Dear Members and Friends,
A “Hybrid Service” is not one where we have both a Rabbi and a UU minister on the same Sunday. Nor is it one that uses both gasoline and electricity to propel it, just people, electricity, and the internet. It is one where the worship service takes place in our sanctuary, with people in the building, and is also broadcast via the internet to the larger community for those who are unable to attend in person. YES, this is one good thing that came out of being locked out of our church for more than a year.
To make this possible the UUCV applied for and received a “Matching Fund” grant opportunity from the Spirit Level Foundation (SLF). Our grant application lists $16,000 in equipment that will be needed for our hybrid ministry to be a reality. SLF will give us $8,000 for the necessary equipment of cameras, screens and more if we have donors who will match their grant with $8,000 of our own donations. Those contributions can be in increments of $5 to $500. This means that many of us will be able to participate and support this project.
Recently, the Board approved the Re-Opening Team’s recommendation to make Berg Hall available for small group meetings. Our current Re-Opening plan is to continue to gradually make more of the church available, the sanctuary, conference room, green room and garage to groups for activities as we move forward. We will keep our services on Zoom and streaming on YouTube through the summer.
We are lucky to have talented people who can create and produce our online worship services, but our electronic equipment was never intended to produce such programs. Kitty Merrill, with help from others, created an incredibly detailed plan of what we need to do this. The hope is that we can get the equipment purchased and installed by early August. That timeline will allow Rev. Dana, the Worship Associates, Tech Team, Carolyn, and Fidelity to stream worship from the sanctuary a few times before we fully re-open with a live audience. If all goes well and Covid transmission remains low, we will come together in person and online on September 12 for our Water Communion service.
So, there is some urgency to make this opportunity from the Spirit Level Foundation a reality. Would you like to be one of the partners providing donations for this special opportunity? We already have $3,000 pledged for these upgrades. If you would like to join in on this, please call or email me, David Smith, at 805-216-9331 or davidpaseo001@gmail.com.
David Smith, for the Finance Committee.
Bryan Buck, for the Generosity and Re-opening Teams.
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