Beginning a New Chapter
This Sunday marks a transition in our online worship opportunities as we move from pre-recorded, edited services to livestreaming. This means that those participating in worship online will be able to do so in real time virtually at 10 AM with the service on our church’s YouTube channel. Through this technology our online community may feel more connected to the rest of the congregation during worship.
We began our first online services at the end of March 2020 shortly after the beginning of the pandemic. One of our primary goals throughout the past two years has been to keep our church family connected to God, each other, and our faith. Worship is at the heart of our community at The Neighborhood Church. Making and having connection is what the spiritual life is all about. Being in right relationship with God, neighbor, and self is what faith is all about. Our adaptive worship services have helped keep us connected and alive in our faith. The new transition to a live virtual service will help us continue to be connected in many ways.
Most of you know that Lauren Hardin has been doing the editing of our pre-recorded services. And we are very pleased she will be continuing on as the technician and producer of our livestreaming platform as well. Here’s what she had to say recently.
It is hard to believe we’ve wrapped up our final pre-recorded service. Almost two years, and over 100 services later, it’s hard to put into words what this experience has taught me, as a professional and as a person. The biggest thing is that it has brought me closer to the core of what we do at the Neighborhood Church, and I’m excited to continue supporting our Ministry with the switch to livestreaming.
When we began online worship we had zero technological capacity – but thanks to the ingenuity, hard work, flexibility and perseverance of a dedicated staff we have done well in meeting our goal of staying connected in spite of all the challenges we have had to overcome. A special word of thanks to Lauren Hardin, Hyunju Hwang, David Sateren, Doug Falzetti, Setta Lytle and Michael Moorhead. What a blessing their ministry is to our church family!
A few practical words are in order as the shift begins this weekend. For those participating from home, you will be able to tune in a few minutes early at about 9:55 AM for pre-service music just prior to the welcome. After the 10:00 AM live-streamed service has concluded a recording of the service will be available to watch.
To access the recorded service, please visit our YouTube Channel. A bit before 10AM on Sunday morning, we will enable the livestream. It will appear as the first video under "Videos" and will have a small icon that says LIVE. The words to hymns and special music will not be available initially, so I encourage you to print the bulletin ahead of time as the words can be found there. The Order of Worship will be available on our website, and will be posted each week on Thursday afternoon. We will continue to send Sunday morning emails with the link to the bulletin and the YouTube Channel for the next several weeks.
For anyone attending in person who is uncomfortable with the possibility of being included with the live-streaming of the service, the side chapel will be available as an “off camera” area. For those who are comfortable joining us in person this Sunday, February 27th will also see the return of our coffee hospitality time out on the Terrace. It will be a joy to resume our fellowship time together as we engage in conversation following the service!
My heart is grateful for our worship team and the entire congregation as we have stayed connected to God, each other and our faith in our worship life together and beyond. May we continue to be blessed as a faith community as we move into the next unfolding chapter of our life in service and the praise of God.
Joyfully,
Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister