I recently asked a client that I care for about his feelings on televised and virtual church services. He watches them often because illness prevents him from attending “real church.” He said he felt “alone” because there were no people physically around him. He felt disconnected.
My own experience of online prayer and worship is also along these lines. For awhile I attended Compline online and felt a sense of desolation.
Point well taken, but your local Episcopal parish ain’t exactly the place you’ll most likely to find “people physically around” you. There are some amazingly empty naves out there. Having a handful of people, many by themselves, scattered around a church that once had hundreds (and still with space for hundreds) makes a church seem even lonelier than were it wholly empty.
Our Lord said; “..Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them..” The few of us that gather for communion each Wednesday in our small church rejoice that Jesus is there – He promised us. The church in many cases may be deserted buildings but “the” Church still remains that great body of unseen baptized believers that number in the millions. Praise God we are not alone.
Virtual Church may, however, be a ‘God-send’ for shut-ins or others temporarily unable to attend services in person, perhaps those who dare not travel under certain icy conditions, but still have access to a computer.
Not as a permanent substitute for those able to attend normally, mind, but certainly in a temporary situation.
IMO, and IME (in my experience) churches are dreadfully lacking in the areas of home-visitations and pastoral attention at home.