 |  | (At left) At Fairview Presbyterian Church (Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery), Pastor Emily Zeig Lindsey had been streaming worship from her laptop perched on a box on top of the pulpit, before the church purchased a camera with the Synod’s Technology Grant. (At right) The Sanctuary Tech Team works on getting the camera set up. Initially, the camera allowed Fairview Church to stream worship live from the sanctuary, while the congregation Zoomed in from home. |
 |  | (At left) Beechwoods Presbyterian Church (Kiskiminetas Presbytery) used the Synod’s Technology Grant to purchase a sound system for their outdoor worship services. The congregations started worshiping outdoors at the church pavilion on the last Sunday of June and came back inside to the sanctuary the last Sunday of September. (At right) The equipment purchased from the grant is still allowing those folks not wishing to come inside the building to bring a chair and sit outside on the lawn or stay in their vehicles and hear perfectly. Our pastors, Dave and Emily Koehler, have also reached friends and family near and far by using Facebook Live, YouTube and Zoom and that all started with the shutdown in March and continues to-date. |
 |  | Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle (Presbytery of Carlisle) purchased a Meeting Owl 360-degreee camera and speaker with the Synod’s Technology Grant. The congregation has been using the Owl to create a hybrid staff meeting: five people socially distanced in a conference room with two people Zooming in from their homes for health reasons. The church is using the Owl extensively as its ministries resume in-building gatherings. The Owl allows people who are quarantining to join in easily and safely. |
| Weatherly and Freeland Presbyterian Churches (Presbytery of Lehigh) | Both churches now are in position to livestream services that will reach out to shut-ins, nursing homes, hospitals and others. The Freeland Presbyterian Church is fully operational. We have not returned to the building due to the recent surge in the virus. We did record in the building a Community Advent/Christmas Carol Songfest that will be available on YouTube. | The First Presbyterian Church of Weatherly has all equipment ready to go but have been held up by the internet provider. As soon as they resolve the problems then have we can proceed. Again the recent surge has been a problem. |
 |  | Cross Roads Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh Presbytery (click here for report) |
| New Bethlehem Presbyterian Church (Beaver-Butler Presbytery) | Several months ago, we received the Synod’s Technology Grant, which has enabled our small congregation to plan for the expansion of our streaming service. Like so many congregations, the pandemic revealed the willingness and desire of active church members to participate in worship via web streaming service, but our first attempt was rather lackluster because of our limited technology. The number of people who streamed the service in those early days was most often greater than most church holidays. We quickly realized that streaming the worship service would be part of the “new normal” that would help us to remain connected to home-bound members, college students and snowbirds long after the pandemic has abated. | We used the Technology Grant to purchase a laptop that will integrate a digital camera and our existing church sound system. As soon as we’ve purchased the additional components, we’ll be able to provide a visually-appealing livestreaming experience with quality sound. We expect to be up and running before Christmas. It is a joy to be supported in ministry by the larger church and to be a part of something larger than ourselves (or our individual church). We praise God for the work of the Synod of the Trinity! |
| Valley Presbyterian Church (Pittsburgh Presbytery) | Valley Presbyterian is pleased to report that we have purchased new computer equipment for our sound room, our church office and a new laptop for our pastor. The office computer has been installed and is in use. It's a wonderful upgrade from our former (very slow) computer. The laptop was an instant upgrade for our pastor, allowing video participation in electronic meetings over this COVID year. The sound room computer is installed and our sound room coordinator is working on learning the upgraded MediaShout program. Once the new programing is learned, we will switch all of the components over to the new system. We are hoping to have this completed before year's end. | The Technology Grant from the Synod was combined with an additional technology grant from Pittsburgh Presbytery. In addition, we continue to solicit funds from our congregation to pay for all of the technology upgrades that have been installed. Many thanks to the Synod for this grant that was the impetus for our technology upgrades. |
| Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church (Shenango Presbytery) | Click here to read the report on this congregation's use of the Synod's Technology Grant funds. | |
| Bessemer Presbyterian Church (Shenango Presbytery) | We requested the funds to add a new camera and a computer system to our sanctuary in order to improve our streaming capabilities. Prior to the pandemic, they were fairly rudimentary with a basic webcam and computer set up. During the pandemic, we switched to pre-recording on an iPhone, but as we approached returning to in-person worship in July, we realized that we not only needed a different set up but a dedicated and newer computer to meet the needs of livestreaming at the level we had been pre-recording (with positive results in terms of views). We purchased the computer and camera in August, utilizing the Synod's funds as well as those of a few generous members of our congregation. We installed everything, and worked for a few weeks at making sure all the details were in place. We also invested in faster internet service for the church, which enabled nearly flawless live-streaming. | Our system uses a Canon Vixia camcorder mounted on the