Time in a Bottle
FROM THE MEDIA SPECIALIST
I love the song “Time in a Bottle” by Jim Croce. Not only is it a beautifully crafted song, but it also presents a concept that has inspired me for a long time. At an early age, as soon as I was handed my first VHS camcorder, I loved the idea of creating and capturing moments that could be enjoyed again and again. Video allows us to capture finite moments in time that we can then cherish and share for a lifetime.
When I was serving as the assistant youth minister in 2009, I proposed that we install a camera at the back of the church to be able to project into the parish hall, giving us the opportunity to serve a second congregation simultaneously for large services. With that in place, I decided to try hooking up a laptop to record and upload the sermons to a YouTube channel. I was moved to capture and archive those moments of wisdom and guidance, as they could speak to people in different ways every time they are viewed.
We found that those sermons had a growing audience. Seeing the potential of connecting with a remote congregation, in 2014 Lowell Grisham supported my proposal to install a system that would allow us to stream our services live online. I was thrilled at the prospect that the things we could capture and preserve would include so many more of the sacred and special moments we share in our church life. That’s when the St. Paul’s Media Ministry emerged.
Six years later, the world came to a halt with a pandemic. All of a sudden, churches were scrambling to figure out how to get connected to a remote congregation. Our media ministry went from being a small part of our church body, to being the thin thread that connected us all. For me, it became a pandemic pilgrimage. I streamed 54 weeks in a row, knowing that it was crucial that the home-bound congregation have that lifeline to their spiritual practice and community. It was an honor for me and very fulfilling to serve in that way.
The ministry has multiplied like the loaves and fishes. Our YouTube channel now has over 800 subscribers. We average 1200 views per month, and have now had over 100K views on the channel. We have people who are away tuning in from all over the country who want to stay connected to their St. Paul’s community. Sermons are available as a podcast on Soundcloud, which have had 40K listens. Our services, concerts, and lectures are broadcast the following week on Fayetteville Public Television. The ministry and work of St Paul’s is reaching more people than ever. We have preserved countless precious moments in the walk of life, from baptisms, to marriages, to funerals. Generations to come will have the opportunity to look back and share those moments with us.
In my experience, the work that St. Paul’s does in the community is holy and miraculous. The thing that connects us is not the internet, the streaming system, or the person pushing buttons. Those are just the vehicle. The thing that connects us is God’s immeasurable love, and our offering that love to each other and those we serve. Having the opportunity to share and preserve these sacred moments is a gift I will always be grateful for.
Dan Robinson