Churches have discovered new and creative ways to fulfill their mission while adhering to public health regulations over the past year, according to Dennis Friesen, lead pastor of the Dalmeny Bible Church.
“The pandemic experience has certainly stretched us,” said Friesen. “It’s required us to not depend on people coming to us, but to reach out to people in the community.”
On Sunday, May 30, Step One of the province’s re-opening plan came into effect, allowing churches to accommodate 30% capacity or 150 people, whichever is less. Churches will be able to go to full capacity during Step Three of the plan, expected sometime in July, provided that 70% of the population age 18 and over have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Over the past year, limitations on indoor gatherings have fluctuated.
That’s meant churches have turned to heavier reliance on technology, with more online live-streaming and posting of pre-recorded sermons.
“It’s forced us to adapt because the rules kept changing so often,” said Martensville Baptist Church lead pastor Harv Sawatzky. “That’s been a bit frustrating, but overall it’s provided some good lessons.
“We’ve learned to be innovative. We never used to have live-streamed services, but now they’re an accepted way for people to connect with the church and for the church to connect with its members and others.”
Sawatzky said the first three months of the pandemic, beginning in March, 2020, were extremely hard on everyone.
“At the very beginning, when everything simply shut down, it wasn’t something anyone was prepared for,” said Sawatzky. “We had less than three days’ warning to learn how to do a live-streamed service.
“We did a quick recording and put it up on YouTube and shared the link, but honestly, there was a little tinge of panic there during those first few days.
“Video-editing was not something we took in seminary classes back in my day.”
Friesen agreed the investment in electronic equipment and the work involved in pre-recorded weekly worship services are significant. But, he added, the church is now better equipped for the future, and has reached out to people who may not otherwise have been comfortable attending services in person.
“We’re really looking forward to having all the restrictions lifted, hopefully later this summer,” said Friesen. “It’s always much better to connect with people in person.
“But we made the decision early on to follow the public health guidelines, and felt that the best way to communicate with people was to invest in the cameras, the software and other equipment and do our best. It’s been worth it because we can use this equipment for many years to come.”
Friesen said the church elders and staff have responded with “positivity and creativity” during the pandemic, finding new ways to connect with the community.
For St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church pastor Peter Knelson, who took up his duties with the church in Warman last fall shortly after graduation, the biggest challenge wasn’t learning the technology; it was adapting to rows of near-empty pews.
“I was expecting to come to a church and being able to interact with people and share the gospel message,” said Knelson. “Thankfully, I’ve been able to do that, but it’s in a different way than I anticipated.”
Knelson said while some people feared the pandemic would cause people to drift away from the church, he doesn’t think that’s the case.
“What’s been clear throughout the pandemic is that Christ is with us always,” said Knelson. “We have gone through a very difficult time but He has been guiding us through every situation we find ourselves in.”
Knelson said he’s been impressed with how members of the congregation have responded to the pandemic.
“I think most people right now are feeling a sense of relief, that there is some light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “Over the past year, because attendance has been limited, we’ve had two groups of people, with each group coming on alternate Sundays. Everyone has been patient and looking forward to a return to normal.
“The in-person services are the heart of every church, and we’ve been doing that as safely as possible according to the health regulations.”