The Rev. Amy Fiorilli: 'Real connection is still happening' - By Sarah E. Reynolds - Belfast - Waldo
What a year it has been for the Rev. Amy Fiorilli. She began her first position as an ordained minister at Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast in June 2019, then in January she lost her father, and in March the governor declared a state of civil emergency and issued her stay-at-home tidy to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Since the shutdown, the church first livestreamed Sunday services on Facebook, then switched to holding them on Zoom. Fiorilli said there is a half-hour of chat where church members greet each other from 9:30 to 10 a.m., then church begins; the link is on the welcome page of its website, uubelfast.com.
There is also a vespers service at 6 p.m. Tuesdays, and a weekly chat on Thursdays at 10 a.m. called "Connections," with a question of the day and a chance to check in, which she plans to retain after in-person services resume. In addition, committee meetings and small group ministry activities are held via Zoom.
She said she was encouraged by how quickly her congregation made the transition from doing everything in person to operating in the virtual world. And members who are not online have not been forgotten: the Caring Circle knows who those members are, and stays in touch with them by phone, making referral to Fiorilli for pastoral care as needed. The church also uses its Facebook page and email lists to keep everyone up-to-date on its activities.
The church is also fortunate to have a ministerial intern this year — a position Fiorilli herself held at the church two years ago — who has offered tech tutorials to help church members use Zoom and do other things online, she said.
As part of its outreach to the community, some church members helped make meals for Tall Pines employees after the facility's Commons nursing unit had an outbreak of COVID-19 in April. In addition, the church supports From Above ministry to homeless people in Belfast, which is run by members Matt Bolduc and David Smith. Members have also been taking part in the weekend demonstrations seeking an end to police violence and racism. And she is running an online book group on racism that meets Thursday evenings, which has attracted about two dozen participants.
Fiorilli said people who have not previously attended a service at her church have been taking part in the services on Zoom, and relatives of members log on from around the country. She added that having the services online helps people who are homebound or hearing impaired feel more a part of worship. Even online "real connection is still happening," she said.
Fiorilli grew up in Waldo and received her master's in social work before going to seminary.
Since the shutdown, the church first livestreamed Sunday services on Facebook, then switched to holding them on Zoom. Fiorilli said there is a half-hour of chat where church members greet each other from 9:30 to 10 a.m., then church begins; the link is on the welcome page of its website, uubelfast.com.
There is also a vespers service at 6 p.m. Tuesdays, and a weekly chat on Thursdays at 10 a.m. called "Connections," with a question of the day and a chance to check in, which she plans to retain after in-person services resume. In addition, committee meetings and small group ministry activities are held via Zoom.
She said she was encouraged by how quickly her congregation made the transition from doing everything in person to operating in the virtual world. And members who are not online have not been forgotten: the Caring Circle knows who those members are, and stays in touch with them by phone, making referral to Fiorilli for pastoral care as needed. The church also uses its Facebook page and email lists to keep everyone up-to-date on its activities.
The church is also fortunate to have a ministerial intern this year — a position Fiorilli herself held at the church two years ago — who has offered tech tutorials to help church members use Zoom and do other things online, she said.
As part of its outreach to the community, some church members helped make meals for Tall Pines employees after the facility's Commons nursing unit had an outbreak of COVID-19 in April. In addition, the church supports From Above ministry to homeless people in Belfast, which is run by members Matt Bolduc and David Smith. Members have also been taking part in the weekend demonstrations seeking an end to police violence and racism. And she is running an online book group on racism that meets Thursday evenings, which has attracted about two dozen participants.
Fiorilli said people who have not previously attended a service at her church have been taking part in the services on Zoom, and relatives of members log on from around the country. She added that having the services online helps people who are homebound or hearing impaired feel more a part of worship. Even online "real connection is still happening," she said.
Fiorilli grew up in Waldo and received her master's in social work before going to seminary.
Editor's note: Our series of interviews with Waldo County clergy explores how their congregations are finding new ways to admire, to connect with each other and the wider community, and to find hope and encouragement in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Clergy interested in participating in the series may contact the editor at sreynolds@villagesoup.com or 338-3334, ext. 110.
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SRC: https://waldo.villagesoup.com/p/the-rev-amy-fiorilli-real-connection-is-still-happening/1861396
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