Ministry in the time of COVID-19
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February of 2020 was a turning point in the life and ministry of the church. Each church and each pastor had to figure out how to carry out their ministries without the benefit of a building or any physical contact.
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On Sunday, March 1 2020, we got the word that COVID-19 was becoming a global pandemic. The Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ sent out guidelines that strongly suggested that we suspend in-person worship and church events, close our buildings and work remotely as much as possible.
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In some ways, I was born to be a Covid-19 pastor. Technologically, I was able to put it all together. Eventually, we were able to open the church to the congregation, but only for a couple of months.
Sunday, March 15 was our first "Virtual Church" service, in which we had about 48 hours to devise and develop the technology to carry the Gospel to the small screen. Notably, the deacons constructed a chapel, complete with a stained glass window in the den of the parsonage.
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That week, I sent out this Les Miserables parody to my clergy friends.
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Broadcasting from the Parsonage Chapel
Children's Ministry in the time of COVID-19
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Our children continued to learn during Covid.
From January-March of 2021, our kids learned about the events of Holy Week. Working with a local children's theater director, they produced this video for Palm Sunday and Easter worship.
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Palm Sunday Parking Lot Worship
"Honk if you love Jesus!" Palm Sunday Parking Lot Worship with Communion, 2020
As Palm Sunday approached, I remember saying to my partner, Michael, "I have to find a drive-in movie theater", because I wanted to have a live worship service on Palm Sunday. I particularly wanted to preside over the communion table.
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"You know, they haven't used that speaker-in-the-window technology in decades. You need an FM transmitter.", he replied. And so, First Church took to the airwaves, and parking lot worship was born.
Welcome to First Church. Tune in!
It worked! We purchased a transmitter, connected it to the sanctuary sound system and people were able to tune-in using their car radios. I was outside on a 40' flatbed trailer. and the organist and singers were inside. The deacons stuffed plastic sleeves with bulletins, palms, and disposable communion cups.
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