We’d love to welcome you to Starr King, wherever you are.

Our Sunday service begins at 10:30 AM Pacific Time. If it’s your first time, we suggest joining about 10 minutes early. That gives you time to settle in and get oriented before worship begins.

Getting the Zoom link

For now, the easiest way to get our Sunday Zoom link is to sign up for Starr King emails. The link is included in our ChurchMouse newsletter each Friday.

When you arrive

When you click the link, you’ll come to our waiting room and see our welcome message!

Then our Zoom Greeter will admit you.

Once you’re in, you’ll probably find people already gathering and chatting. You may also get a little behind-the-scenes glimpse of Sunday morning as our musicians and tech team finish their sound checks and make sure everything is ready for worship.

You’ll see several Starr King connections in the Zoom gallery. Different cameras help you see the sanctuary and the people gathered there, and help us see you. As more people arrive, the room and the Zoom gallery gradually fill up.

You’re not tuning in to watch a service. You’re arriving at church with the rest of us.

Participate as much or as little as you like

You’re welcome to have your camera on or off. We ask people on Zoom to stay muted during most of the service, but there are a couple of times when you’re welcome to unmute.

During our opening and closing Wave, you can unmute to say hello or simply wave. Some people turn their cameras on just for the Wave and leave them off the rest of the time. A few times during the service, Zoom participants are displayed on the sanctuary screen so people in the room can see you too.

You’re also completely welcome to leave your camera off and stay muted for the entire service.

If you’re comfortable doing so, we appreciate having your name on your Zoom tile so we know what to call you. But if you’d rather visit anonymously, that’s fine too.

We worship together across distance

Early in the service, we greet one another with what we call the Wave. People in the sanctuary (“Roomies”) can see people on Zoom (“Zoomies”), and Zoomies can see people in the sanctuary. Everyone waves and calls out greetings across the spaces. We do it again at the end of the service to say goodbye.

When we light our flaming chalice, people on Zoom who have a chalice or candle of their own are welcome to light it with us. It’s one of the ways we remind ourselves that, wherever we are, we are worshiping together and reaffirming our bonds of community.

Music, reflection, and sharing

The words to our songs are shared on Zoom, so you can sing along from wherever you are. You’ll hear the same readings, music, and sermon or reflection as everyone in the sanctuary.

During Joys, Sorrows & Gratitudes, Zoomies are part of the sharing too. You can type a joy or concern in the chat for our Zoom Greeter to read. If getting to the chat isn’t convenient for you, you’ll be invited to unmute and share it yourself. And, of course, you’re always welcome simply to listen.

After the service

If you’re visiting for the first time, please stay with us after the service. We’d especially like to meet you, hear what brought you to Starr King, answer questions, and learn what you might be looking for in a community.

Zoom stays open for conversation after worship. Our Zoom Greeter helps get things started, and people in the sanctuary can join the Zoom conversation from the conference room. It may take them a few minutes to wander in!

If there’s a gathering after coffee hour, Zoom stays open for that too. On the first Sunday of the month, we have a congregational conversation, and on the second Sunday, our Peace & Justice Action Team meets. Zoomies are welcome to participate fully in either.

Wherever you are, you belong here

Some people join us on Zoom because of distance, disability, illness, caregiving, travel, schedules, or simply because Zoom works better for them. You don’t need a reason.

Where you are doesn’t determine how much you belong. We’ll be glad to see you.