Q. What does Hybrid Services mean?
A. WUUC is developing new ways to continue our Sunday services online and in-person simultaneously, allowing us to all connect in community for worship.
Q. What’s changing in the sanctuary to create Hybrid services?
A. Cameras and microphones are being installed now. A new sound mixing system and a large video screen are under consideration. The sanctuary will still have a serene and worshipful feel, while also operating as a video production studio in a non-distracting way. That’s our goal.
Q. How will Zooming worship be different than it is now, and how will worship in the sanctuary be different than it was before?
A. Much will feel the same, and some will be different.
Attending on Zoom will be very similar, but more interactive with the entire congregation.
We expect the biggest change in the sanctuary will be adding a large screen to share some of the pre-recorded content that we already broadcast on Zoom. This could include elements like slide shows during the prelude, lyrics and music for hymns/songs, and also offer ways for remote attendees to participate live for Joys and Sorrows or as a presenter during the service.
Also, Rev. Dan and Director of Religious Education Bridget Laflin are working to refresh and revise some of the things we offer on Sundays, and how we’ll do them. We may see new directions for children, youth and adult programming.
Q. What are some of the challenges to making the hybrid experience work well?
A. A few of the challenges we know of right now include:
— expanding the production team to include Sound, Camera and Director roles. We need Volunteers!!! Please contact Linda Sherry if you are interested.
— engineering and installation. This continuing work will take quite a bit more time. We’ve been doing some practice runs broadcasting parts of the service from the sanctuary, with the cameras and furnishings in very temporary places. This is allowing the team to determine plans for long-term placement and installation.
— managing the ambient sound in the sanctuary. The microphones we’ve been using are so sensitive that they pick up even the sound of fans placed to circulate the air for Covid safety. And when we have a congregation gathered, there will be many more little noises to work around.
— there are other issues we know, and many that we have not yet discovered.
Q. When will we be able to return to the sanctuary on Sunday mornings?
A. When the Fates allow? WUUC is committed to both Covid safety and high quality worship. When we have the go-ahead from the Safety Committee and the Worship team, we will launch the Hybrid Services.
One more note: The Worship and Tech teams welcome your responses and feedback on how you are experiencing Worship, especially as we experiment with tech changes during this transition. Please feel free to send your thoughts to Worship Support Specialist, Linda Sherry and she will pass your thoughts along to the appropriate folks. Lindasherry@wedges.com