We have all been changed by the events of the past 15 months. This sweeping understatement is necessary preparation for the next one. The Church has been changed, too. No place is that more obvious than in the rise of digital ministry necessitated by the pandemic. Like you, I spent most of 2020 shifting into a new gear. It felt something like "warp speed." I'm sure church leaders - clergy, wardens and digital ministers - understand this Star Trek metaphor. It was, for most of us, a time of energizing panic mixed with a spiritual determination that could only have come from God. Somehow, we did it. And, we are still doing it. It's time now to take stock of where we are and where the Spirit may be leading us.

First, I want to thank Ellen Lincourt. Digital Minister for St. Michael's-on-the Heights, Worcester, Ellen is Senior AV Support Specialist at Worcester Polytechnic. Early on Ellen volunteered to offer tech support for congregations struggling with the nuts and bolts of streaming the Sunday celebration. A series of Zoom trainings called, "Tech Time," gave us a place to go with questions and a faith-filled person to offer solutions that fit our limited means and growing skillset.

Ellen has also continued to act as consultant to our congregations around video and sound installation. Her contact is here on the Digital Ministry page of our website. Ellen understands that digital ministry as essential to evangelism and hopes that we will build this new ministry community with regular gatherings for mutual support. I think that's a great idea so there will be an open Zoom door on the first Saturday of every month for this new cohort. (We know who you are thanks to our parish leadership request form.) Do pass this information along, if you have a newly recruited digital team.

 Every month on the first Saturday

Time:10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EST

    

    Jun 5, 2021 10:00 AM

    Jul 3, 2021 10:00 AM

    Aug 7, 2021 10:00 AM

    Sep 4, 2021 10:00 AM

    Oct 2, 2021 10:00 AM

    Nov 6, 2021 DIOCESAN CONVENTION

    Dec 4, 2021 10:00 AM

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 845 7629 0468

Passcode: evangelism

It was great to see so many of you at Mike Orr's talk on hybrid church. If you couldn't make it, here is the video (PW: hybridchurch) and the slides. And Mike has collected many resources for "Caffeinated Church" - a subscription platform.

We want to make sure digital ministers have access to the best trainings churchwide. The offerings are largely online, and that makes it easy to be part of a conference or workshop in the months ahead. The annual eformation conference, sponsored by VTS, will take us deeper into hybrid church. Check out the speakers and topics. Find out more about the 2021 eformation conference here. I hope to see you there!

And here is a class that takes place in two parts - also from Virginia Theological Seminary. This class takes a broader approach and suggests four fundamental pillars of a top-notch hybrid church:

Learn more about the class here.

And, there is no shortage of good pieces about this digital transformation, and the impact of this shift on every aspect of ministry. Hybrid church is more than what happens on Sunday.

Before I wind up here, I want to convey how inspired I have been by you - the lay and ordained leaders in our congregations. It has been really hard in places and with love for God in your hearts, challenges have been met, and the impossible has become part of Sunday worship. This is a good time to breathe a little deeper and take stock of the tectonic shift we have experienced. No one among us can deny that this is 21st century stuff. It is also just the Church moving forward by grace. It's a joy to be with you in this work and share the Good News of God in Christ - online, in-person and heart to heart.

Vicki+

The Rev. Vicki Ix

Canon for Communications

The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts