Since Restoration’s beginning, we’ve intentionally been a very low-tech church. We cherish embodied, sacramental worship. Matter matters! This preference for the analog could seem ironic given both Father Rick's and my time at Apple Retail. But to tweak the inimitable Dr. Ian Malcolm's prophetic insight from Jurassic Park, "Your [churches] were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." [I’m looking at you fog machines!]
It seems the past nine months have been a crash course in chaos theory. And yet we live between the times, the already and not yet...I'm referring to the announcement of two viable vaccines and their glorious parousia, sounding the death knell of this dystopian season known as COVIDtide.
But for now, how can the church be the church when the church cannot wholly gather? Enter stage left: Switcher Studio. This software wasn't written on a tablet by the hand of God, but it almost felt like it when we discovered it some months ago. This affordable program, a few iPhones, an iPad and a MacBook and a small team of volunteers can provide a portal from your living room to our in-person worship service. [They even have a great knowledge base with answers to lots of technical queries!]
Getting your kids to engage is another matter. But our livestream setup can speak even to that. Perhaps you've seen a few Godly Play videos we've recently released. We used the same system to record those videos…and there's more on the way!
Putting together a decent livestream production requires attention to a lot of variables: internet bandwidth, lighting, sound, and last, but not least, the cameras. Thankfully the Parkway has a professional lighting setup and a fiber connection. We have incredible volunteers running our sound and are working on a solution to mic the congregation so you can hear the liturgical responses at home. And lastly, we're in the process of upgrading a couple of our phones to newer models to increase video quality.
Most of all, and in all earnestness, we want you know that we are deeply burdened that the body cannot be together during this time. We are regularly praying by name for those of you who cannot physically gather for worship. Know that our attempt at providing a high-quality livestream experience is precisely with you in mind. We pray it can be a blessing to you, your families and your friends. And as we prepare our hearts for the season of Advent, we look to Jesus, for his glorious reappearing, and his kingdom without end.
Aaron Van Luven
Parish Administrator
