Rise & Shine - April 5

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‘Being the Church’ During the Pandemic

Rise & Shine, April 5^th

Acts 17:24-25
The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, ²⁵ nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.

Questions:

1. What are some possible good side effects that might come from temporary "social distancing"? How might temporary social distancing contribute to your spiritual life?
2. In what ways, if at all, do scripture and Christian theology help you deal with uncertain times?
3. What might enforced forgoing of gathering together teach the church?

In the News

How churches are trying to keep parishioners safe as the coronavirus spreads.

How can the church be the church if people cannot gather in the same space? One paradox at the center of this question is that, at times when the news is full of catastrophic headlines, a house of worship feels to many like a natural place to go for comfort and support. But during a pandemic, gathering with other people in the same physical space is sometimes the worst possible idea.

“One of the things that Jesus is most famous for is being a healer and specifically often reaching out to and showing love and compassion for people who had leprosy, which was probably a name for a bunch of different conditions at that time, but something that would cause one to be socially ostracized and marginalized,” says David Gambrell, who works in the office of theology and worship for the Presbyterian Church of the United States. “If the church is going to be faithful to that mission and ministry of Jesus, then we absolutely have to figure out ways to extend that healing and compassion without putting others at risk.”

The Rev. Patty Baker, who is the minister for St. Clare’s Episcopal Church in Seattle, WA, says the church — like most other houses of worship throughout the area — is figuring out precisely what it means to even be a church. Balancing the ritual aspects of the faith with the community-building aspects of her job is something that Baker is actively thinking through as the Seattle area works to slow transmission of the coronavirus.

“One of the things that we are trying to do is make sure that the people a lot of our churches serve out in the community — at food banks, soup kitchens, and day care centers, where we are the hands and feet of Christ out in the world — that we are not forgetting those people,” Baker said. “How do we make sure those people are taken care of? The marginalized, the disenfranchised, the people who are terrified of the government, the homeless. ... How do we be church when we can’t gather on Sunday mornings? [By finding answers to these questions,] we are still being the church.”

“As more and more churches up here are saying, well, we’re not going to be open on Sunday and 50 to 75 percent of your congregation isn’t going to be here Sunday morning, how do you do communion? How do we gather to offer the promises of the gospel up for each other?” Baker says. “It’s important to remember that, you know, we’re in church for an hour or so, and yes, communion is a high point. But it’s not the only point.”

Churches are having an especially difficult time coping with coronavirus for a number of reasons. In addition to offering spiritual guidance, they operate food banks, daycares, and schools. They rely on tithing and donations to keep those services going. Some churches are finding new ways to help the community amid the coronavirus. Church of the Highlands in Birmingham is partnering with Assurance Scientific Laboratories to offer drive-through testing for Alabama residents exhibiting symptoms associated with the coronavirus.

The Rev. Thomas McKenzie, who leads Church of the Redeemer in Nashville, is offering a drive-thru communion option for all baptized Christians. At designated times throughout the week, the Anglican priest is setting up in front of his church, distributing wafers that were consecrated during the church's recent Sunday services.

Passersby can park and walk up to McKenzie to receive communion, but the priest is also distributing it to those who remain in their vehicles as they pull through the church's circle drive. He says a prayer with them, too. McKenzie, who used social media to spread the word, said the drive-thru communion is a unique way the church is extending the distribution of Sunday's consecrated hosts. He has never done a drive-thru option before, but the idea behind it is similar to how the church distributes communion to those not healthy enough to regularly attend worship services. McKenzie expects to continue drive-thru communion next week, especially given the recent direction from his bishop to cancel upcoming in-person worship services. Members will be able to view the service online and stop by the church throughout the week to receive communion.

Samuel Rodriguez, the senior pastor of New Season Christian Worship Center in Sacramento, Calif., and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, said churches are at the forefront of communication about the coronavirus. “We are disseminating that information, in a very fast, accelerated manner,” he said. “Churches can get people to do things in an expedited manner, arguably in competition with the social media people. So it’s very powerful, the church coming together, and giving instructions.”

David Gambrell added, “This is a time of high anxiety, and leaders need to show that we are taking seriously the science and the facts of the situation and keeping the best interests of the community in mind, but at the same time we are being faithful and gracious and wise, trusting God, remaining calm, extending compassion to those who are suffering.”

More on this story can be found at these links: