We are Not Alone, Thanks Be to God

                                             From A New Creed Booklet -- Gary Crawford illustrator 

We are called to be the Church:

    to celebrate God’s presence,
    to live with respect in Creation,
    to love and serve others,
    to seek justice and resist evil,
    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
    God is with us.
We are not alone.

    Thanks be to God.

                     From the UCC New Creed (1968; rev. 1980, 1995).

 It wasn't exactly the day the world stood still, but it was essentially the day seventeen months ago that changed the patterns of our daily living in ways that inconvenienced some of us, were devastating for many, and eventually deadly for millions. The threat of a COVID-19 pandemic became a reality on Sunday, March 15th, 2020 here in Canada. Vacationers were urged to hurry home and many public institutions announced that they were temporarily shutting down. Businesses told employees to stay home temporarily, a choice which became permanent for some. 

We went to church that morning unsure if that was a wise thing to do. At the end of the service we were told that we wouldn't gather for worship for a couple of weeks until Palm Sunday. That shutdown became six months although for many congregations the shift to online worship has been well over a year. In-person funerals were suddenly not allowed,  neither were church meetings and study groups.

Much to our surprise vaccines against COVID were developed far faster than anticipated. Thankfully Canadians have been more willing to be vaccinated than our neighbours to the south and we now lead the world in the percentage who have been double-jabbed. Lots of us are reconnecting with loved ones and friends even though we may be a bit uncertain how to do this is ways which are sensible and safe. 

Along the way many congregations have adjusted and found ways to live in Christian community, including worship, without the arrogance of a few high-profile outliers. Trenton United Church has managed to offer in-person worship for about eight months of the seventeen and without incident because we all observed the protocols. We studied together, in person and and online, and the meal ministry continued throughout. Ruth has participated in the daily Bridge St.UC meal ministry throughout the pandemic and again this has happened without any infections. 

Now churches and other faith communities are tentatively opening up. Earlier this week I presided at a memorial service in a former congregation with 50 people in attendance, the first such service for them with this many people in a year and a half. They and many other congregations plan to reassemble for worship in September. 

It's impossible to know what will unfold for all of us, although vaccination is a key to societal health and well-being. Sadly, some congregations have not survived this unanticipated hiatus, and most of us are well aware of the spectre of a 4th Wave of COVID variants. 

All this will require wisdom and courage and prayer, but if we have learned anything it is the importance of gathering together in Christ's name, As the Creed says, we are called to be the Church, and I do feel that physically coming together matters. We can't predict the future but we can answer that call and trust that Christ will light the way.