下一程序的簡報等）或太遲（需要加入頌唱詩歌時仍未轉頁等）都會影響會眾的參與。
2. 如不需要任何簡報內容的程序或時刻，建議使用全黑頁或其他形式的「空白頁」（並不是每一時刻都需要顯示一些東西的，重點是幫助會眾投入於當時當刻的敬拜行動中）。
3. 使用詩歌及禱文的版權要求，註明出處等事宜。
4. 簡報中的歌詞，因為多數未有歌譜，會眾或難於掌握音樂的節拍，故此，製作簡報時不妨加上一些簡單提示，例如：一字兩音的歌詞加上破折號或其他符號，突然有幾個急速的音用下劃線或其他符號表達等。通常一個群體習慣了這些符號便能更容易掌握如何頌唱詩歌，當然，領唱者仍需要有充足預備，並肯定地作出帶領。
個人私隱
此外，由於網上崇拜理論上是向所有人公開的，牧者及領袖需要更謹慎注意弟兄姊妹及宣教士的私隱，包括代禱事項及講道例子中提及的事情與細節等，應事先徵得有關弟兄姊妹同意方才公開。
結語
讓我們都在非一般的疫情蔓延時，繼續以敬虔的心敬拜全地的主，看每一次崇拜（不論現場或迫不得已的網上直播崇拜）為獨一無二、分別為聖，甚至是生命中最後一次的崇拜，那麼我們便會期待與投入，曉得珍惜與感恩。
深信疫情不能使我們與基督的愛隔絕，
也不能使我們敬拜上帝的心減退，
求主憐憫幫助我們，
並悅納我們真誠的敬拜！
Unavoidable On-line Worship?
Yvette Lau | Feb 16, 2020
Due to the development of the coronavirus situation, the pastors in Hong Kong need to deal with unexpected circumstances. Not only that they need to keep track of the development, they also need to take care of the brothers and sisters, and neighbors who are in need. Pastors are overwhelmed by endless meetings for contingency plans and strategies, communications, discussions on how the church can consistently be the witness in the community and at the same time, maintain the communal worship life. They are exhausted indeed. In order to cope with the challenge as the situation demands, churches have to consider or start on-line worship services. This may be a new territory for the churches and demands man power and material resources, planning and tests, evaluation and adjustment. Since I have been asked about the issues concerning on-line worship recently, I hope that this article can provide some preliminary thoughts on the different scopes and impacts of on-line worship services. My intention is not to add burdens for the pastors but to suggest some perspectives for thinking and practices. I believe that if we have offered our best endeavor, it would definitely be acceptable to God.
There are already articles and books on the concept ‘technology is not neutral’. The main theme is to remind us that we ought to be discerning with critical mind when applying technology. Therefore, churches ought to be extra cautious when using technology and consider the pastoral care and spiritual formation aspects involved. The issue of how to conduct the unavoidable on-line worship is indeed an issue involving theology, pastoral care and spiritual formation. Though we may think that the gathering of the worship services will resume soon and on-line worship is only a temporary measure, as churches following Christ dearly, we need to reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of the things that we are doing. If on-line worship is to be held, when resources and strengths allowed, churches may consider the below suggestions in order to help the congregation to worship the Triune God with the same mind and maintain the communal worship spirit.
1. God’s People is Set Apart to Encounter with God in Worship
Worshipping God in Unity
If we hope that the congregants, though they cannot participate in the worship physically, can still worship together, churches may first consider the option of live-stream in real time. This option enables the brothers and sisters, even in front of the screens of the computers in different venues, to worship at the same time and with the same mind and thought, and thus fostering the sense of community. The worship leaders can also lead with faith and be led by the Holy Spirit for appropriate words and prayers. This practice still enables the congregants to worship with other members in real time (with zealous expectation) and be engaged in body, soul and mind.
Why only real-time live-stream
After the live-stream, even though the video still exists, the congregants will only be able to ‘watch’ what is happening in the worship on the screen but not really ‘participating’ in any actions with the community (or maybe demanding them greater faith and imagination). Thus, in principle, when situation permits, worship services should be held in real-time only (and there may be different requirements for the copyrights of the songs in cases of live-stream or recorded version) and the sermon can be uploaded to the website of the church if that is the normal practice. Church leaders should pay attention as how they are to bring out the meaning of worship in their wordings and announcements. It will be preferable to use phrases such as ‘participating in the real-time on-line worship’ rather than ‘watching the worship services’ or ‘watching the worship videos’ etc.