wall, attached by cables to the Mac Mini computer. Sound comes directly from our mixer into the computer to provide high-quality sound for the recording. From here, using free software, we are able to process the video for streaming on our Facebook and YouTube channels. The computer also runs our presentation software for worship, which is able to be integrated into the video output. As we've become more familiar with the technology, we've been able to add video and other enhancements to our worship to make a truly wonderful experience each Sunday. Overall, this setup has really enhanced our capabilities for live-streaming worship and has been a great blessing to a number of our congregation members who have not ventured out for in-person worship due to the continuing pandemic. Additionally, we have not only connected with former members who have moved away, but we have also been able to interact with other locals who have participated in worship with us virtually. Thank you for providing this for us during this season. |
| Nottingham Presbyterian Church (Presbytery of Donegal) | We want to thank the Synod for its support in upgrading our technology so that we can send out recorded services. We are now able to record, edit and develop both videos (which are posted to our website and Facebook pages as well as a link being sent by email to all the people in our congregation who have email addresses) and DVDs, which we send to those who don't have internet but want the recorded services. We also upgraded our licenses to include streaming permissions. We bought a new microphone and camera, accompanying cords and such. | We had a steep learning curve but are continuing to work with this technology to provide services to our congregation and beyond. We have people in New Zealand, Florida, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and probably some other places that we don't know about listening to our worship services! Thank you, again, for supporting the congregations of our Synod in this way! |
| Dayton Glade Run Presbyterian Church (Kiskiminetas Presbytery) | As we find ourselves embarking on the second wave of the COVID pandemic, in no way do we find ourselves back at square one where we were in March when the pandemic first hit and we had to suspend our worship services. Due to our church’s acceptance of new technology and the assistance of Synod grant funds, we find ourselves benefiting from an entirely new world of spreading the Gospel – virtual church! Once we received the grant funds, we purchased the necessary equipment to put forth a quality online (virtual) service via a YouTube channel and our church website. Over the summer we had many growing pains with the installation of our equipment, most of all being the capability to upload our service with very slow internet speeds. However, with each hurdle and the congregation’s patience, we have gotten to a place where, with the second wave hitting, we can actually keep going “virtually” without skipping a beat. We did have both in-person and virtual services operating until now. Currently, we are under a two-week “pause” and conducting virtual church only for Nov. 29 & Dec. 6. This pause happens to coincide with our local school district as well. Local cases are rising and with the Thanksgiving holiday, its best we protect our people. And since we have obtained the proper equipment to have an online ministry that will last long after COVID, we can safely worship at home for as long as needed. | With our services being viewed on YouTube and Facebook via link, our congregation and mission of our church has enlarged. We have made many “virtual connections” that we want to keep and foster. Therefore, the online service is just the beginning. Technology will begin to become more and more a part of our small rural congregation. The grants are a much valued asset to any church…… but was a lifeline to ours with obtaining technology. Back in March, when offering money was not a guarantee, it would have been mighty hard to convince the older generation in our church to spend the money when we didn’t know how long our money would last. So, please don’t underestimate the importance of these grant funds. They provided us with just a little bit of a safety net in a very much uncertain world. We are thankful and grateful you chose us as one of the grant recipients. We are fully aware that God provides everything and works through others to accomplish His plan and purpose for His people. We thank you for your continued dedication to serving God and the Church. |
| Elmwood Avenue Presbyterian Church in the Presbytery of Lake Erie (click here for report) |  |  |
| Presbyterian Church of Kane in Presbytery of Lake Erie (click here for report) |  |  |
| Plains Presbyterian Church in Beaver-Butler Presbytery (click here for report) |  |  |
| East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church (Presbytery of Lehigh) | We at ESPC have learned much in this challenging time of COVID-19. Live online streaming has become an important resource for our congregation. With the funds from the grant along with the matching $500 from our congregation, we were able to purchase a dedicated computer, a new tripod and additional computer accessories that have greatly increased the ability to stream live from the sanctuary. We also used some of the funds to upgrade our cable modem and thus improve the internet to the entire church. As we have returned to in-person worship, the improved internet has permitted us to stream the service to additional rooms to allow for appropriate social distancing. With Advent and Christmas quickly approaching, we plan to use the new computer to burn DVDs to deliver to those in our congregation who do not have internet. As we continue to learn and adapt during this pandemic, we continue to find new ways that this new technology can help us spread Christ’s gospel message of love to any and all who are open to it. |  |
| Shelocta Community Presbyterian Church in Kiskiminetas Presbytery (click here for report) |  |  |
