Thanksgiving. Advent. Christmas. New Year’s Eve. Epiphany. And MLK Day.
All of the seasonal holidays that mark the close of one year and the beginning of another have one thing in common – they are essentially communal. We celebrate them by gathering with family and friends, by sharing time together around festive meals, by remembering what ties us together, and by reaching out to others, especially those less fortunate than ourselves and those experiencing distress.
For us, life in the church is like that, too. Christianity is essentially social. We feel closest to God when we are in community, and we feel closest to God when we are serving others. Nothing could have underscored that more strongly than the COVID pandemic. When, overnight, without warning, we had to stop meeting face to face on Sunday mornings, we figured out how to use Zoom and YouTube to create as much of a semblance of our accustomed togetherness as we could. We even sustained soup kitchen by offering words of welcome and sack lunches, when we couldn’t allow people to gather in Plymouth Hall.
For us, many of the changes wrought by the pandemic were fortuitous. As John’s health became more fragile and attending worship in person became too difficult, the live-streamed services on YouTube made possible by the cameras throughout the sanctuary have allowed him to continue feeling part of weekly worship. He continues to lead our biweekly Bible study on Wednesday evenings over Zoom, keeping him in touch with those who attend regularly. Keith continues to attend worship, sing in the choir on Sunday mornings and at Thursday evening rehearsals, and participate in the weekly Wednesday afternoon writing group as well as occasional other church activities. And he appreciates that, at every one of these events, fellow participants always ask how John is doing and send him greetings. Most of all, we appreciate the church staff and fellow congregants who visit us at home.
These are the reasons we invest in this church: it is where we find opportunities for worship, study, fellowship, and action. It is our community.
