Ky Chen Award
Julie Bliss-Tyau
St. Timothy, Chehalis

Julie Bliss-Tyau is the beloved music director at St. Timothy, Chehalis. St. Timothy’s Rector, Kay Flores, shares that these last few years have been challenging in so many ways, and Julie has supported the liturgy and worship of St. Timothy’s with grace and aplomb.

Prior to March 2020, the church used a paper bulletin with the liturgy and music printed in it. When they pivoted to a Zoom service in March 2020, they switched to PowerPoint so that their not too techie congregation wouldn’t have to access a bulletin and Zoom. For a while they met at the church and Julie played over Zoom. As restrictions grew stricter, for a while they not offer music. As they thought about how to make their worship life more normal, Julie told Kay that she had used PowerPoint in a previous church and had the tools available to make recorded music.
St. Timothy’s immediately began experimenting with new ways to include music in their Zoom services. Their technology consultant offered to show Julie a way to turn the slides into movies, which made the service run even smoother.

St. Timothy’s offered a variety of season appropriate music while they met on Zoom. Now they offer a hybrid service. Some of St. Timothy’s members attend only by Zoom, while others attend on site. With Julie’s help, St. Timothy’s is able to offer a combination of live and recorded music.

Julie is working with individuals who are leading the church in psalms and anthems, with the idea that the choir will get back together soon. Julie meets weekly with Kay to ensure all of this works together.

St. Timothy’s is blessed to have Julie as its music director, and I am honored to gift Julie Bliss-Tyau with the Ky Chen Employee Excellence “No Problem” Award.