We have continued with our unusual year of decisions about managing virtual and in-person services, use of the sanctuary, and keeping contact with people’s concerns.

Monthly meetings continued virtually until autumn when we met after our first in-sanctuary services. We maintained the option of board members attending virtually if they were not at the service.

Review of council minutes: Every month we review the council activities as they often relate to the work of Deacons: where we will hold services, the role of Deacons with virtual/in person services, outside groups use of the church, etc.

Virtual worship/indoor services: In May we decided to have our first outdoor service in June. We asked people to wear masks and bring their own chairs. We continued with the Zoom option and still only did a limited amount of singing.

Due to issues with sound and technology and a sense of missing being together in the sanctuary; the decision was made to have services indoors – masked, contact tracing, spaced seating, no singing, Zoom services. Deacons learned to manage the camera. Diane Leavitt continued to assist with the Zoom option. We decided to continue Zoom links when we returned to the sanctuary as there would still be those who couldn’t come because of concerns for catching Covid-19 or because they live way away. Erik and Mary Jane provided music in the virtual services and then in the sanctuary. There was no choir until the Christmas services. We decided to end the service after community concerns and then have all move outside for a message with the kids (who were outside under the tent), a hymn, and a blessing. The start date for this was September 5 and it continued through the fall and early winter.

Deacon assignments: While our services were strictly virtual we assigned deacons to be co-hosts with Peter during services to assist with managing the technology aspect. Also deacons kept the attendance log to help us track numbers of folks at each service. When we did resume services in the sanctuary, Deacon of the Day kept attendance, lit candles, kept spacing signs in the pews, took the offering, and extinguished the candles when all went outside.

A constant concern was how to maintain a sense of community between the virtual and in-person attendees. Whether virtual or in person the split service presented issues. There were only a small number of participants in the sanctuary and those who were there missed those who weren’t. The virtual services were special in there own way but those participants missed the personal connection that came from being present in the sanctuary. As we kept our count of attendees and saw shifts in attendance, we continually considered things we could do to meet the needs of both groups and keep us together as a community.

Special services and calendar events: dates for church start up in September, plans for pledge drive, plans for tag sale, and any other special needs related to Deacon work. Throughout the year we considered the need for a custodian, special services for Easter, Children’s Sunday, end of season in July, startup in September, pledge Sunday, and a guest preacher when Peter was away for one weekend.

Deacons during a Pandemic: As we look back on the past two years it is clear that our task has been to work with Peter, Mary Jane, Erik, and Lori to maintain a faithful and loving community amidst all the adjustments we had to make due to the pandemic. We appreciate everyone’s participation in that effort and willingness to accept changes as we went along.

Respectfully submitted,

Cindy Senning – co-chair, John Bollard – co-chair, Rebecca Noyes, Pat King, June Hibbs, and Laura Hardie