|
Survey Summary
At the conclusion of worship on the last two Sundays in November (November 21 and 28, 2021), RRCC congregation members were asked to fill out a survey pertaining to our congregational and personal responses to the health crisis of the past two years. You may recall that the surveys were on light blue paper. Those who were not at the church to worship in person on those two Sundays received the surveys via U.S. mail, along with a stamped, church-addressed envelope in which to return the completed surveys.
We are grateful for your input! 47 people filled out the survey at the church, and 13 more mailed them in from home. 60 total responses is excellent for a congregation our size. Thank you so much! We have collected and combined all of your responses and comments into one document. Here are some of the highlights. Please note that response numbers don't always add up to 60, as people didn't always respond to every question. Also note that the comments listed here are only about half of all that we received.
1. Every Sunday beginning March 22, 2020 RRCC has offered online Sunday worship opportunities through zoom. Have you taken advantage of our online worship? Yes 55 No 5
If not, why not?
I have no internet access. 1
I could use zoom if I wanted to, but don’t like worshiping that way. 4
2. In your opinion, how important will it be for RRCC to continue offering online worship and online meeting options after the health crisis has ended?
extremely important 34
somewhat important 20
not necessary at all 3
3. How might RRCC use our improved online capabilities to do more to fulfill our mission of “embracing our neighbors with Christ-like love”?
• Advertise in a local paper and on the church sign
• Maybe more commentary on facebook
• Provide streaming option on website for anyone that wants to attend, not necessarily zoom
• Offer this survey to online people through a “google Forms” document
• Keep your website up to date
• Online should continue forever
• By being available to help people who have trouble with their computers
• Consider offering a technical support/training class
• We do need to encourage families, youth, and those struggling; include myself in doing more
• Better “advertise” RRCC’s opportunities online; contact RR Leader re: possible article or buy block in paper to “advertise” services offered; explore contacting nearby businesses/medical caregiver resources to share RRCC offerings that they might share with their patients/customers, clients, etc
4. If you have worshiped with us via zoom, circle all statements that are true for you:
Zoom was relatively easy to learn how to use. 49
Zoom has been a big challenge to try to use. 1
Zoom is pretty easy to use, but I don’t really like it. 5
Worshiping via zoom has become less and less satisfying in recent months. 12
I find that worshiping via zoom can be very relaxing and enjoyable. 32
I think zoom worship is as satisfying or even more satisfying than in-person worship. 8
5. How much did RRCC leadership, statements, and practices influence your decision whether or not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
no influence 40
some influence 9
great influence 5
6. Which of the following statements best reflects your perspective?
The decisions of our church leadership regarding safety measures and procedures have been
appropriate. 41
Safety measures and procedures at RRCC have been too restrictive. 11
Safety measures and procedures at RRCC have been too relaxed.
7. Regarding the previous question, has your perspective changed over time? In other words, would your answer to the previous question depend, for example, upon whether you were thinking about July of 2020 or July of 2021? If so, please explain.
• In July I would have been an a.; now it’s b.
• I think the safety measures have adapted appropriately through time
• A week ago I would have said we’re too restrictive, but with waves of increased infections, I feel we have been appropriate
• Became way way outdated
• Got tired of mask restrictions
• Perspective has only become more informed with science and data—the church’s response has been appropriate considering our congregation
• The church was somewhat slow to react to the Delta variant, but has been excellent since
• Yes, as shots have been made available, I feel the need for fellowship and gathering together is more important
• Restrictions have been somewhat extreme, but given our population, understandable
• [answered a. to previous question, thinking of July 2020] But now December 2021 seems too restrictive; I thought getting the vaccine allowed each of us to be with each other and without masks
• I was hoping to attend tomorrow, 12/5 but online shows that I must register first, somewhere; I guess I cannot attend even though I want to
• Yes; in 2020, the decisions were most appropriate; in 2021 they were perhaps a little restrictive though did not impact my ability to return to the building; rather my reasons to worship from home were due to other situations with family
• A little—I wish we could have used the building classrooms sooner
8. How did the health crisis impact your participation in RRCC worship and other congregational activities?
• Made me miss Sunday School
• It has impacted my participation with in-person activities for fear that I could spread COVID through my job to church
• We were glad to use zoom
• Felt isolated
• Wearing masks took some time to get comfortable with
• I kept participating as best I could
• It was very different going to zoom, but I felt zoom was also very intimate
• Missed some in person activities. I think we should relax some small group restrictions.
• Very depressing. Divided the country.
• I missed the eating and fellowship opportunities that we could offer.
• No significant impact
• Missed being with others. Fellowship. Missed music.
• I flowed with the process. Actually liked not having to drive—could just click in at 11 a.m.
• It allowed me to start attending; before zoom, we were too far away to attend
• I attended online some times that I might not have been able to attend in person
• In 2020, the new worship thru zoom was a little different and I missed seeing everyone in person and participating in choir; in 2021, it’s not been the health crisis impacting me; it’s been other situations impacting my participation
• Was not comfortable around others. Zoom only! Was wonderful!
9. How did the health crisis impact your spiritual, mental, and physical health?
• I practiced resiliency
• It made me just feel isolated.
• Exceptionally draining and frustrating
• We are all spiritually, mentally, and physically drained, but participating in church helps
• Felt lonely at times, but zoom worship and meeting were a good substitute
• Spiritual—definitely relied more on God. Physical—no change. Mental—exhausting (too many unknowns and variables).
• It’s been stressful mentally and physically; if anything, it has helped my spiritual health
• Mentally challenging. Online opportunities have been a blessing.
• Spent more time in prayer
• Yes, less connection with other worshipper and the work of the church
• More time to spend on spiritual. However, mental anguish, depression, were experienced. Less exercise has yielded weak muscles.
• More stress
• Feeling more anxious about my health and what is going on in the world
• It made me do some extra spiritual work
• Increased anxiety, frustration, anger, and disappointment
• It has been draining emotionally, especially separation from family. the availability of vaccines lifted much of the anxiety, but the first year was extremely anxious; being together (virtually) with church family was a vital lifeline
• No effect
• It slowed down the pace of life which was good; life was not the rat race on a daily basis
• Impacted me spiritually and mentally
• My spiritual life increased—increased prayer time; mental health was taxing only because of so many unknowns and constantly changing info
10. If you have any other comments, please share them here.
• Thank for you flexibility with everything. Keep GB meetings virtual.
• More outside opportunities. Trunk or Treat was a missed opportunity.
• I think it’s time to bring small groups and luncheons back. We know how to be safe and mitigate health protocols. We need some fellowship activities—Trunk n Treat, Breakfast with Santa, etc.
• I think this church has done an excellent job meshing the two worlds of in-person/online together
• Thanks for the opportunity to offer comments
• I think this church should take a more conservative stand and move far from the left view
• Thank you Gary Collier for all your hard work. You are appreciated.
• Thanks to all who pivoted with the crisis to keep RRCC together and moving forward!
• I would like for our congregation to have their own choice to wear or not wear a mask. I prefer not to wear one. That’s what the vaccine was all about. I want the choice. I use no mask since April 2021
• My mother was at home until she passed away on 11-22-2021. After my second to last stretch of being with her and helping, I drove back to Georgetown Sunday, November 14. It was comforting to be “with” my church family while heading back, knowing that my mom would die soon
• I am so glad to have zoom available—it has been a real blessing and to see how hard the team has worked to make improvement has been rewarding
| 
