Online Worship and Being Present

My mom is recovering from a bout of pneumonia that landed her in the hospital; she's still not strong enough to go to church.  Happily, the local Lutheran church streams their service, so yesterday at 9:45, Mom, Dad, and I gathered around the computer.  The church provides a bulletin, and the bulletin has all the music, so we were able to sing and participate that way.

As with most online worship that I've experienced, it still didn't offer much in the way of interactive activities.  But then again, much onground worship can be the same.  I heard more voices singing around me in the study yesterday than I often do when I'm singing in a congregation--we're just too spread out.

Later in the day, we had a knock at the door--someone from church delivering the altar flowers to Mom.  They are beautiful:

 

Even later in the day, I rearranged the remaining bouquets from last week:  fading roses and the other flowers that anchor bouquets and last forever.  

To be fair, the roses have outlasted their usual time.

We have had non-floral forms of good wishes, like lots and lots of get well cards.  There have been get well wishes in the form of baked goods:  a blueberry pie, a square of gingerbread, and some sort of oatmeal bar frosted with peanut butter.  

My favorite is what my uncle, my mom's brother, has been doing.  Every morning, he sends her a text with a link to a hymn or a song, and often a cheerful/cheering up message.  One morning it was "Zippity Do Da," with a text that wished her plenty of sunshine heading her way.  One morning, it was "Beautiful Savior."  Both my mom and my uncle have been involved with church music their whole lives, so it's interesting to see the daily choices, interesting to think about this music that has formed them.

This week has been full of good reminders that there are many ways to be present to those who need us.  The important task is to be present.