It’s not all gloom for churches beset by COVID-19 restrictions. Despite having to close their doors to in-person worship services and cancel fundraisers that sustain both budgets and spirits, houses of worship are finding unexpected upsides amid the pandemic. From meals to services, congregations are proving resilient and creative in carrying out their missions.
Worship services via video conferencing platforms such as Zoom — a new phenomenon for many — have found surprising popularity. The Rev. Kelly Gallagher, associate conference minister, Mass. Conference, United Church of Christ, reported, “Many of our churches are experiencing more attendance on their online services than they were having in their physical services.”
That’s certainly been the case for the Advent Christian Church in Vernon, Vt., according to the Rev. Bruce Burks.
“We have been blessed to connect with some folks we didn’t know before, from places far from Vernon, via our livestream services and Bible studies,” Burks said. “We have also had more of our own church family join our Zoom Bible studies than have participated before. We’re probably more in contact in some ways than we were before this pandemic, though we deeply miss the face-to-face interaction.”
Though Trinity Church in Shelburne Falls has offered cable television services for years, the Rev. Marguerite Sheehan said the church has enjoyed its new weekly worship format on YouTube.
“One week, we took a virtual tour of our church garden that is now coming into spring flowers,” Sheehan recounted. “We sang ‘A Hymn of Promise’ along with the slide show, and you could almost smell the blooms.”
In South Deerfield, the Rev. Jonathan Reardon, pastor of Holy Family Parish, was inspired to create the virtual “Faith and Fitness Challenge,” combining prayer with activities such as walking, hiking and bike riding. Anyone can join online at holyfamilysd.org/ffc.
Holy Family Parish has also stepped up its meals program, Take and Eat, from every third Saturday of the month to weekly, due to the uncertainty of the times.
“It has been very well received by our shut-ins and parishioners,” Reardon said. “Our dedicated volunteers continue to donate food items, cook and deliver meals. We are grateful for those who brave this storm in order to care for the needs of others.”
Similarly, in Greenfield, the All Souls Church building has been very active for Stone Soup Café, according Kate Mason.
“People are carefully coming together cooking two meals a day for the Emergency Operations Center and Saturday dinner for 300, with volunteers delivering to homes,” she explained.
In Athol, the Rev. Dr. Candi Ashenden said Athol Congregational Church’s once-a-month free community meals have been converted into drive-thru, takeout meals. The program is also now being offered twice per month.
“We have created a system where two people do the cooking, two people do the packaging and two people manage traffic,” Ashendon said. “Every person with a reservation is given a time to drive through, and packed dinner bags are placed on trays and then taken off the tray by the person in the car. Very safe, no one gets out of the car, and they go home with a great meal.”
Even potluck supper has gone “virtual” at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ashfield.
“Since we left the building seven weeks ago,” writes the Rev. Vicki Ix, “we began ‘meeting’ for a virtual potluck supper every Thursday evening at 6 p.m. We use the Zoom platform, as we do on Sunday morning, but this is an informal gathering to share a meal from our kitchen tables and talk to one another. The conversation often addresses the pandemic, but then moves on to life in these days — what we’re reading, what we’re cooking, how we are sleeping (or not). At 6:45 p.m., we light candles and pray Compline, the ancient night prayer of the Church.”
At the Trinitarian Congregational Church of Warwick, the annual Earth Day cleanup got a COVID-19 makeover so that it would still be possible.
“We gave people bags a few weeks before the collection day and sent them out in family groups,” the Rev. Dan Dibble said. “The results were amazing and the roads were cleaned up much more than in the past. We will probably do it this way again.”
When considering positivity in her congregation, Pastor Judy Jones of Orange United Methodist Church highlighted the example of church Treasurer Nancy Blackmer, who also works full-time as Orange town clerk.
“I am often preaching to my folks about ‘What is your passion, what do you love to do and how can you use that passion to do something for God and Christ?’” Jones said. “During this time of the COVID-19 crisis, Nancy has heard these questions and turned them into a great service for our community. Nancy’s passion is quilting … and she’s put this passion to work in a huge way during this pandemic.”
To date, Blackmer has used her own materials as well as donated fabric and elastic to make more than 500 face masks, plus additional surgical caps. These masks have been distributed to local hospitals and emergency and health care workers.
“She spends almost all her free time just pumping out these masks,” Jones said of Blackmer. “Nancy is a prime example of taking what you love to do and turning it into a blessing from God that she can bless others with.”
Reach Chris Harris at 413-772-0261, ext. 265 or charris@recorder.com.