During this time of physical distancing, small group faith sharing is both a challenge and an opportunity. Many people are feeling lonely and isolated with a dramatic reduction of in-person interactions. Those who have lost paid work have also lost the social connections that came with that work. It is more important than ever to connect, and technology can help us to hold each other in community.
Tips for Forming Virtual Groups
1. 6 to 8 participants is an ideal group size.
2. Groups typically meet once a week, but your group can choose to meet more or less frequently. Ask the participants what they would prefer.
3. Choose a facilitator who can coordinate the session.
4. Choose a video conferencing platform. Do a web search for “best free video conferencing.” Zoom (http://zoom.us) is one of the most popular options for hosting meetings and has a free tier. Google Hangout is another option. A member of the group can host all other members for free.