Today, Christians around the world observe Maundy Thursday. The holy day with the curious name (Maundy derives from the Latin for commandment) marks the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples. There was nothing socially distanced about that first gathering some 2,000 years ago when the sacrament of communion was first introduced. By design, the setting was intimate and close—no digital worship in the first century. In the modern-day context of COVID, it’s hard to imagine how Zoom from the Upper Room would have been impactful.

So how important is in-person participation to the worship experience, and is it an essential ingredient for building a healthy fellowship community? Continue reading →