5 minute read
PASTOR PAUL’S PASSAGES
We Are the Church THE CHURCH IS A PEOPLE
My friend, Anna Hubbard, Pastor of the First Christian Presbyterian Church of Pryor, Oklahoma, created a video entitled, “Empty Sanctuaries: Right Now This Is What Love Looks Like…” (Available on YouTube). She collected pictures of empty church sanctuaries from across the state. She wove these pictures into a montage accompanied by sacred music, creating a very emotional picture of empty churches on Sundays right now. Empty because the people of faith are staying home to protect the most vulnerable folks in our communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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During these days I often sit in the empty pews in my congregation’s sanctuary praying for worshippers who are normally present for worship on Sunday mornings. Right now, love is an empty church sanctuary. As I write this article, I celebrate that, as far as I know, nobody in my faith community has been exposed to the Covid-19 virus. Who knew that staying home from church would be a loving act of faith, of being Church?
I fully agree with those who say that the Church is not a building. An old Avery & Marsh song reminds us, “We are the Church:”
The Church is not a building; the Church is not a steeple; The Church is not a resting place; the Church is a people! Empty church buildings have drawn fresh knew
expressions of worship and faith from the 21st Century church. Some congregations are live-streaming worship services to their membership. Others record worship ahead of time, and share the video on Facebook or You Tube websites. A few congregations have hosted drive-in church services and I know of one parish where drive-through communion is served. We have seen a creative blossom of worship in 21st Century technology. (How I am enjoying being able to join with many friends and congregations across the country!) Perhaps our congregations will continue utilizing these skills after the Pandemic has ended.
Beginning May 1st, the Governor’s Open Up and Recover Safely plan gives faith communities permission to begin holding in-person gatherings again.
Many of our congregations are choosing not to rush back to holding in-person services. We believe that our call to protect the vulnerable in our community supersedes our passion to worship in-person together in our buildings.
Oh, how we do miss praying and praising the Holy One together! But we will continue to practice distancing in worship in order to protect our vulnerable members. We’ve learned new ways to worship in community. It may be a few more weeks and months before we are ready to resume corporate worship in our worship spaces. But It will be a wonderful and blessed day!
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