By Father Casey Shobe
Given all the conversation happening in our world about “reopening,” I want to share with you some of the thinking we’re doing at Transfiguration about when and how we could once again gather together in-person.
First, there is a consensus among the Vestry and staff that we should be cautious. The number of diagnosed cases in our region has not yet begun to decline in a sustained way, and most in the medical and scientific community believe that the relaxation of social distancing and stay-at-home orders will accelerate the virus’ spread. I completely understand the desire to reopen businesses, as the economic damage wrought by COVID-19 is monumental, but our economic concerns do not change the fact that the virus is highly contagious and extremely dangerous.
Here it is important to say a word about how the virus spreads. I recently read an extremely helpful essay, in which a scientist boiled down a successful infection a simple equation: the amount of time one is exposed to the virus multiplied by the quantity of that exposure. Sidewalks and parks are unlikely sites of infection, because the amount of time you’re near someone is quite short, and the quantity of exposure is quite small. A slightly greater risk, though still not great, happens during a quick trip to the grocery store or some other essential vendor, again for the same reason (time and quantity of exposure). However, at church – whether for worship, formation, rehearsals, or meetings – we typically gather for an hour or more, in groups, indoors, with limited movement. Thus, the exposure risk at church is simply greater than in many other venues. That means we must proceed with caution.
Second, our need for caution means that I cannot yet give you a date when we will reopen the church. I can say that, as with the rest of society, our reopening will happen in phases. A task force of Vestry and Staff are working together to develop the specifics of these phases, and it is complicated work. For example, in an initial phase, there will be a firm cap on the number of people in the church. That will, in turn, likely necessitate “reservations” for church-attendance, so we don’t overcrowd. That would also require us to carefully manage seating in the church, to maintain social distancing protocols. Each element involves multiple considerations, and we’re thinking it through carefully.
Things we know for sure are that masks will be essential and required of all who enter our buildings, and the coffee station will be gone. And we know we will need to adapt our typical practices of administering communion to reduce contact and risk. But how, specifically, we are still refining.
The task force is listening carefully to medical, civic, and church leaders for guidance. We are, again, proceeding with caution, because our yearning to return to our beloved church must not cause us to make hasty and unwise decisions. I balance the desire to resume the rich life of our church with the desire that no one be infected with this dangerous virus as a result of participation in our church. Patience is truly a virtue in this work, and I pray that God will bless us with an abundance of it.
Third, I know that, even when we resume in-person worship, some will choose not to return, owing to their high-risk status. They are every bit as important as anyone else, and so we are working on strategies to maintain our online worship and formation life. We will continue to share services and classes through our website and social media even after we are back in the church, and the Vestry has invested significant funds to upgrade our technology in order to increase our capabilities. We’ve known for years that the future of the church would involve an expanded online presence, and the virus has simply accelerated our efforts.
Fourth, and on a happier note, the limitations of this pandemic have had the benefit of stirring some beautiful creativity. Back before Easter, I wrote that we would wait to receive the Eucharist until we could be together in-person again. However, the staff and I have dreamed up a way for us to physically share the Sacrament on the Day of Pentecost, May 31, remotely in our homes. You will soon receive a letter in the mail, along with an email from me, explaining how we hope to do this. It’s one of those things we would never have dreamed up, were it not for the limitations of the pandemic, yet the Holy Spirit has shown us once again how to overcome seemingly insurmountable boundaries and barriers. So, stay tuned.
Finally, the church remains ready and willing to help. Do you know of someone who is shut-in and lonely? Do you know of someone who has COVID19 or has lost their job? Do you need someone to talk to, or help with groceries or emergency expenses? We can’t solve every problem, but we can try to help. So, please be in touch.
Despite it all, we must not lose hope. But not hope in politicians or policies or products. Setting our hope on such things will only end in disappointment. We must, instead, keep our hope in Christ, for he can carry the burden of this and every crisis, and knows the way through it. We may not know where he’s going, but if we stay close to him, listening for his voice and remaining faithfully in his way, our hope will not disappoint us, and he will see us through.