I have a confession. As much as I feel blessed with the technology available for us to use in the midst of this pandemic, there has been more than one time when I think, “Not another Zoom meeting!”
Zoom meetings are often tedious. People are less likely to get excited over a virtual gathering. But does it always have to be like that? I believe that God has challenged us this year to go out of our comfort zones. We need creative ways to celebrate the gift and be together safely.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, ESV)
It’s time to break the stigma of virtual gatherings. Here are some creative ways to make your virtual fellowships more fun and meaningful during this holiday season:
1. Virtual Christmas Vacation
Before the meeting, ask the participants to find a picture of a place that they always wanted to visit. Encourage them to change their virtual background to be their dream vacation spot. (You can even dress up!) During the meeting, each person takes turns guessing “where” the others are. Alternatively, if you’re working with a large group, ask a few people to be a “tour guide” of their locations.
2. Christmas Ornament Challenge
Divide participants into teams and assign each team a breakout room via zoom to collaborate. Ask them to design the “perfect ornament” using the virtual whiteboard option. By the end of the breakout session, ask them to save and present their ornaments to the larger group. If there is a crowd favorite, the host can print the design into an actual ornament and send it to everyone as a gift.
3. Angel Mails
Use an online gift exchange generator to randomly select an “angel” for each participant. Then, send your assigned recipient a handwritten letter, filled with encouraging words, scriptures, or affirmations for them specifically. Sign it anonymously and mail it to the recipient. Host a virtual gathering to talk about the letters. Each participant shares what they felt after reading the mail, and tries to guess who was their “angel.”
Alternatively, if you find someone who is having a hard time, you can just assign multiple angels for one person!
4. Learn A Christmas Song in Different Languages
Mosaic Conference has six different worshipping languages. Try learning a Christmas song in a language other than your own. You can have someone who speaks a different language join your meeting and teach your group a song that you’ve never heard before.
5. Virtual Interactive Story of Jesus’ Birth
Download or print the Mosaic-made advent family activity. Meeting virtually, each family takes turns to read a part of the story of Jesus’ birth.
Hopefully you’ve been inspired to be more creative with your virtual meetings during this Christmas season. Even though we will be celebrating a different kind of Christmas this year, I hope that the Spirit still keeps the gift alive in each and every one of us.
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.
This post is also available in: Indonesia (Indonesian)
This post is also available in: Indonesia (Indonesian)