There are times that one is walking along a path, and –all of the sudden—they feel themselves free-falling to the ground. Unfortunately, it just happens. In split-second reaction, they try to brace for the impact of their body to the ground, hoping they are falling in a way that allows them to walk away without injury. However, in those moments, they do what they can to simply get through. The processing and perhaps even tending to wounds or injuries happen after the fall. In the moment of the disruption, we all are charged to get through the best way we know how.

For the past three Sundays, there have been technical challenges that have cropped up unexpectantly. Let me be clear: it is not operator neglect or error. Our team is working overtime to make sure the elements of worship are done well, to include sound and visual components. 

In worship, we’ve struggled with open microphones, sound issues, and audio-visual challenges that have brought us to our knees. We’ve been dealing with these disruptions for weeks, and the impact is great, I know.

The truth is, the processing power our worship requires burdens our current computers. The visuals of the screens stream through that computer, as well as Zoom and our connection to YouTube. If one part fails, every component is impacted, and the disruption swells throughout all of worship. The system seems to peter out after 45 minutes or so.

Let me personally apologize for the disruptions. This is no time to spiritualize this or attempt to make it make sense. When we get to a place that we can resume worship without challenges, we’ll make sense of things. For now, hang in there. Pray for our team. Pray for yourself and everyone who relies on worship to get through the week.

Please know we are doing all we can to mitigate and improve our hybrid worship experience, while also acknowledging that sometimes things fall apart. I pray that we can hold each other in love, patience and compassion, even in the disruptions.  --Rev. Dr. Kelle Brown