The last time that we met in our beautiful sanctuary for Sunday worship was March 15, so it has been 5 full months that we have been apart in order to stay safe through this pandemic. As we closed up the building, I am sure I wasn’t alone in thinking it was for a few weeks, maybe a month.
As time goes by and we still haven’t seen a solution, I know that many of you have questions about when we might see each other again. Please take time to read the important message from our COVID Re-Opening Team found below. They have been working very conscientiously to find the safest way that we can continue the work of our faith community, considering the requirements of the Province, the Region, the City, the United Church of Canada, and health and safety experts.
In the coming weeks, you may hear about other churches starting to worship in person again. And, although we all miss being together on Sunday mornings, I think it is better to wait until we know we can do it safely. The reality is that if we were to return to our sanctuary this week, it wouldn’t be anything like the experience we are used to having. Because of the safety restrictions, we are limited in the number of people who can actually come into our space and those who do come in need to be documented, in case we need to trace them. Everyone would be required to wear masks and stay 2 metres apart. There would be no hugs, no handshakes, no praying out loud, no singing, no communion, no social time after the service.
If we meet outdoors or in our cars, most of those same restrictions still apply plus the added issues of getting a sound system outside.
So, what can we do?
Our Zoom services aren’t perfect, but our team is working very hard to solve the issues and find ways to make them better every week. For the time being this is still as close as we get to our usual worship experience. If you haven’t joined one of our services online or over the phone, please give it a try. If you have any questions or concerns about accepting the link, please let us know and we will have someone give you a hand.
If you have any creative suggestions for our worship team, let us know. We are always trying to find ways to improve.
If you are looking for a more intimate, interactive service, consider the Wednesday evening service. Just let me know that you are interested.
There will be other opportunities coming in the weeks ahead for gathering online in small groups for study, discussion or socializing. If you have any ideas about other small online gatherings, please let me know.
We are aware of those in our faith family who are not able to be part of the Sunday service. Some of them are receiving paper copies of the Sacred Connections, Friday Message, Communique, as well as the full Sunday service. If you know of someone who might be feeling isolated, get in touch. Give them a call or leave a message on my voicemail at the church and I will reach out. No one should be left behind during the pandemic.
I hear you, Church, I know that you are tired, frustrated and discouraged. But, our faith has clear commands in regard to our interaction with others, brought into a fresh application in the midst of a pandemic. Commands such as “doing to others as we would have done to us” and “what you have done for the least of these, you do for me.” Could it be that wearing a mask in public settings, or staying home to help contain the virus, is simply a matter of loving our neighbor, or taking a bowl of water and a towel and washing their feet?
We’re in a pandemic and wearing a mask is arguably – short of a vaccine – the most important weapon we have.
We’re in a pandemic and our personal freedom ends where the needs of public health begin.
We’re in a pandemic, and it’s one of the clearest, easiest ways to show the love of Jesus to others.
Blessings, Kathi
