There's something lost in online church on that level. It feels too impersonal and since I have the attention span of a Irish Setter, sitting in front of my computer is fraught with pitfalls. And I do not listen well anyway, so trying to read a week's worth of Stuff Christians Like, listen to the service and catch up with my e-mails…..message? There was a message?

But I think online church would be way awesome if I was physically or mentally unable to get to church. I work with people who would hyperventilate and pass out if they had to endure that many people, noise and space. I think it's an awesome option. But nothing replaces gathering together in His name and rejoicing in one another's presence.

Church members often refer to me as Mary, you know the one that does all that blogging stuff for those women's groups and that cruise thing. Real descriptive.

But Jon, I do have EVERYTHING in MaryRSnyder – site, twitter and facebook. of course, I went to business school and that's what they teach us — get everything in your name. And have good attorneys, but that's a story for another day.

Also, thanks to your post where you asked what kind of music people workout to, I've taken to listening to John Piper's sermons while at the gym. I love it!

I guess you could call it an online sermon. That's different. I listen to podcasts from Greg Laurie, and I love them. I think they really help me dig deeper in the Word and gain understanding.

I just think we have to be careful to not depend upon technology to substitute interacting with people and their garlic breath, goofy laughs, and genuine personal connection. Cause that's way more important than sleeping in on Sunday mornings.

I'm still mystified with the idea of web church. I thought it was for people who would never darken ze doorway of a church building….with the ideal outcome being that they eventually decide that the risk of experience the scariness of church is worth trying out since real people are ultimately a good thing for your health. All your questions are justified. I await Andy's answers. (Once I stumbled upon a ranting comment discussion about how Northpoint sucked, and was pleezed to see Andy join in the conversation and contribute some humourous defense. Loved even more how everyone ranting totally backpedaled. Actually, I can't believe that Andy doesn't read this blog. How could he ever *not*?!

I set up a website about a year ago (www.ourchurch.com/member/f/fosa/) as a way to advertise what was going on in our church and when the services are, but now find the 'sermon catch-up' page, where the sermon from the previous Sunday is posted to be read (no fancy streaming here!) is the most visited section!

I can't see 'virtual' church ever replacing 'real' church, but as a means of encouraging people to come & be part of your congregation or reaching out to people who find it hard to physically attend services (and offer assistance – Home Communion for example) the internet is a useful tool – one new member of our congregation recently started attending after finding us online!