merefaith: discipleship in the ruins of empire

Over the years, various Christian communities have experimented with digital spaces that imitate online the elements and practices of the Church's embodied worship. Of all the "virtual chapels" I have come across, the richest and most interesting was put together by The Methodist Church in Britain. It featured a visual simulation of a Methodist church combined with a sort of chatroom feature. People could come and go, place themselves in the church as virtual parishioners, and talk during the service (as the Spirit lead, of course). All the while, a British Methodist liturgy continued its uninterrupted journey.

After following a link from Jacob's blog, I came across this virtual replication of an Orthodox iconostasis fronted by two candlestands. There, following the custom in Orthodox churches, one may pick up a candle from the side, light it, and place it on the stand as a visible sign of one's prayer intentions. A short playlist of Orthodox chant completes the experience. I remain very happily non-Orthodox, but I almost want to say that this program tops the prayer request page we're working on for our church web site. I only almost because, while lacking this high-sensory experience, our received prayer requests will receive intercession, after all...

Click on the picture below to light your candle.

Labels: Liturgy

Posted by Chris Schelin on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at Tuesday, November 17, 2009 | Permalink