The Pastoral Concern for Pre-recorded Worship Services
For the pre-recorded worship (or even with obvious editing) which allows the congregants to freely choose a time to ‘watch’ it, not only that the congregants would not have the sense of worshipping with the church community, it will also lead to misconceptions of worship easily, such as ‘I will worship when I am free’, ‘worship is a personal matter’, ‘worship is a program’ etc. This may also encourage irremediable attitudes when the churches resume the on-site worship later.
Preserving the Quality of the Worshipping Community
Therefore, when there are sufficient resources, churches can consider to live-stream their worship services at the same time as originally scheduled and thus not easily changing the regularity (setting apart) and the quality of communal participation. The flow and content of the worship should not be drastically simplified and vastly different from the usual practices when switching to the use of digital media. The intercessory prayers can be enriched and deepened in this time to pray that God will grant us faith and hope in adversities and may God’s will be done.
2. Worship Demands the Full Participation of All Congregants
The congregation ought to understand the meaning of worship before they can fully participate in it. And worship is not something on our to-do-list for a check, nor is it a sophisticated sermon from which we can acquire something. To worship is to renew our relationship with God through our encounter with God, to respond to God’s calling, and to be reminded that there exists another reality.
How to Participate in On-line Worship Services
Therefore, churches can briefly explain or teach about the expectation for the participation of the congregants a few minutes right before the worship services begins (or through other channels), including how to set apart time and space to worship God with concentration. Reminders can be like: wearing suitable clothes, finding a quiet room, having appropriate space (for sitting or standing as instructed), turning off cell phones or other digital products, downloading the bulletin in advance, finding a Bible or paper and pens, participating by singing aloud or reciting verses, making offering as directed, staying focused until the end of the worship service (briefing family members not to disturb in advance, inviting family members to join the worship, having kids to join the worship or arranging baby-sitting in advance) etc. Besides, churches may also invite brothers and sisters to write down their sermon notes or reflections. This practice will not only help them to concentrate during the service, and will also prompt them to praise and thank God for His grace and leading during this special period of time when they look back.
3. Arts and Technology for the Purpose of Worship
Visual Images
Everything appears or being used in a worship service is merely a medium and their existence or usage is for the purpose of the worship service. A worship service is neither a performance nor an entertainment program and thus the use of the camera should be different from that of a music program or variety show. Since a worship service is not centered on people nor music, what the congregants see from the screen should be something which directs them to worship more dearly (including optimal lighting, clarity of image and dynamics etc.) and brings out the meaning of worship (what the foci of the worship acts in different parts of the service are about). Churches may avoid being directed by the pursuit of entertainment or fascination. Whether the congregants will feel bored or not, should not be the primary consideration of the use of the camera. When we can bring out the meaning of worship through the camera, this should definitely aid the congregants to participate in the worship services.
Singing
For churches which are having one worship leader upfront for the songs, it is noteworthy that the congregants at home can only listen to the leader’s voice but not the usual communal singing in a worship service. Therefore, churches can consider to include the singing voices of the few on-site pastors or volunteers during the singing parts so that the congregants may have a group singing experience to foster the sense of community.
PowerPoint
The use of PowerPoint may become an important part to engage the congregants. So for the churches that will use the PowerPoint extensively more because of on-line worship, below are some suggestions:
1. Paying extra attention to the page turn. Turning both too early (showing the next slide when the current act is still not yet finished) or too late (needing to sing the next line but still not yet turned the page) will affect the participation of the congregants.
2. When no PowerPoint is needed for the current act or moment, the PowerPoint can show a black or blank page in whatever form (we do not need to show something all the times and the main concern is to help the congregants to be engaged in the worship act at the moment).
3. List out the required copyright information for the songs and prayers.
4. Since the lyrics projected on the screen usually is without the score and the rhythm of the songs may not be easily grasped by the congregants, therefore, some simple symbols may be used when preparing the PowerPoint files, e.g. adding a ‘-‘ to indicate two music notes for one syllable, a cluster of a few fast syllables may be underlined etc. Usually, when the congregants get used to a system of symbols, this will enhance their singing, but of course, the worship leader should always be prepared and lead with confidence.
Personal Privacy
Since the on-line worship services are open to all in theory, pastors and leaders should be extra cautious for the privacy of the brothers and sisters, and missionaries in particular when related matters are to be mentioned in prayer items or examples in sermons. Prior approval should be secured before announcing the information or details in public.
Conclusion
May we all continue to worship the Lord of all the earth with fervent hearts in this time of epidemic situation and regard each worship service as unique, being set apart, and even the last worship in our lives. Then, we will worship with expectation and engagement, and we will cherish the worship and be grateful.
We believe that the epidemic situation
cannot separate us from the love of Christ,
And cannot diminish our hearts to worship God.
May the Lord have mercy on us and help us,
And accept our honest worship!