PC Issue 14 Summer 2020

Connection
The Presbyterian Church in Canada • presbyterian.ca ISSUE 14, SUMMER 2020 Ministries Shining Brightly in Challenging Times
The Rev. Maren McLean Persaud, associate minister, and the Rev. Christian Persaud, interim pastoral care minister, preparing a 3 in 1 Worship video at Grace Presbyterian Church in Calgary.
PRESBYTERIAN
By Canadian Ministries
Congregations and ministries adapt- ed in remarkable ways to the evolving circumstances in the early days of COVID-19. Many started live stream- ing their services, and others found creative ways to share elements of the liturgy with people at home by email or mail. Pastoral care teams responded faithfully to the increased needs within their congregations by making check-in calls and organ- izing grocery delivery. Community outreach programs adapted quickly to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable continue to be met.
It is truly inspiring to witness how God’s love was announced and Christ’s ministry has continued to shine brightly through Presbyterian congregations in this difficult time. We wish we were able to share all the stories we’ve heard of churches continuing to praise God and love neighbours while social distancing, but it would take up all the pages
of this edition, and more, to do so. Here are a few examples of innova- tion, passion and the commitment to God’s mission that Presbyterian min- istries have demonstrated over the early months of this pandemic.
3 in 1 Worship — Grace Presbyterian Church, Calgary, Alta.
When their congregation was no longer able to gather in person, the leaders of Grace Presbyterian Church in Calgary seized the opportunity to experiment in worship. After prayer- fully reflecting on the needs of their congregation, the leadership team determined that the best way to fa- cilitate worship would be to engage more deeply with the Word of God. Using their unique gifts as leaders, and drawing upon the gifts of their elders, they developed a new se- ries, which they called 3 in 1 Wor- ship. Each week, the three minis- ters at Grace presented one biblical story from three different viewpoints.
Those who tuned in through the on- line platforms were provided with videos and written reflections that helped participants explore three new perspectives on the story.
The leadership team is encour- aged by the way that members of the congregation continue to engage with, respond to and share the 3 in 1 videos. “We are joking that 3 in 1 is causing Grace to go viral,” the team explains, “because people are sharing the content with friends and family in Canada as well as around the world.” It is not just the content that appeals to people, but the way that it invites connection and active engagement during this time of iso- lation. Along with each video, there are questions for reflection and three or more suggested ways to respond from home. The congregation has been enthusiastically participating by submitting thoughts, pictures and prayers shared through email and on the church’s Facebook page.
Witnessing how people are en-
gaging with scripture in deep and meaningful ways through 3 in 1, the team strongly encourages oth- er ministry leaders to experiment: “Now is a time to try something you have wanted to try for a long time because people are looking for ways to connect and find meaning- ful ways to engage with one another and with church.”
The gifts of many
create beautiful online worship — Toronto Formosan Presbyterian Church, Toronto, Ont.
One of the strengths of the minis- try at Toronto Formosan Presby- terian Church is the enduring con- nection between generations within the church community. In the early days of moving their service online, the worship team came together to develop strategies to build upon this attribute as they developed their vir- tual ministry. Thanks to the help of a few tech savvy congregants, they
have been able to create worship services that draw upon the gifts of many to keep members visible to one another.
Each week, a collection of videos that include worship songs from musically gifted congregation mem- bers, scripture readings led by chil- dren and prayers spoken by different households are woven together with the minister’s homily. The result is a beautifully crafted worship service that enables members to par ticipate in worship leadership even while they must be apart physically. While the ministry leadership team does encourage others to experiment with this style of ministry, they do have a word of caution about the amount of time required to do this well. This type of presentation calls for some work to be put into video editing, so that the light and sound from the as- sorted clips can be harmonized. But keeping the community connected is well wor th the effor t!
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Reflecting on Tragedy
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Presbyterian Graduates
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Mission Staff Update
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