This morning we will "go to church" without actually leaving home to attend worship. For four months last Fall we drove from Belleville to Trenton to take part in worship with the congregation where our son, Isaac, is the pastor. It was really odd the first Sunday, with taped off pews, masks on everyone, humming rather than singing. Attendance was well below what would have been the usual turn-out., yet the number of worshippers was surprisingly consistent during that period. We felt safer than going to the grocery store because of the protocols and we there was something positively different about actually congregating.
During those four months we celebrated the sacraments of communion and baptism, and welcomed new members, and did so without compromising safety. We waved our greetings and smiled at one another with our eyes. Just hearing hymns within the sanctuary and humming along made a difference. There was still a sense of sacred space and sacred gathering.
Then another provincial lock-down, and back to services on-line. I don't know what to think of all this, to be honest. I figure that many congregations earnestly ceased in-person worship for the well-being of members and the wider community. They have been creative and faithful in offering alternatives. Still, ten months later lots are suffering spiritually and financially from not experiencing the intangibles of "wherever two or three gather together in my name."
Every few days I read or hear about a congregation defying the regulations for public gatherings and some gone so far to launch legal challenges. Most of the pastors are white males whose statements give the impression that they are convinced that they are a present-day manifestation of Martin Luther, taking a courageous stand. They really need to get over themselves. At the same time there are churches which offer vital ministries to those with addictions. In many congregations isolated individuals are suffering from declining mental health and really need to be with others, even with masks and distancing.
There aren't easy answers to this. We are in a region where there have been low numbers of COVID-19 cases and none the past couple of days. I look forward to returning to in-person worship -- and the gym.
2 comments:
David. Happy New Year 2021.
It certainly looks like things have been active at TUC. Congratulations!
The one thing about Covid is that one can cruise around at leisure to take in
other online church services, without having to physically travel around.
I tuned in today and appreciated Isaac's reflection of his time in Switzerland,
and how it tied in with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity period being observed
Jan.18-25 through the World Council of Churches.
Good luck to everyone; 'till we emerge from the other side of this ordeal!
Great to hear from you Frank, and Happy New Year backatcha. It's true that the pandemic has opened the door to some low-key worship tourism -- which sounds better than worship voyeurism. When Isaac headed off to Taize as a young man we wondered if he would startle us with an announcement that he was taking up a vocation as a monk. We never expected him to spend a few months as a nun -- well, a volunteer with them.
We're all praying that "this too shall pass" in terms of COVID. I actually know people who have been vaccinated, so we'll get there eventually. You and Irene stay safe!
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