The following articles have been selected because they are informative, instructive, entertaining, or simply interesting. Articles appearing in Your Friday Five do not represent an endorsement.

Maybe it’s okay to be real.

The Show is Over: In support of your unpolished streaming church, Tommy Preson Phillips

But over the last few weeks, I’ve come to see that perhaps this is misguided, and that perhaps what we need is not normalcy, but honesty and solidarity. Originally we as church leaders had talked about gathering three or four of us in our empty worship space away from our homes, and film ourselves singing and preaching from the familiar places as we always have. I’ve now come to the conclusion that this can have the exact opposite effect: that rather than bringing us together in virtual celebration, it can breed even more disconnection and isolation.

Grieving losses is not unspiritual; it is a gift.

Dealing with Loss, Grief, and Grace in a Pandemic, Marty Duren

We do not experience the fulness of the grace of God until we recognize that it is His glory that casts shadows in the valley of death. He is not distant, but near. We do not grieve like those who have no hope, but we grieve nonetheless, even as on the other side of that grief is the grace of God that envelopes us, redeeming our grief and loss in the glory of his power. “Surely, he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows,” wrote the prophet (Isa. 53:4a, KJV). Jesus bore for us that which will otherwise over-burden and carries on our behalf that which could otherwise drown us in total despair.

Four ‘looks’ to help you decide.

Should Churches Observe the Lord’s Supper Online?, John Hammett

But should a church observe the Lord’s Supper online, with members partaking in their homes? I think we can best answer that question by reflecting on the meaning of the Lord’s Supper. Why did the Lord command us to do this practice in the first place? What are we saying when we do this?

New York City’s mayor crosses a line.

Can the Government Permanently Shut Down Churches?, Bruce Ashford

Attorney Trey Dimsdale argued that there are three criteria by which a temporary shuttering of churches may be considered legal.

The shuttering must be temporary. It must be broadly applicable to other organizations such as businesses, parks, and playgrounds. And, finally, it must be narrowly tailored, meaning that it must accomplish the legitimate state goal of slowing the virus’s spread in a way that is the least burdensome to the church.

De Blasio’s threat violates the first criterion; his threat is to close houses of worship permanently rather than temporarily.

With Zoom being used in churches, learn how to prevent Zoom-Bombing.

How to Prevent Zoom-Bombing, PC Mag

The best way to stop Zoom-bombing is to prevent it in the first place. When hosting a Zoom call, you need to set up your meeting, often in advance, using the right settings and features. (Beyond maintaining control of your meeting, there are other Zoom tips that will help you look like a Zoom pro.) If you hastily launch a Zoom meeting and share the link publicly, it’s much harder to stop trolls in the moment. Preventing a battle is better than having to fight one.