Some Collingwood churches have taken their services online in order to provide comfort and a sense of community during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When 9/11 happened, churches were jammed with people who were looking for company and assurance. We’re in a similar situation of existential angst in the culture. It’s an acute loneliness that I think people are feeling right now because they can’t come together,” said Rev. Brian Goodings of Trinity United Church in Collingwood.
“I think that’s what we do as a species: we gather when there’s danger. It’s a bitter irony right now that we can’t do that. So we’re trying to do it virtually,” he said.
Trinity United had its first-ever online service this past Sunday. While the service was intended to be live-streamed, a higher power stepped in.
“We had everything set up and we were planning on going live, and at about 10:25 a.m. there was a huge lightning strike very near the church and it took out all the equipment. I thought, this was an Act of God for sure,” said Goodings, with a laugh. “We couldn’t get back online but we recovered it, filmed the service and posted it later that day.”
Only three people were present in the church for the service: Goodings, organist and musician Paul Sloan and Jason White of JYT Media, who had offered to film the service, which made it easy for the trio to practise physical distancing while filming took place.
Goodings said the service has been popular, with about 100 people tuning in on Sunday and about 300 more watching since.
“It didn’t hurt the viewership, so it worked out,” he said.
Goodings said it was a bit of an adjustment for him, speaking to a camera in place of a congregation.
“The interesting thing to me is, my congregation is made up mostly of people 65 and older. But we adapt. The linkage has been good with our congregants. They’re computer-savvy in a way that’s really amazing,” he said.
“We’re all learning how to connect while (observing) physical distancing,” Goodings added.
Goodings said he’s also been posting articles to the church’s Facebook page, which he didn’t do previous to the pandemic, but has also been very successful in keeping connected.
Plans are in place to film the service every week as long physical distancing is still in place in Collingwood and beyond, and Goodings doesn’t rule out the possibility of continuing even after the pandemic is over.
“I think this has brought us into a new era of how we will do church in the future, and it will include online services and postings in a way,” said Goodings. “We were doing it before but not nearly as deliberately as we are now. It’s changing how we reach each other.”
To tune in, follow Trinity United Church’s Facebook page here.
Pastor Paul Wilkes of First Baptist Church in Collingwood is also putting services on his YouTube page here.
Living Faith Christian Church is broadcasting live via Facebook on Sunday mornings and through the week.
Journey Community Church is broadcasting live via YouTube and Facebook on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. and through the week.
Christ our Hope Lutheran Church is broadcasting live via YouTube and Facebook daily.
First Presbyterian Church is live streaming and posting updates on Facebook.
New Life Church is streaming on YouTube LIVE and posting several weekly programs to www.newlifecollingwood.com.
Collingwood Fellowship Baptist Church is also streaming services live on its website.
Clearview Community Church is live streaming during the COVID-19 pandemic, and offering other help including grocery delivery. More on their website here.
Let us know if your Collingwood church has switched to an online service, and we can add the information. Email [email protected].
