Regarding Re-Opening Church Functions
Hi Everyone,
During last Sunday's service, I mentioned that I was going to focus some study leave time on finding resources on the topic of re-opening. As you can imagine, there's a lot to consider. Here are two helpful pdf files with many of the details needed for consideration:
City of Toronto Guidelines - https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/978e-COVID-19-Guidance-for-Places-of-Worship.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2qyGetcfd_JShqcP5wiEdhwYNJ8Vl7LC_GtmyrZTdc5sUl5wcrfd6P8Lw
United Church Readiness Chart - https://www.united-in-learning.com/images/2020/Readiness_Essentials.pdf
After discussing these documents in a joint meeting with the Chair of Kintore and Brooksdale's Clerk of Session, we reached a consensus that while we are eager to return, we will err on the side of caution to be sure that we are taking all necessary steps to keep everyone safe. As many have said, we stay apart now so that when we return, we will all be together. Please be assured that we will continue to work towards reopening the building. So much has been learned about providing worship on-line and this will continue for the time being. Though not the same as meeting in-person, our virtual gatherings have been a blessing during this time.
So now, we turn our focus to our yearly July closure. During July I hope you enjoy...
... the additional time spent with your widened bubbles (meals with family, cuddles with grandkids);
... not stressing about what school assignments need to be handed in;
...beautiful slow, summer days.
During July, I pray for you as you continue to serve your families, neighbours and community in all the little and not-so-little ways that help our communities thrive. I ask that you pray for me and for our congregation, and I thank you for your prayers.
Should you experience any pastoral care emergencies while I am away in July, please contact Rev. Carol Hamilton. Here's how you can reach her:
email - revcarol17@gmail.com
cell - 519.949.8701
God bless you and please be safe in all you do!
Rev. Doug
June 19, 2020
Hi Everyone,
During last Sunday's service, I mentioned that I was going to focus some study leave time on finding resources on the topic of re-opening. As you can imagine, there's a lot to consider. Here are two helpful pdf files with many of the details needed for consideration:
City of Toronto Guidelines - https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/978e-COVID-19-Guidance-for-Places-of-Worship.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2qyGetcfd_JShqcP5wiEdhwYNJ8Vl7LC_GtmyrZTdc5sUl5wcrfd6P8Lw
United Church Readiness Chart - https://www.united-in-learning.com/images/2020/Readiness_Essentials.pdf
After discussing these documents in a joint meeting with the Chair of Kintore and Brooksdale's Clerk of Session, we reached a consensus that while we are eager to return, we will err on the side of caution to be sure that we are taking all necessary steps to keep everyone safe. As many have said, we stay apart now so that when we return, we will all be together. Please be assured that we will continue to work towards reopening the building. So much has been learned about providing worship on-line and this will continue for the time being. Though not the same as meeting in-person, our virtual gatherings have been a blessing during this time.
So now, we turn our focus to our yearly July closure. During July I hope you enjoy...
... the additional time spent with your widened bubbles (meals with family, cuddles with grandkids);
... not stressing about what school assignments need to be handed in;
...beautiful slow, summer days.
During July, I pray for you as you continue to serve your families, neighbours and community in all the little and not-so-little ways that help our communities thrive. I ask that you pray for me and for our congregation, and I thank you for your prayers.
Should you experience any pastoral care emergencies while I am away in July, please contact Rev. Carol Hamilton. Here's how you can reach her:
email - revcarol17@gmail.com
cell - 519.949.8701
God bless you and please be safe in all you do!
Rev. Doug
June 19, 2020
Here's a Minister's report for this quarter - June 8th, 2020
Minister's Report - June 8th, 2020
Isolation and Church
On March Break, I was scheduled to take a week of holiday and our world flipped upside down. We were encouraged by public health officials to isolate and remain inside as much as possible, due to COVID-19 being declared a pandemic. Our church, like so many others, decided to close down on Sunday March 29th, 2020. Providentially, Chalmers UC in Kintore had just had the internet installed a couple of week's before this shutdown. I remember thinking, "We don't have to cancel church. We could broadcast it from the sanctuary in Kintore from our Facebook page."
The learning curve began.
That Sunday, with no music, I attempted to have as regular a service as possible as I set up the computer in front of the pulpit, and hit the 'Go Live' option to begin an internet broadcast for our first online church service.
