The Church of the Palms is stepping solidly into the future of being “the church” to those who cannot physically be present for classes, events or worship. Ten Hewlett Packard Chromebook computers have been purchased through a grant to enable anyone to participate who doesn’t have access to Internet or cellphone.
The new “hybrid” church model was dropped into our laps with COVID and we have been doing a portion of hybrid ministry since July of 2020 with our on-line ZOOM classes and recorded worship services posted on the church’s website. “Hybrid” means in person and via Zoom…your choice.
NOW we have the capacity for a church participant to borrow a pre-loaded Church of the Palms computer to use in their own home. It contains immediate access to the Church of the Palms website and there you find all the events, worship services, classes and much more in which you can choose to participate. A church volunteer will be assigned to assist you in learning the easy steps to be involved in real time classes or look at pre-recorded events, etc. You merely check the computer out—like you would from any library—and return it when you are finished. If you find that you are not using the computer as you thought you would, you are asked to return it as there is a waiting list of borrowers.
As easy as 1-2-3. Call the church office at 623-977-8359 and tell Lindsey your name, address and phone number. A volunteer computer trainer will contact you to arrange a time to meet you at the church, or bring it to your home, and give you instructions on how to use it to connect to the church’s website. All that is needed is an ID, your name, address and phone number.
HYBRID…a new way to be involved with church for anyone! What an exciting idea…an evolution of our church’s mission statement of “inclusive.”