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Streaming with laughter: vote for your favourite online church service moment of mayhem

Thousands of churches, often heroically, continued their ministry of worship and preaching during lockdown – by taking their services online.

In a matter of months, new skills were learned, sometimes under extreme pressure. One year on, the idea of local churches live streaming their activities on a permanent basis is here to stay. But where to from here? CRE National 2021 will offer visitors the opportunity to hear and learn from a range of experts who spend their professional lives helping people buy the right technology and develop the skills required. Click here to see the exhibition seminar programme.

Of course, as is the case with any live event, things have sometimes gone hilariously wrong. To celebrate these moments CRE teamed up with online comedy magazine Ship of Fools in a search for the funniest online church gaffes. The four finalists are below.

Scroll down to enjoy these moments of unintended comedy and vote for your favourite in our online Streaming with Laughter poll. The results will be published before CRE National 2021 – where you can find out how to avoid similar calamities!

See the clips!

Vicar on fire – Revd Stephen Beach, Vicar of St Budeaux in Plymouth gets into a spot of bother during an online worship experience.

Cat and cassock – The Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, the Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, discovers his inner cat during a Bible reading.

Drummer v foliage – The worship drummer of First Church of the Nazarene in Marietta, Georgia, does spiritual warfare with errant foliage.

Blues Brothers worship – Revd Vaughan Roberts leads livestream worship at St Mary’s in Warwick with the comedy filters turned on.

Vote here!

Vote for the funniest online church fail below. Click on the image of your choice, and then click the Vote button. Thanks for taking part!

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Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

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Fresh option for communion beyond Covid

A Liverpool company is helping churches administer communion in a way that helps prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The elements are delivered in a small pre-filled communion cup containing a double seal. Peeling off the first seal reveals an altar wafer. A second seal reveals non-alcoholic grape juice.

Suhail, director of Miracle Meal in the UK, is already dealing with regular orders.

‘Churches have found our product useful during the pandemic,’ he said. ‘Many delivered the communion elements individually to members in advance, to be used during services broadcast online. Some ordered their own packages so they could take part in similar services.’

Once churches were able to meet in public again, with members suitably seated according to safety regulations, Miracle Meal supplies, which come in packs of 21, 100, 250, or 500, or 1,000, proved advantageous once more. 

‘The double-sealed containers mean it is simple to provide more with no wastage,’ explained Suhail. ‘And nothing needs washing up and cleansing afterwards.’

The vision for Miracle Meal belongs to Dominic and Alidia Symes in South Africa. The couple were on holiday in Singapore when they learnt that Dominic’s father had been diagnosed with cancer. Turning to God for support, the church in which they were worshipping used the communion service as an integral part of prayer for healing. It proved such a blessing that on their return to South Africa the couple spent two years researching how to encourage more to take communion. Miracle Meal finally came to fruition with companies set up in South Africa, America, Canada and the UK.

‘Our heart is to supply the communion cup to every Christian on this planet at a fair price,’ explained Dominic. ‘God has given our team the strength, courage and wisdom to take this product global. Please never stop praying for our team and remember Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the lord is good.’”

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

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A familiar face warms to new role

Christopher Dunphy is pleased to announce that the company he founded and has managed for more than 30 years has been taken over by a commercial heating company.

An ever present at CRE since 1988, Chris has installed more than 1000 church heating systems throughout the UK during that time. But now he will be at the exhibition in a new guise with ChurchEcoMiser (Surrey Hall J1) – a new, all-electric heating system designed for smaller churches.

‘It will be great to get back to Sandown Park and something approaching the new normal,’ he said. ‘CRE is a great place to visit for anyone committed to seeing their local church grow and thrive.’

Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical will now be run by Druggitt and Harding, who will exhibit under Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical at this year’s exhibition.

Warren Taylor, the company’s new managing director, who will be on the Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical stand throughout the exhibition, said: ‘I am really looking forward to the exhibition. We have taken over a company with a wealth of experience in the church heating market and we hope to complement and strengthen it with our commercial experience.’

• ChurchEcoMiser are on stand J1 and Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical Heating are on stand J4 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

‘Rhyming’ Roche is new Baptist bard

One of the oldest non-conformist churches in Britain has been the subject of a planning application – and a newly-penned poem!