Following that service many adjustments have been made thanks to thoughtful suggestions from all of you. I have improved the sound after purchasing a new computer microphone, and repositioned myself to be closer to the screen, so to read comments that come in from members of our church service.
Following provincial orders to close non-essentials businesses and buildings, broadcasting began from home. To include music in this kind of broadcast, I purchased a Pro-Zoom account, and learned how to use this program and have it stream through our Facebook page. This has allowed us to gather online, enjoy Edgar's music ministry and have members of our church family take part in the service by reading scriptures. Please let me know if you would like to take part.
The first time I attempted to use Zoom for church at 11am, the broadcast simply wouldn't stream through Facebook as it had in practice. Through trial and error, we deduced that 11am was too busy a time to attempt such a thing... so, I then decided to start the services at 9:15am
Since we've all been in isolation, I have been attempted to make as many phone calls to you as I can, and providing our Zoom account to have virtual places to meet for things like Coffee Breaks on Friday mornings at 9:30am, and providing a Netflix Bible Study on Wednesday nights at 8pm.
The most exciting use of Zoom so far, as you probably already know, has been the realization that we can connect with friends that live far away and even have them be guest preachers for our worship service. Thank you all for taking part in Rev. Janice's service yesterday. Her deep love for Brooksdale and Kintore was an absolute delight to witness yesterday!
Sunday School: Early on in Isolation, our Sunday School kids met with Judy McCauley to discuss easter and have a general check in. Since then, Judy's news of her cancer returning has required her to take time away from the Sunday School to focus on her treatments. She is grateful for your supportive prayers for her during this difficult time, so please keep praying!
Funerals during isolation: As you may have heard, there are new rules to follow in the event of family and friends passing away during this time of pandemic. Graveside services are encouraged and families are asked to restrict the number of people attending to 10. There are creative ways to include others such as facetiming others in with smartphones, or having Zoom visitation prior to the service. Please let me know if you wish to discuss any of these options.
Study Leave and Vacation: As you can probably imagine, the study leave opportunities that I had anticipated taking in April and May and June were cancelled, and so I have required rescheduling Study opportunies so my new study leave Sundays are as follows:
Return to Church:
I'm really missing church, as I am sure you are too. It is not clear when we might be able to return. I'm curious what creative ways we might be able to experience one another's company. The Anglican Church Diocese in the Province of Ontario, and the Roman Catholic Diocese have both officially closed services for all of Summer, and it could be even longer. The United Church has encouraged us to begin the conversation in our own churches with the following guidelines: (this following was taken from a bulletin that can be found by clicking here - https://mailchi.mp/a006df4dfcbb/may-15th-news-information-update?e=73a4b92119)
____________________
Returning to Church
Guidelines have been prepared by the General Council for a return to church. They are also available on the COVID-19 Pandemic Resources page of the regional council website.
Three key items on which to start work now:
Minister's Report - June 8th, 2020
Isolation and Church
On March Break, I was scheduled to take a week of holiday and our world flipped upside down. We were encouraged by public health officials to isolate and remain inside as much as possible, due to COVID-19 being declared a pandemic. Our church, like so many others, decided to close down on Sunday March 29th, 2020. Providentially, Chalmers UC in Kintore had just had the internet installed a couple of week's before this shutdown. I remember thinking, "We don't have to cancel church. We could broadcast it from the sanctuary in Kintore from our Facebook page."
The learning curve began.
That Sunday, with no music, I attempted to have as regular a service as possible as I set up the computer in front of the pulpit, and hit the 'Go Live' option to begin an internet broadcast for our first online church service.
Following that service many adjustments have been made thanks to thoughtful suggestions from all of you. I have improved the sound after purchasing a new computer microphone, and repositioned myself to be closer to the screen, so to read comments that come in from members of our church service.
Following provincial orders to close non-essentials businesses and buildings, broadcasting began from home. To include music in this kind of broadcast, I purchased a Pro-Zoom account, and learned how to use this program and have it stream through our Facebook page. This has allowed us to gather online, enjoy Edgar's music ministry and have members of our church family take part in the service by reading scriptures. Please let me know if you would like to take part.
