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wnylib

(25,183 posts)
5. My church's handling of the pandemic
Mon May 17, 2021, 05:47 AM
May 2021

was the same as yours in the beginning - online pre-recorded services during the lockdown, followed by parking lot services. Everyone stayed in their cars where they could see the pastor on the steps and tune in to a channel on car radios to listen. That lasted all summer.

When the weather was warm enough, the church members organized small group study meetings in people's yards, focused on a specific topic area and limited to 10 people. Two of the groups met indoors at a room in the church. Both indoor and outdoor groups required masks, and a temp check. I did not go to any meetings after I learned that people removed their masks once everyone had arrived.

Services resumed indoors in September with temp checks and a questionnaire at the door, masks over nose and mouth required, distanced seating with alternate pews roped off, hymn books removed, bulletins sent by e-mail, no choir, and a specific, single file process of entry and seating. There was a single file, one pew at a time exit plan to avoid grouping in the aisles. The service was broadcast live online. After watching a few online services, I decided not to go in person because people reverted quickly to accustomed habits of stopping by a pew on entry to talk, shake hands, etc. with friends. On exit, they grouped in the aisles. It's just human nature to socialize with friends.

There was no children's Sunday School, but a small group of adults met in the church prior to the service for Bible study. That ended after a few weeks and all meetings went to Zoom.

In early December, all services were cancelled indefinitely because the pastor, his wife, and all their children were covid positive. For Christmas, they played a recorded service from a previous year. Services resumed again several weeks later. I don't remember the date because I was not attending, but I think it was February. The pastor was still tired and "brain-fogged" so a retired pastor led services. The regular pastor was back again about a month before Easter.

This past week's e-mail said that, due to requests from church members, they were trying a pre-service, one hour social time with coffee (and snacks?) in the fellowship room, as in the past. I am guessing, although the message did not say so, that the people who want it are vaccinated. The regular service will have the usual mask and distancing rules.

I didn't go. Sitting indoors for an hour in one place, with the same peole and the same air circulating, is different from walking through a store and leaving, with doors opening to fresh air when people enter and leave. Don't know when I'll feel safe about going back.

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