| First United Presbyterian Church of Crafton Heights in Pittsburgh Presbytery (click here for report) |  |  |
| First Westminster Presbyterian Church (Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery) | First Westminster Presbyterian Church recently used the awarded grant money to purchase a Lenovo Touch-Screen lap top. The new technology equipment piece allows First Westminster Presbyterian to access various communication channels to connect with our congregation and the community. Some tools that are utilized daily: Our Website (www.firstwestminster.org); Facebook Page (First Westminster Presbyterian Church); online programs Constant Contact, email and Canva; plus Facebook/Insight Data. Total Followers as of late November is 1,083 (in May of 2019 we only had 400 followers). Our community on social continues to grow. We livestream every service on Sunday on Facebook, and the service is then uploaded to our website. We have anywhere between 60-80 family units watching weekly. Approximately 10,000 post reaches typically take place during a month time period. | We are on social media to reach people. Keep in mind our audience may not know anything about us or the purpose of a church. We want them to see who we are and what we do. For example, our mission statement at First Westminster is simple, but extremely important: “Love God, Love Others.” The new laptop allows for graphic work design to be completed and showcased on a variety of communication channels. Staying virtually connected is more powerful now than ever. We have an online component to just about everything we do. It’s not just about Sundays! It’s about relationships! It’s about staying connected everyday! Relationships matter! Communities Matter! We continue to use strategic marketing efforts to embrace our mission to Love God and Love Others. |
| Hope of Christ Church in Lehigh Presbytery (click here for report) |  |  |
| Union First Presbyterian Church of Cowansville (Kiskiminetas Presbytery) | Progress has been very good. We have ordered, received and installed the new transmitters and microphones to address the new FCC standards. They are utilized on a weekly basis. We have received and are utilizing our new camera and tripod weekly to provide live broadcasts of our worship service on Facebook. We found it necessary to replace our WIFI system and to move our internet source to Comcast in order to successfully produce live broadcasts. | We had four hardwired drops placed in our office, sanctuary, and pastor’s office. We have purchased the radio transmitter and presently are working to acquire microphones so we can broadcast our services into our parking lot. Progress has been very good and we continue to develop our plan. We again thank the Synod of the Trinity for the grant and support. |
| Galilean Presbyterian Church (Beaver-Butler Presbytery) |  | Click here for report |
| Grace Presbyterian Church, Kittanning (Kiskiminetas Presbytery) |  | Click here for a video report |
| Clarks Summit Presbyterian Church (Lackawanna Presbytery) |  | Click here for report |
| Wurtemburg Presbyterian Church (Presbytery of Shenango) | 2020 has been a year of challenges for most of us, and the timing of the Technology Grant could not have been better for our congregation at Wurtemburg. We are a very traditional, tight-knit, socially active congregation. But when the COVID virus hit, we were confronted with the reality that we were not quite equipped to adapt to the resulting isolation. We have many members, including those in leadership positions, who have underlying health conditions and who remained eager to participate, but from a safe distance. We realized that it was time to invest in the equipment required to keep everyone connected and active. The basics, of course, involved becoming equipped to record and livestream our services. But we realized quickly that this did not ensure all our members could participate, as several were unable to receive our broadcasts on their end. So, we equipped them in their homes with DVD players that could play these recordings on their own TV's. | We also realized that while these measures helped our isolated members receive what we send, the communication was only going one direction. There were several faces we hadn't seen in months. So, we used advent as an occasion for holiday greetings, where various members recorded videos with their sentiments and reflections, that were then projected for all to appreciate during our weekly worship. This Technology Grant has indeed been a lifeline for us, and we are deeply grateful for the way it has equipped us to continue broad participation despite being socially distant. |
| Old Union Presbyterian Church (Beaver-Butler Presbytery) | We are very grateful at Old Union Church in Mars, PA, for the grant we received from the Synod, which enabled us both to upgrade/replace our sound system and to install livestreaming capabilities. When COVID restrictions began we spent two weeks using a cell phone before purchasing a hand-held video camera to plug into a laptop. The quality was low, we had very limited flexibility for what we could do, and of course we really didn't like having a camera sitting in the middle of our sanctuary's center aisle. We now have a camera installed on the sanctuary wall, which is fully integrated into our new digital sound system. Two of our members are fully conversant in how to run the system. | Because of concerns about privacy for those in worship and those being named in our prayer requests, we run our livestream through our church's Facebook group. We moderate membership into our group to ensure that those who join are doing so for the "right" reasons, and not to spam, troll or whatever. As a result, a number of former members are now regular participants in our worship service, and many people who would never come physically to our church even under normal circumstances have become "regulars." We even have a gentleman from Brazil who has now become part of our church family. |
| Covenant United Presbyterian Church in Beaver-Butler Presbytery (click here for report) |  |  |
