Word came in today of a group of Ontario churches urging the province to allow them to open again for worship services. I get it, we are all tired of being apart. As much as I appreciate – really appreciate – the work that goes into putting together and bringing you our Zoom services, it isn’t the same. I miss hearing your voices in prayer, in song. I miss the warmth of your hands after, as you fill me in on family news, celebrations, or concerns.
I also understand the strain on our finances and the loss of income while the building is closed. Times are hard and we are all feeling the tension.
Richard Bott, our Moderator, reminds us that now is not the time to relax our efforts against COVID-19. Our people are too vulnerable and too precious to risk their lives in the rush back to the way things were.
The story of one of our sister churches in Calgary should serve to keep us aware of the danger. Just like us, they met in person for the last time on March 15 and there were about 50 people at the service. Like us they took all the recommended precautions: they didn’t shake hands, they didn’t pass the collection plates or hand out bulletins, they stayed 2 metres apart in the sanctuary, they did not touch when they passed the peace. In other words, their story should have been like ours. Except they did one thing we didn’t. On March 15, some of us lingered after the service, but we didn’t serve coffee or share sweets. At Living Spirit United on that Sunday morning, 41 people stayed after service for a special birthday celebration. They stayed apart and all the food was handled by people wearing gloves – they thought they were doing everything to keep themselves safe. Of the 41 people who stayed to celebrate, 24 were infected with the corona virus and 2 died. I am absolutely stunned how close their story is to ours.
Some people think this has all been overblown and that we are overreacting. I wonder who they think is expendable? You are all too important to me to risk. As much as I miss you now, I cannot bear to think of losing any of you forever.
Let’s be patient. Let’s stay in touch with one another. Let’s hold each other in spirit if not in person. And let’s remember that we are going to get through this because we are not alone and we live in God’s world.
Rev Kathi
