Dear MPC members and friends,
As we work our way through these next weeks, it is important for us to be together as a community in the safest way possible. For the next two weeks, at least, that means we can’t worship together in a physical building. However, we can still worship together using technology, and that is what we plan on doing.
As many of you know, last week, we live-streamed our worship service. We jumped right in and did it without any testing. Some things went really well (choir sounded great) and some not so great (hard to hear people even thought they were using microphones). We learned a lot and I believe the experience will be much better this week.
The following is what to expect –
- We will continue to use Facebook Live (streaming on other platforms is being looked at, but that is farther in the future). The live stream can be accessed through the Memorial Presbyterian Church Facebook Page – this is the page we have been using for a number of years. It is a public page. This is not the recently created MPC Appleton Facebook Group page, which is a private page.
- You will receive a Facebook event notification several days prior to the service with details. The event will show services starting at 10:00. But, as with physical worship, there will be a musical prelude before services. The live stream will start just before the prelude, at approximately 9:55.
- We are aiming for 30-minute service. Let’s face it, it gets long sitting in front a screen after a while.
- A bulletin will be distributed on Friday. We would suggest printing it out or having it up on your screen.
- Participate – there will be a hymn played. Sing as loud as you want; only your family can hear you. What we would really like you to do is use the chat feature to send each other messages. Let people know that you are in worship (Hi, this is (name), really glad to be with you today!). This is your chance to comment of the sermon in real time. During the Prayers of the People, send notes on who you would like our community to keep in our prayers.
- Last week, hearing speakers was a problem. We believe we have a solution which has tested out well. Additionally, if you can listen using headphones, that improves the quality.
- The other issue last week was that the video was sideways on some devices. We have made adjustments to settings on this end which should take care of the problem if you are viewing on a desktop, laptop or tablet. There can still be problem if you are using a smartphone. Some people find the way phones rotate from vertical to horizontal irritating, so they have disabled “auto-rotate”. This may need to be enabled to more easily view the video feed.
I hope you will join us for on-line worship this coming Sunday. Now, as much as ever, we need to find ways not to become isolated but to be in communication with communities and friends that are important to us.
If you want to test your system to make sure things run smoothly for you on Sunday, login to Facebook on Saturday (3/21) from noon-1:00pm. Greg will have a live-stream up with music playing. You can test to make sure your sound is good and the picture horizontal. If you are having issues, call Greg via the church office (920-734-1787). Don’t call his cell phone, as that is what he will using for a camera.
See you on-line!
