By Jed Backer

Cyberspace worship has become part of the way of life at St Giles' Presbyterian Church in Papanui.

The parish set up its Celtic Fire website earlier this year, targeting people who weren't able to regularly attend Sunday worship.

Parish minister Rev John Hunt originated the concept with the technical set-up made by skilled parishioner Allison Lamont.

The 'cyber church' enables people to share in the worship: prayers, readings and the heart of the sermon. People are invited to respond with their own thoughts and stories, and to make an offering.

"Celtic Fire" recalls John's interest in Celtic spirituality; offering accepting, embracing support for people encountering God in the natural world, in friends and in strangers.

John says the parish has for some time sent out his weekly sermon on email to a number of people, including past parishioners like former All Black coach Wayne Smith, now in Northhampton, England.

John says it was desirable to go further to engage in worship people busy in their professional and family life. "We acknowledge their other commitments on Sunday mornings," he said. "Many families have children who have sport on Sunday and the church wants to continue to provide for them."

"I think that everybody has a need for community. People's lives are so busy, we don't have time for important relation-ships with friends and neighbours. Engagement with a community 'on line' is something of a community. If they're unable to get to St. Giles on Sunday, we can offer an alternative."

The interactive element is something John would like to enhance on the site in the future.

He says parish feedback has been positive.

"Someone suggested that people may prefer to stay at home and share in the worship in front of their computer, rather than come along! In fact the opposite has happened. People who have engaged in cyber church have been moved to come to 'real church'."

The suggestion has been made that cyber church should be a subscription-only site. Others are clear cyber church is something the parish offers as an outreach.

Parishioners Neville and Anne Slaughter use the site's facilities particularly the sermon, as Anne works with young people during the Sunday service.

"I attend the service and find myself that re-reading the sermon does refresh it," Neville says.

Parishioner Karen Kennedy whose family enjoy their holiday house at Hanmer at weekends as often as possible, can still share in the worship of St. Giles and keep up with the notices at cyber church.

The site gets about 100 'hits' a week. Check out the site.