Ordained in a Pandemic

Who would have thought my ordination would happen in the middle of a deadly pandemic? Now 10 months into "pandemic times," creating sacred space online is no longer such a novelty.

The process began long before ordination. Tri-County Unitarian Universalists were already using technology to enhance worship. I learned from the best.

For my ordination, we needed to blend the virtual and physical spaces into a single experience. At a small Presbyterian church right in my hometown, my immediate family "covid bubble" gathered in real life.

We worked with Grisé Audio Visual, an event tech company located in nearby Erie, PA. The challenge: bring enough technology into a 200-year-old church for those on-site to fully experience the virtual elements on Zoom, and vice versa.

Mr. Grise operated three 42-inch monitors, an articulating PTZ camera, and a full sound system from a little make-shift AV booth in the back.

The result was a success!

Mom and Dad were honored to present my very first stole, a gift from Tri-County Unitarian Universalists.