Dear Willowdale Emmanuel United Church members,
We trust you are doing well considering this unprecedented time.
In light of the government announcement of June 8th, 2020 regarding the re-opening of places of worship, the Emergency Response Team offers the following updated information:
· As of September 6th, we have conducted Sunday worship services at WEUC at our regular 10:30 am worship time. This move to live service was in part a result of the survey that determined some members would like to attend worship service. In-person worship services have allowed the congregation to feel more present and provide a feeling of togetherness in the traditional worship service format. The service has also been live-streamed on YouTube for those who prefer not to attend in person. A printed version of the service and sermon has continued to be provided by email and regular mail.
· As with all new endeavours, the live-stream method of providing the church service has had some technical issues. Existing electronic equipment, specifically our lap top, camera and sanctuary audio system have not been reliable or completely compatible with live-streaming. In an initial attempt to remedy this, we used a borrowed laptop. Although this helped, it was not sufficient. Council then approved funds to purchase a new laptop and associated accessories to improve the system. This equipment was immediately purchased and installed. The upgrades created a better live-stream presentation on October 25th, however, the audio system continues to hinder efforts to provide a clearly understood service. It has now been confirmed by an audio consultant that without further expenditure to upgrade the sanctuary sound system, no additional audio improvement will be realized for live-stream services.
· There has also been a concern about the lack of light at the Chancel for live-stream services.
Recognizing the above limitations and concerns, as well as acknowledging that the pandemic will be part of our lives for the foreseeable future, the Emergency Response Team is recommending the following:
Council to allocate funds and pursue quotes for the installation of a new sound
system that will enhance both in-house worship and live-stream formats.
Council to investigate cost effective ways to increase the light level at the Chancel.
For your general reference, please see the following information and guidelines for health and safety during this time.
· Province of Ontario https://covid-19.ontario.ca/?_ga=2.9515765.1771362787.1585603692-1743700962.1585603692
For church administration enquiries, please contact our office administrator:
· Lina Posa
416-225-2309
For anyone needing prayers/pastoral support, please contact:
· Rev. YoonOk Shin Kang
yoonok2009@gmail.com
Home: 416-250-7506
Emergency contact: 780-903-6339
Sincerely,
WEUC Council Co-chairs
Myung Sook Kim
mskcga85@gmail.com
Bill Myhill
bill@idahinc.com