Tewksbury Baptist recently received the go ahead for a major extension and alterations, to become more proactive in the local community. Church leader Shane Roche expressed his delight in a poem which highlights the history of the church which first opened in the early 1600s. It includes the verses:

What if we had rooms that locals could use,
Where community groups crossed and shared passions and views
Where choirs could sing and children could dance,
And the disabled and impaired were given a chance

What if the poor were cared for, respected
Given self-worth, no longer dejected
What if we had coffee and food that was homely
And we invited the isolated, vulnerable and lonely

EMJ Architects, with 22 years’ experience helping churches and charities in similar situations, worked with the fellowship’s leaders to produce the plans which will create what the verses call for. A new 200-seat worship space is specified, with access through a large, open-plan entrance. 

The existing worship area will be transformed into a new activity hall, commercial kitchen and servery. New toilet facilities are also planned. On a new floor, a children’s church room will be created, along with meeting and function rooms.

The church sits on a corner plot, between Station Road and Chance Street and the design extends the existing church towards the site boundary in both directions with a new circular tower feature on the corner forming a stairwell to the first floor. 

‘Because the church is built on land historically associated with the railway, the glazed curtain wall of the entrance will feature the etched image of a steam locomotive to illustrate the history of the site,’ said architect Ben Bonadel. ‘It will also further ground the redeveloped church in the community it serves.

‘The development will meet the needs of the church family and the wider community. The  proximity of the extended church to the public realm is intended to better connect the church with the surrounding community. Large areas of glazing create a warm and bright internal environment and speak of transparency, openness and a sense of being welcome.’

The sustainability and energy efficiency of the building are key considerations. The development will feature a significant photovoltaic (solar) roof panel array, along with the capacity for air source heating, to produce energy even on a cloudy day, reduce the carbon footprint and trim energy bills. The building will benefit from a mixed mode natural and mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. Specific regard has been given to the management of potential disease transmission associated with recirculated air.

• EMJ Architects are on stand D11 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

Take the first steps to making friends with strangers

When we come into contact with other faith communities it is not always easy to know what to say – but one organisation is there to help.

For almost 160 years Interserve has been reaching people in Asia and the Arab world. Its aim? To encourage Christians to engage well with people from different backgrounds and belief systems.

‘Through our Associate Church Programme, we support local churches as they work through the challenges and practicalities of presence and gospel engagement among people of other faiths and cultures,’ said Kevin Wren, Interserve’s head of development. ‘If anyone works with people from Asia and the Arab World, we can help.’

The organisation provides access to networking, guidance, consultancy, support and examples of good practice from which to develop effective and long-term, cross-cultural relationships.

‘We want to see lives transformed through an encounter with Jesus Christ,’ said Kevin. ‘We do this alongside the local church in ways that reflect the whole of life – work, rest and play. We look forward to talking to CRE visitors, to show them how we can use our experience and passion to serve them as they engage with people who may not share their convictions.’

• Interserve are on stand A42 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

Flourishing home groups given exhibition boost

Covid-19 may have interrupted church worship in a dramatic way but it has also encouraged online home groups to flourish – and a special conference at CRE National 2021 will help home groups of all kinds develop even further.

Publishers SPCK, sponsors of the conference taking place on all three days, will introduce new methods and material for home groups – presented by their best-selling authors.

Julie Wilson, home groups editor, said: ‘Even before Covid-19, a 2018 ComRes survey revealed local churches are more likely to grow, engage with the local community and broaden the perspectives of their members when they run active home groups. While gathering the whole church together on a Sunday continues to be essential, we are also seeing the importance of smaller meetings.’ 

According to a number of surveys, tens of thousands of non-churchgoers have watched church services online over the past 18 months and some have gone on to join online home groups and Alpha courses.

‘We are delighted to give a new look to home group material,’ said Julie. ‘Groups usually have six to 12 members who meet once a week in someone’s home or online, sharing a meal, studying God’s word and thinking through how to apply it in everyday life. Two in every three surveyed said their faith was strengthened by being part of a home group.

‘Having been part of one or other for much of my Christian life, I know first-hand the value of being part of the church community. Something wonderful happens when we meet to discuss the scriptures and God’s will for our lives.’

Julie will lead the home groups conferences at CRE National, from 11am to 1pm each day, with the help of authors Amy Boucher Pye, Lauren Windle, Paul Kerensa, Martin Saunders, Becky May and Phil Knox. There is no extra charge for the conference but pre-booking when you buy your ticket here is essential because of room capacity limits.

