As many of us discovered, online worshipping offers a suitable alternative to in-person church services. Without it, the past year would have been even more difficult. Still, online isn't the same as in-person worship, and it can never be. While virtual services somewhat capture the vibrancy of in-person attendance, it can't recreate it completely.
Something is lost when you have no choice but to worship exclusively outside the usual church environment, we're most familiar with and profoundly cherish. There's no substitute for encountering face-to-face greetings and the warm embraces they often provide. You cannot experience virtually the sensation felt in person when the first chords of music are played, and the congregation joins in. The absence is particularly profound if you happen to be a choir member, director, or one of the many musicians who faithfully contribute to church services and music programs.
Undoubtedly, you will also miss the wonderful ambiance of the church sanctuary which adds a spiritual depth and meaning that can only be experienced sitting in a pew, walking through the vestibule, or sharing a meal in the social hall and observing the delight of children. That spiritually uplifting atmosphere is a gift from God delivered by church architects, who meticulously create building or remodeling plans that respect traditional models but are also fully customized to meet the modern needs of each church community.
Speaking as a church architect, I can say the primary mission is to build structures that will touch and inspire people and families. The church is fundamental to how we live, and it is our church home and community, usually for generations. Church architects strive to build churches that are a joy to visit, and when they succeed, the entire church body reaps the rewards.
Online is Great, but In-Person is Even Better
No one should minimize the importance of online services. They've kept churches open during the pandemic and allowed worshippers to continue practicing the spiritual and religious traditions that are vital.
For now, they will remain a superb option for those who are unable to attend an in-person service. Virtual services may have even provided pastors and church administrators with innovative digital recordings and broadcasting technology to reach new or shut-in members. The willingness of church leaders to find creative ways for their members to participate remotely indicates how deeply they value the entire church body and the sacredness of the experience. These are good arguments in favor of online worshipping.
Gathering and connecting in person is more powerful than clicking a link to connect ever will. The vital energy that occurs when people join together and occupy the same space can't be experienced virtually. There's nothing like joining together with an entire congregation attending a beautiful church service, prayer, and sermon, not to mention listening to the most inspiring music imaginable. The past 18 months have been challenging to bear despite how necessary they may have been. Everyone has been looking forward to the restrictions being lifted to return to their everyday routines. This means being free to go where they usually go and meet and socialize with friends, family members, and neighbors. This strong desire to get out and be with people in friendly, uplifting, and familiar environments couldn't be more accurate, especially in church environments. Online options are great to have, but they won't satisfy the longing that most of us desire to return to our church homes among our church families.
A Timeless Architecture
Church architects are in the process of adjusting to the new normal. We're producing master plans for new churches that will be online-friendly, making it easy for churches to record or live stream their services with good lighting, sound, and visual background.
But whatever adjustments this entails, our fundamental responsibility will remain the same: To create warm and inviting spaces where people can congregate in a house where the Holy Spirit can be felt as a living presence.
People have been attending church in person for centuries, welcoming the opportunity to be a part of a spiritual social community. As a place of fellowship, the church offers one of life's most exhilarating and timeless experiences, one that is as important to the faithful in the 21st century as it was to worshippers who came to sit in the pews of the great cathedrals hundreds of years ago.