Page 7 - Presbyterian Connection

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SUMMER 2023
Hybrid Worship
and Programming
for Your Church
One Congregation’s Experience
The tech setup at Armour Heights Presbyterian Church for hybrid events.
By the Rev. Dr. Harris Athanasiadis, Armour Heights Presbyterian Church in Toronto, Ont.
Like many congregations during the pandemic, Armour Heights Presbyterian Church in Toronto, Ont., gathered online. And, like many congregations, amazing things happened. The congregation grew to include many beyond the neighbourhood. Who were these people? Some were from congregations that did not provide remote worship or programming, and some joined because they found us online or because someone invited them. The amazing thing was, it didn’t matter where in the world a person lived, Zoom and live-stream worship made accessibility and participation the same for all.
In the fall of 2022, gathering in person for worship and program- ming resumed. What would be- come of the online and live-stream programs? What about all the other online ways spiritual and in- formational content had been sent out? Could we sustain what we had done during the pandemic and continue the in-person worship,
gathering and programming?
The answer is yes. One of the biggest decisions we made was to preserve what we had started online during the pandemic, even as we returned to in-person wor- ship, gathering and programming. We provide a high-quality live- stream worship experience every Sunday, and, even as we have re- introduced in-person coffee hour after church, we have continued to gather early afternoon online via Zoom, for “zoomffee hour.” The people who gather with us online are fully part of our com- munity, even though some of them cannot be with us in person because of geographical dis- tance or mobility issues. We have several midweek and weekend programs; activities; discussion, study and prayer groups. Some gatherings are strictly on Zoom and some are strictly in-person (and we live stream/videotape the in-person events and record our online ones for any and all to take in at more convenient times). Now, many congregants will take in worship throughout the week because they were unable to join us during the actual worship ser-
vice on Sunday morning.
Has our growth in in-person
worship and gathering caused a waning of online participa- tion? Not at all. People feel they have multiple options for access and our overall participation has increased immensely. We are growing in the number of people participating in-person even as we continue to build a solid on- line community. Some people are strictly online and some are strict- ly in-person. But many also cross over and are building a bridge be- tween both online and in-person connections. Some of us are even travelling to different parts of the country and connecting to folks we have only met online.
Finally, we have also experi- mented with hybrid events and worship, meaning, with a couple of laptops, phones, a few screens and an “owl” audio/video confer- encing device, we’ve been able to bring people together whether they are online or in-person at the same time. They can see each other and listen to each other.
While we have held hybrid events this year, including our An- nual General Meeting with record
attendance and participation, our single most special event was our first membership Sunday as we emerged from Covid lockdowns in the fall of 2022. We had 10 new adult members, some of whom were in person and some online.
So what does all this mean for us and, perhaps, for you? Online programming requires a contin- ued commitment and learning on how to run groups, discussions and other events in an online format and providing the highest quality live-stream experience possible. It also requires a com- mitment to send out content, in- cluding written material, pictures and videos. It requires a com- mitment to make accessibility fully possible, no matter where a person is located. It requires the total buy-in of the Session and congregation. It requires a lot of new learning for ministers, staff and volunteers who had never experienced any of this way of providing church before Covid. And perhaps most importantly, it requires spiritual imagination about what church can yet be and the ways in which people may yet participate, engage and grow.
The Rev. Harris Athanasiadis and Michael Nettleton, Clerk of Session.
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN
7
Recognizing Elders in Richmond Hill
Eleanor Haluza (centre left) receives the Elder Emeritus certificate.
Eleanor Haluza joined RHPC in 1988 and was an active pro- fessing member for 35 years. For many years she was a teacher in the Sunday school, a role she enjoyed and was very dedicated to. She chaired the Design Com- mittee and led the implementation of the Sunday school’s Workshop Rotation Program. This also in- cluded designing Sunday school T-shirts, classroom activities and working with the teachers to put this new program into ef-
fect. Eleanor organized and di- rected many Christmas pageants over the years. She also chaired the Chancel Committee, beauti- fully decorating the Chancel for all seasons. Eleanor was an active member of the Christmas Gala Team. She became an elder in 2007 and served until 2022. For eight of those years, she served as Clerk of Session.
The congregation is grateful for the many gifts shared by Lois and Eleanor.
By Susan Johnson, Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church in Richmond Hill, Ont.
On Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, Rich- mond Hill Presbyterian (RHPC), in Richmond Hill, Ont., celebrated
two elders who retired with Elder Emeritus Certificates.
The first cer tificate was present- ed in memoriam to Lois Leonard, and was received by her two sons, Paul and Mark. The second one was presented to Eleanor Haluza.
Lois Leonard joined RHPC in 1960, and for 61 years was a very active professing member, having served 36 of those years as an elder (since 1985). Some of her involvement was as convener of the Pastoral Care Committee, member of the Finance and Main- tenance Committee, member of the choir, member of the Wom- en’s Association, and a mem- ber of the Women’s Missionary Society. Lois was also involved in organizing the Christmas Ba- zaar, Rummage Sales and Burns Supper, and catered to funerals as part of the Funeral Reception Team. All tasks she undertook with fortitude, drive and dedica- tion in serving God’s church.
Paul and Mark Leonard (holding the certificate) receive the Elder Emeritus certificate on behalf of their mother, the late Lois Leonard.