Thank you!! We made it! Your additional gifts will allow us to secure the sanctuary with critical theft deterrents: If you still want to jump in, here is the overview of the project:
What do we need?
As we look into the future, there is a need for streamed live worship concurrent with on campus worship in order to help people stay connected while we go through phased reopening.
Why?
We are asking you to invest in a technological system that will allow us to open our doors to campus worship, while sharing this worship at the same time with anyone who tunes in through the website. People can walk into the sanctuary, tune in from down the street, join from their nursing home, or even across the country.
How much?
For our worship to have live streaming paired with campus worship AND technological agility, we are asking parishioners, friends, and supporters to commit a total of $40,000 to this initiative. This money creates a seamless community – people who get in their car for worship and those who tune into digital worship at the same time. Much more detail is in the FAQ's.
Live Streaming FAQ’s
June 2020
What do we want?
We are asking you to invest in a technology system that will allow us to open our doors to campus worship, while sharing this worship at the same time with anyone who tunes in through the website. People can walk into the sanctuary, join from their nursing home, or tune in during vacation and across the country.
How much?
For our worship to have live streaming of our campus worship with liturgical text, sermon slides, multiple camera angles, smooth transitions, we are asking parishioners, friends, and supporters to commit a total of $40,000 to this initiative. See "what exactly would this money purchase?" for more detail. This money creates a seamless community – campus and distance worshipers at the same time.
But we will be back in church soon, why do we need this?
We might be back in church late June, but with dramatic limitations. There will be low density social distancing in the sanctuary, limited choir, masks, etc. This will not allow us to go back to the “good old days” for a long time. For community safety, these limitations could last 18 months or more.
Who won’t be on campus after we open?
Many people are uncomfortable coming back to campus, even after we are allowed to reopen. For some, they won’t set foot on campus until a vaccine is created.
The vulnerable & most uncomfortable are:
- Parishioners over 65 will be welcome once the campus is open, but they may opt-out anyway
- Those who have underlying conditions or less robust immune systems
- Church members in nursing homes and medical facilities
- Those who limit their time outside the house because they have older family members they don’t want to infect.
Are we only focusing on the elderly and infirm?
Not at all. We can also broaden our reach through your investment. There are other audiences that can’t be on campus on any given Sunday. The people we can reach:
- A national and (in rare cases) international audience.
- A non-local family member that a local parishioner could worship with in real time on Sunday.
- Families who travel with student activities and sports.
- People on vacation who value participating real time in Sunday worship.
- With regard to evangelism, newcomers can get a clear picture of our worshipping community. This technology is not a substitute for a faith community, but an aid to incorporate new members.
Why do the donation commitments need to be made by June 21?
In order for the new equipment to be installed and ready for Welcome Back Sunday on September 20th, we need to start the process as soon as possible.
When do you want the money?
You do not need to give us the money now—just commit to supporting the project and paying us within the next 6-12 months. Help us to broaden access to St. Timothy’s Church.
Can we use pledge money for this project?
No. Pledge money is used for the annual church budget. This is an extra request that is not included in our 2020 operational budget.
What exactly would this money purchase?
- Quality video and sound with a real-time stream to the Internet for viewing and long-term storage
- Professional-level production-quality hardware and software
- Integration of church service bulletins, additional graphics, etc. displayed in video stream
- Ability to set-up and pre-program worship logistics for simple operation with 1-2 hours of training
- A pre-service meet and greet by our greeters, vestry members, and/or pastors
- Incorporation of remote readers, intercessors, etc. (from home or other locations) into live service and stream
- A virtual visit from the bishop, or others into the live service and stream
- After the service, an interactive Zoom coffee hour from Grace House Conference Room between church attendees and the home-bound or traveling members
- Bible studies, meetings, etc. from Grace House Conference Room with remote viewers
Would worship be live or recorded, and how long are the videos available?
Both! The service would be streamed live and, at the same time, would be recorded at the same time so that after church is over, parishioners have 24/7 on demand access to services.
Will there still be liturgical text / sermon slides on the live stream?
Many of your really value having the whole service on the screen. $40,000 allows us to embed text on your screen. Also this commitment give us many other capabilities like allowing elderly parishioners reading a scripture from their home (but live in church).
How are technology and pastoral care related?
Your commitment helps us use technology to keep all of our members engaged. Your clergy are spending an exorbitant amount of time being technology staff. As we re-open, this new technology frees up your clergy to be pastoral care providers and socially engaged ministers.
Can we film weddings and other events?
Yes, this new equipment would allow us to stream weddings, memorial services, and community events. It’s especially valuable for people who are unable to attend. No one would be left out of the event.
Will my children’s images be online?
We won’t be streaming video of children during worship, nor at young people’s time without express written consent.
Why can’t we do it like we did in April and May when the campus was closed?
The first months of worship after the campus was shut down were pre-recorded. These digital offerings were heavily edited with an enormous investment of time. Elements of digital worship that made worship possible:
- Clergy and Musical leader – planning worship
- Admin - creating the “bulletin” to embed in the video
- Scheduler - managing the serving team
- Tech Team - videoing the serving team
- Tech Team - Postproduction work (editing audio, video, text music)
- Choir – occasional group digital offering as well as soloists.
- Tech Team - Social media work (uploading video, website, Facebook, YouTube)
- Clergy - Prayer engagement on YouTube live chat
It has been a labor of love and care. For example, Pentecost Sunday required at least 75 ‘people hours’ to get worship ready and online. Worship always requires a big volunteer investment which has only grown during the pandemic.
When the campus re-opens, we do not have the depth, nor is it kind to our volunteers to both have our “regular” campus worship as well as pre-recorded worship week to week. Your support allows us to have a one stop shop for worship. It will always require dedication and love, but both is too much.
Who would operate this new equipment?
Interested parishioners will be invited to be trained in using the new equipment.
How long will this equipment last / be up-to-date?
This live stream technology is not particularly new. Community groups and bigger churches have been using this for years. For us, it is smart money that will help us broaden our reach and thrive far beyond COVID-19 for a decade or more. We want to make on-campus worship streamed live the new normal.
I have more questions. Who can I contact?
Contact Pastor Todd, Dick Firth—or any member of the vestry.
