Pause for Thought

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT Mark Greenstock, St. Paul’s Church

Lockdown takes many forms. The June edition of The Greenwood Tree (the quarterly publication of the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society) tells of a clergyman called Joseph Sorrell, who held services in his parish church for ten years for a congregation of none. Every day, the church bell was rung but nobody went through the door. There had been a falling-out with members of his parish and the pews had emptied. This was over a century ago – but it illustrates the tendency for people to vote with their feet. The parishioners didn’t stop going to church; they simply transferred to the parish next-door. So, with all churches at the time of writing being officially closed for services until further notice, how are people ‘voting with their feet’ this summer?

Well, thanks to YouTube, Zoom and other online devices, the evidence is that churches are not only staying ‘open’ but are attracting virtual congregations of considerable size. Families are singing hymns and songs of praise in their living rooms, kitchens and (for all one knows) in the bathroom, down the garden or on the beach; prayers are shared, liturgies followed, sermons heard and discussed. Nothing is lost except the physical sense of community – or so it has been argued. When the ‘new normal’ eventually replaces the present dislocation, will we be able to carry on as if nothing had changed?

Maybe not – but there has been serious deprivation for those whose faith requires regular nourishing by the Holy Communion. This spiritual act of participation is expressed by the elements being physically transferred from one person to another with others (not just family members) nearby. Also, folk without access to the internet or other electronic media may feel dispossessed, especially if they live on their own and look forward to church activities as a major contribution to their wellbeing. Then, even a ‘Zoom’ meeting has its drawbacks; computer screens have limited space for participants and spontaneous conversation is difficult; bodily gestures are restricted and natural interaction is impossible; singing and responses can sound forced.

Even so, far from there being a drift away from church, statistics suggest that there has been a significant increase in this country of those who are praying, partaking in some form of fellowship and seeing spiritual issues as relevant and urgent. Remarkable amounts of online material have been published, one example being ‘The Blessing’ which has gone viral worldwide. But having said that, Jesus’ experience when he attended his home synagogue at Nazareth stands as a healthy reminder that you can’t please all the people all the time: they listened to him spellbound at the start, but ended by hustling him out of town and not quite managing to pitch him over the edge of the local viewpoint. Just as the uncertainties connected with Covid-19 continue to exist, so it would be unwise to predict exactly what form the ‘new normal’ will take with regard to expressions of faith. Let’s hope they will at the very least be compassionate, creative, flexible and inspirational.

stpauls-sherborne.org.uk youtube.com #theblessinguk