Technology keeps congregations connected

During the COVID-19 pandemic, churches in the Battlefords have been creative continuing services to their congregations and provide spiritual help during these uncertain times.
Here is a sample of what some of the churches in the Battlefords are doing.
St. George’s and St. Paul’s Anglican Churches:
Trevor Malyon said they record services. He went into the church on Good Friday to record the Easter service with communion. Malyon gave the homily and a lay assistant, deacon, pianist and two choir members helped with the Easter Sunday service.
“We are very cautious, by keeping our distance,”  he explained.
The 45-minute service was uploaded to Facebook and YouTube. They also emailed the recording to congregation members.
During the service, Malyon rang the church bells at 11 a.m. and he encouraged the ringing of other bells. On Sunday, four cars pulled up at 11 a.m. and the occupants sang hymns together from their cars.
The church is also keeping in contact by calling members throughout the week and encouraging others to do the same.
“We are stronger and more together than what we thought initially. Not just in regular members but all the different churches,” Maylon says.
Trinity Baptist Church
Dan Millard Is using Zoom to connect with the Baptist congregation, offering Sunday services and Wednesday night prayer and devotional. They are also using it to keep in contact with their congregation
Communion was also conducted via Zoom, with participants supplying their own juice and cracker at home.
Millard says he is working on getting people connected who don’t have internet or a computer.
To be part of the Zoom calls visit  www.trinitybaptistchurch.ca to request to join. A link will be provided.
Battlefords Grace Community Church
Battlefords Grace Community Church is part of the National Church of Grace Communion International Canada. For Easter, the congregation joined the national Zoom call where local pastor and Canadian director, Bill Hall, gave the Easter message. For communion everyone supplied their own wine/juice and bread, but the ritual was shared while participants isolated themselves in their homes.
Hall also played Queen Elizabeth's message during the Zoom call. Those without access to a computer could use a telephone to connect with the Zoom call.
As the situation continues, congregation members will have the option to continue to join the national Zoom call, which will have a new guest speaker every Sunday and/or they can join the Zoom call that will be set up for congregations in Saskatchewan.
This Sunday's call will feature the pastor from Newfoundland Churches. Those wishing to join in can message info@gcicanada.ca.
Emmanuel Pentecostal Fellowship
Kevin Mullin, lead pastor, says, “Since mid-March we have been doing our services online. We do the recording in our home (my wife and I) of the sermon and some scripture readings as well. Our worship team, Canada’s Double Portion  ‑‑ www.doubleportion.ca ‑‑ record the worship segment in their home and upload it to me when it is finished and I compile the video at my home. It has worked wonderfully.”
It is broadcast on their Facebook page ‑‑ Emmanuel Pentecostal Fellowship ‑‑ and YouTube channel, EPF North Battleford.   
Good Friday featured a joint ecumenical service by Emmanuel Pentecostal and Territorial Drive Alliance Church, Living Faith Chapel, Battleford Foursquare Gospel Outreach and Moosomin Native Fellowship Church.
“We put together a one-hour video and broadcast it ‘live’ on the respective churches' YouTube and Facebook channels and pages, Mullin says. “It went really well and I know that there were many who tuned in.”
Easter Sunday Emmanuel hosted a service online. They put together a greeting video of members saying “hello’ to each other virtually.  
“We had 18 videos come in with a total of 77 people on screen,” he says. “It was great. We will be uploading the greeting video to our Facebook page this week.”
In order for their membership stay connected during this isolation time, calls and texts are made throughout the week. For more information contact Mullin via their web page at https://www.emmanuelpentecostalfellowship.com
Third Avenue United Church
Dexter van Dyke, minister of the church, mentioned that since the congregation last met in person on March 15 they have recorded the audio from their service on their website at https://www.thirdavenueunitedchurchnb.ca where people can also find the Order of Service and follow along.
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday services were online and included the celebration of communion. On Easter at 10:30 a.m., organist Glenn Goodman broadcast 20 minutes of Easter music with chimes and pipe organ through the outdoor speakers at the church.
“In addition, in the links section of our website we provide links to other United Church congregations who are live streaming and archiving their services,” van Dyke says.
“We post a weekly YouTube message from our minister on the website. Besides offering pastoral care by phone we also encourage our membership to keep in contact with each other,” he adds.
For more information contact van Dyke through the web site.