"With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have an opportunity to press the reset button in this segregation phenomenon. ...Families now have to worship online under the same roof and, perhaps, even the same living room. This is a very rare opportunity for children to see their parents worship."
—Dr. Herbert Tsang, Professor of Computing Science and Mathematics, President of Church Music Ministry Canada
In today's context of remote meetings, Dr. Herbert Tsang has observed how using a mix of digital and traditional methods can be effective to help community members stay connected.
Dr. Tsang is Professor of Computing Science and Mathematics at TWU. He is also President of Church Music Ministry Canada, and his passions are congregational singing and intergenerational worship. For over fifteen years, he has written a monthly column on Christian worship for Chinese Christians in North America. He has also published a number of worship books and resources.
When considering how COVID-19 has influenced churches and worshipers, Dr. Tsang remarked:
"Many years ago, families, toddlers, couples, children, seniors, singles, grandparents, parents, etc., commonly worshipped together. Unfortunately, the societal trend toward separation has crept into the church. Most churches have a separate service for the children, the seniors, the teens, and the adults. It is not unusual for children growing up in a church to reach adulthood before they join the adult worship. They do not experience worship an intergenerational setting regularly throughout the years."
He feels that more can be done to help communities come together during corporate worship, particularly across generational divides. "Churches should encourage all ages within its community to worship together," he said. "Through corporate worship, faith communities welcome persons from different life situations, different experiences, and varied abilities.They benefit from each other’s gifts, care for each other’s needs, and worship the Triune God together. When the intergeneration congregation worships together, the church has opportunities to minister to its children."
Dr. Tsang affirmed the value of including children in coporate worship: "Sometimes children cannot stay still or fully comprehend everything that is happening. However, worshiping God is not about a musical performance with flawless execution or an eloquent sermon. Instead, the 'full, conscious, and active' participation of each congregational member should be the goal."
He continued, "When we welcome children into our worship, we are welcoming God as well. As Jesus himself said, 'Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me' (Mk 9:37). To welcome everyone to the service, we might have to adjust our planning so that everyone can participate. If we can do that, we send a message of the importance of inclusion and participation in worship."
See also: Dr. Herbert Tsang's interview with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Although the global pandemic has led to the restriction of large gatherings for corporate worship, it has presented some new opportunities as well. As Dr. Tsang noted, "With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have an opportunity to press the reset button in this segregation phenomenon. Many months ago, we were thrust into a 'new normal' where worship in the church’s physical space was suspended indefinitely."
"Families now have to worship online under the same roof and, perhaps, even the same living room. This is a very rare opportunity for children to see their parents worship," he noted.
He encouraged families to take advantage of this time to be together, in worship practices. "Parents, let us use this opportunity to see if we can incorporate our children into the next Sunday’s worship," he said. "Welcome them to sit with us and allow them to participate. For worship leaders, some adjustments may have to be made to ensure all ages will feel welcome to the worship service."
He concluded, "Each congregation needs to find its own balance centered around the needs of the intergenerational congregation. Then everyone will receive the message: 'all welcomed!'”
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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Photo by National Cancer Institute via Unsplash.