Why Bother Physically Gathering With The Church During a Pandemic?

Sunday, March 22, 2020, the entire diocese gathered on line to virtually participate in liturgy and to hear from the Bishop of the diocese. Beginning on that date congregations were no longer permitted to physically gather because of Covid-19 restrictions and a pandemic that brought the entire world to a standstill. Countless people have been adversely affected by the virus itself, the physical distancing restrictions, and the economic fallout. Covid-19 is with us for the foreseeable future. We are all still adjusting, recovering and longing for reconnecting in the community. And although fatigued with physical distancing, and opening up our “bubbles” to more people, we have to be vigilant in maintaining government social distancing directions if we want to keep our families safe in and through our still uncertain future. 

 

That being said, the churches of our diocese have now been given permission to reopen to physical gathering liturgy starting on Sunday, September 13. As of that date, it was six months since the church last physically gathered and shared in the Holy Communion together. Personally, I so miss being with the gathered church, and I so miss sharing in the Holy Eucharist, the Body of Christ. But when the list of church restrictions was sent out, my first thought was “why bother going to church?”

 

No touching. No socializing. No singing. Wearing masks. Sitting six feet apart. Ushered in. Ushered out. No human contact. These restrictions in no way reflect the church that has for so long nurtured my soul in warm and deeply connected community.

 

But as I thought about it more and got past my initial reactions, I realized the absolute value of physically gathering with the church, even with the pandemic restrictions. 

 

There is value in listening to the beauty of the music…with others physically present. 

There is value in hearing the Word of God…with others physically present. 

There is value in sharing the Eucharist…with others physically present.

There is value in being lovingly present to God…with others physically present.

There is value in being lovingly present to others…with others physically present.

 

The energy and love of our physical presence, in the context of liturgy when we are together opening our hearts up to the larger life of Christ, invites and facilitates deep and transformative human contact. 

 

In a pandemic or not, there are not too many places like a gathered and loving church, that can have such a necessary and positive effect on your body and soul from the physical and loving presence of others. 

 

There are those because of age, illness or some other personal reason, that will choose to continue to join the church on line beyond September 13. For others of us, it is time to come back to the gathered church that we have been missing for six long months. And there are others again, who may have come to know the church in a new way on line, and may feel drawn to meet that church in person. Either way, the church has an essential role in the well being of our society, and it is worth the bother of getting Back To Church.