Church embraces Zoom, WhatsApp and Mixcloud to help members enjoy Christmas services
A Christian church in Canton is using the expertise and feedback of its congregation to find new and inclusive ways to engage with members in the festive period.
Canton Uniting Church closed its doors in March, meaning that all its weekly activities and upcoming Christmas activities have to take on a completely new format.
With the help of some technologically savvy congregation members and efforts by Reverends Martha McInnes and David Dean, the church quickly adopted new digital tools to engage with members.
Uploading pre-recorded sermons on Mixcloud, an online music streaming service, was suggested by a young congregation member.
“It was a bit of a rough start but now there is a designated person taking care of the tech and it’s easier to do together, it’s okay now,” said Reverend Martha.
The church is made up of about 99 members of all ages, last counted in December 2017, which include 12 children under the age of 11 as well as 29 pensioners, some in their 90s.
Access to computers and comfort with digital elements varies accordingly.
“Everybody is very grateful but there are still people that aren’t accessing things even though we tried,” adds Rev. Martha.
One idea which has helped to improve communication and engagement with the digital approach is the introduction of a buddy system by Canton Uniting Church deacons.
Now half a dozen buddy groups exist in the church, made up of members that would like to stay involved in the church and can provide valuable feedback.
“All of my group members are on email, except two which I ring up over the phone,” says Alison Walker, chair of deacons at Canton United.
Each buddy group has introduced its own system of communication, with some using Whatsapp groups on mobile phones, for example.
In combination, digital learnings from the past few months and feedback from the buddy group system have helped produce ideas in new formats for Christmas festivities.
The church’s traditional carol service, which usually held on the last Sunday before Christmas, will now happen digitally.
For those members comfortable with computers a live zoom video call meeting will be hosted with members joining in the safety of their homes.
“There is that possibility of interaction on Zoom. We’re all on our screens all the time just watching stuff and so Zoom was a choice to at least give limited interaction to people and help them see and hear each other,” said Martha.
For other members who might not have access to a computer or feel comfortable online, the church is planning to gift CDs and DVDs with pre-recorded carol music and videos put together by in-house musicians.
Another possibility would be to set up a phone line which members can ring to access the carol recordings or to send out physical print-outs by mail.
Members having been asked to craft stars, made of cardboard or knitted or even crocheted which will be distributed to people to spread hope and joy.
During the weeks of advent and after Christmas activity boxes will be put together for families with members including a candle to light for each week and things to colour-in for children.
While no concrete plans have been decided concerning the shape of the Christmas service, it is possible that it may take place in the church, pending a building risk assessment.
United Reform Church, to which Canton Uniting Church belongs, has made this mandatory in order to assess the risk of vulnerable community members to access the space safely.
“It’s just going to be different,” says Alison Walker, adding that she is posting letters to the congregation to get their opinion on returning to church.
“In the letter, I’m describing what it will be like as, of course, it can’t be like ordinary services in the way that we’re used to. It’s a question of reducing the number of people in the church and you can’t stay around for a social chat or catch-ups like we normally do,” she adds.
Singing and the playing of wind instruments such as the saxophone and the organ, which has pipes which blow air, will also not be allowed in the service, but string instruments and the piano will.
“Music is so important to people’s celebration of Christmas and probably that is one of the things that people will miss the most, not being able to sing together,” adds Reverend Martha.
Additionally, measures including wearing a mask, sanitising hands, shorter services and a one-way system will also be introduced.
For Canton United this change in process has also sparked debate about what is most important in the Christmas period.
“Obviously this a traumatic time and one of the ways you deal with trauma and limit the stress of trauma is to nurture relationships so whatever we do is about keeping this relationship,” adds Rev Martha.