The first time I attempted to use Zoom for church at 11am, the broadcast simply wouldn't stream through Facebook as it had in practice. Through trial and error, we deduced that 11am was too busy a time to attempt such a thing... so, I then decided to start the services at 9:15am
Since we've all been in isolation, I have been attempted to make as many phone calls to you as I can, and providing our Zoom account to have virtual places to meet for things like Coffee Breaks on Friday mornings at 9:30am, and providing a Netflix Bible Study on Wednesday nights at 8pm.
The most exciting use of Zoom so far, as you probably already know, has been the realization that we can connect with friends that live far away and even have them be guest preachers for our worship service. Thank you all for taking part in Rev. Janice's service yesterday. Her deep love for Brooksdale and Kintore was an absolute delight to witness yesterday!
Sunday School: Early on in Isolation, our Sunday School kids met with Judy McCauley to discuss easter and have a general check in. Since then, Judy's news of her cancer returning has required her to take time away from the Sunday School to focus on her treatments. She is grateful for your supportive prayers for her during this difficult time, so please keep praying!
Funerals during isolation: As you may have heard, there are new rules to follow in the event of family and friends passing away during this time of pandemic. Graveside services are encouraged and families are asked to restrict the number of people attending to 10. There are creative ways to include others such as facetiming others in with smartphones, or having Zoom visitation prior to the service. Please let me know if you wish to discuss any of these options.
Study Leave and Vacation: As you can probably imagine, the study leave opportunities that I had anticipated taking in April and May and June were cancelled, and so I have required rescheduling Study opportunies so my new study leave Sundays are as follows:
- -1 Sunday of Study Leave - Sunday June 21st, 2020 - I will be purchasing an online speaker series from the Virtual Festival of Homilectics.
- -1 week of Study Leave including 1 Sunday from June 22nd, 2020 - June 28th, 2020, where I will be learning up on safe ways to be church during isolation.
- Vacation during the month of July - as per usual.
- While I am away, for June 21st, and 28th - I would encourage us to attend virtual church with one of our neighbour's such as, Harrington Knox, or Westminster in Thamesford, or with East Nissouri Union, rather than find our own pulpit supply, however, that could be a discussion for our session perhaps to have and I will support their decision.
Return to Church:
I'm really missing church, as I am sure you are too. It is not clear when we might be able to return. I'm curious what creative ways we might be able to experience one another's company. The Anglican Church Diocese in the Province of Ontario, and the Roman Catholic Diocese have both officially closed services for all of Summer, and it could be even longer. The United Church has encouraged us to begin the conversation in our own churches with the following guidelines: (this following was taken from a bulletin that can be found by clicking here - https://mailchi.mp/a006df4dfcbb/may-15th-news-information-update?e=73a4b92119)
____________________
Returning to Church
Guidelines have been prepared by the General Council for a return to church. They are also available on the COVID-19 Pandemic Resources page of the regional council website.
Three key items on which to start work now:
- Form a return-to-church committee
Consider who can best serve in this role: Chair of the Governing Body, Chair of Ministry and Personnel, Chair of Worship, Chair of Property, any public health specialists in your community, etc.
Have the governing body:
a) Name the Committee; and
b) Determine if the Committee has the authority to make decisions on the return-to-church details or whether the Committee brings their recommendations to the Governing Body. - Return will be gradual; what are the plans for this in-between time?
There will need to be social distancing in worship and there can be no singing as this disperses droplets over greater distances. Passing the peace will look different as will collecting the offering. There will have to be plenty of changes to what was.
Additionally, communities want to include what they have experienced during the lock-down. They do not want to lose new innovations that have enlivened them. How will that happen?
For example, If you have ever been the on-line participant when several others were at an in-person gathering, you will know that simply watching is not the same. But there is a difference when everyone is engaging on-line in the same way.
To include some of these new things, what other duties might need to be dropped? Does each community of faith and their ministry personnel need to do everything? Will communities of faith consider partnering? For example, Church A might have online worship this week and in-person next and work together with Church B whose schedule is the reverse. There is an option that works for everyone every Sunday. The lock-down has facilitated connections with people who were not present in person before. Will the next stage offer opportunities to connect with other communities of faith to share ministry in ways that were not considered before? - Start the conversation between staff members and the Ministry and Personnel Committee now. Some staff members may be vulnerable themselves or have a vulnerable member of their family that may impact what their return to the space is like. What additional steps need to be taken to keep staff safe? What changes are needed re duties: additions and removals to accommodate those additions?