• SPCK are on stand D4 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

Tabloid headlines Gavin’s heart for the hungry

Coventry Foodbank has served over 200,000 people over the past 10 years and founder Gavin Kibble has been recognised with an MBE for his vital work.

The September/Harvest edition of Good News outreach newspaper, exhibiting at CRE National 2021, features the inspiring story behind the project.

Gavin, formerly a highly-paid executive, sensed a calling from God.

‘I knew I had to give up working as finance director of a multi-national company to help fight poverty,’ he tells Good News.

Setting up a Christians Against Poverty debt centre he soon encountered a Nigerian couple who had no food or baby equipment for the child they were imminently expecting. 

‘They had half a lettuce and a can of tomatoes in the fridge – that’s all,’ recalls Gavin.

The incident opened his eyes to the need for a food bank, which he started in 2011. In its first year, Coventry Foodbank grew from just two to 11 distribution centres. 

The full story is told in September’s Good News, along with the testimonies of celebrities and ordinary Christians that fill the pages every month, including the founders of Noah’s Ark Zoo, featured on BBC TV’s Songs of Praise on 29 August.

At just 15p per copy, Good News makes a great give-away for sharing the good news of Jesus and is used by churches, evangelists and individual Christians across the UK.

• Good News are on stand D5 at CRE National 2021

Image: The Harvest 2021 issue of Good News evangelistic newspaper

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

Stream team at your service

Offering exceptional image quality for streaming services in low light – that’s the advantage of a camera system installed by one CRE National 2021 exhibitor.

APi Sound and Visual have been busy fitting cameras throughout the pandemic – including St Andrew’s Church in Cullompton, Devon (pictured).

The system provides two-camera streaming with integrated switcher and streamer. The cameras are both high-definition remote pan, tilt and zoom type. One has been fitted on the gallery face and the second on a pillar with a thin strap for fixing so that DAC approval was not required. 

‘The main benefit of these cameras is that they offer exceptional image quality even in low light, a frequent problem in many churches,’ said APi’s Andy Pidsley. ‘The supplied joystick remote control has a number of pre-set memories so that commonly-used shots can be quickly recalled, with the joystick allowing fine control.’

A four-input switcher and combined streaming unit makes the whole process of selecting a source for the projector and stream simple and removes the need for an additional computer to perform the streaming function. The illuminated controls clearly show the current source and also allow more advanced functions such as superimposing words over images. The unit doubles as a recorder and will record to a USB device. 

A 22′′ monitor shows a four-way split of the different input sources available to the mixer. Finally, a small microphone on top of the rood screen picks up singing and other ambient sounds – just for the streaming audio. 

APi Sound and Visual also provide installation training with on-going telephone support as and when needed.

• APi Sound and Visual are on stand J6 at CRE National 2021

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions

New directory champions church creativity

The national lockdown has accelerated the churches need to communicate in engaging ways.

So says the creator of the Christian Creative Directory (CCD), launched in April. 

‘The aim of the directory is simple, to champion creativity in the body of Christ,’ said founder Josie Gamble. ‘We’re here to help bring creative energy to your organisation, church and ministry.

‘We want to see the creative culture of the UK church strengthened and if this directory can play a part in that, we will be very happy.’

From animators to actors, blacksmiths to bloggers, dancers to drone pilots – they’re all in the directory. And CCD has also advertised creative opportunities posted by organisations. These have already attracted applications resulting in key appointments. Christians Against Poverty (CAP), for example, needed a writer for a new children’s book.

‘We posted a freelance job on CCD and were blown away by the huge number of enquiries and the quality of applications received!’ said a spokesperson for CAP. ‘We’re delighted with the person we’re now working with. We would highly recommend CCD to other Christian charities and organisations looking for freelance creatives. We’ve already posted another opportunity!’

Josie’s original vision was to have a network, directory and awards.

‘With the first two firmly launched we will turn our attention towards hosting national Christian creative recognition awards to champion creativity in the UK church,’ said Josie. ‘So watch this space!’

• Sign up with CCD now, using a special CRE code CCDCRE, and you will get three months free

Book your tickets to CRE National! – and save up to £5

Seminar Guide – See the complete guide to seminars and special features at CRE National 2021

Welcome Back – See an online version of the CRE National 2021 ‘Welcome Back’ brochure

Our next exhibitions