topic Re: Church changes in Community Chat

Church changes

Boomernichols — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 20:55:50 GMT

Will there be communion passed when things open back up? Will we pass an offering plate? What will the future of our churches look like? I attend a small church in north Mississippi and we always post a member at the door to hand out bulletins and welcome guests. What will the new normalcy be like do you suppose?

Re: Church changes

tsavorite — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:05:07 GMT

It does make you wonder how it will all change. I can't see people in church with masks on singing? I get over heated in the face with the mask on just for short periods of time like grocery shopping...I do have rosacea so that is a issue and the mask makes it worse.

No hand shaking (which I never was found of in church during winter season due to reg flu)....smile and nod but with a mask on nobody sees your smile!

Could draw a smile on mine instead LOL

Re: Church changes

Anonymous032819 — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:11:36 GMT

At my church, when it comes time to wish each other peace, we just say, "Peace be with you".

There is no shaking of hands.

As for Communion, the wine, (or grape juice) is served in individual little cups.

Re: Church changes

golding76 — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:26:20 GMT

Boomer,

I am already fretting over what will become of my relationship with my church, the Greek Orthodox Church.

We drink Communion from a common spoon that is placed in a common cup. We kiss holy icons and assorted relics, one after the other. How will centuries-old sacraments and traditions face this pernicious virus? There are over 700 families in my parish.

In truth, I have been on alert for the last several decades when I receive Communion, but I've tried to rationalize everything away by saying to myself that I've attended services at this same parish for nearly four decades and I've slowly built up immunity to the viruses and bacteria carried by fellow church members. Of course, not everyone attends all the time and newcomers routinely become part of the congregation.

We kiss the priest's hand when receiving blessed bread at the end of the service. There are other moments when we kiss his hand, too, on special feast days.

But, but, but... This coronavirus is virulent. Do I say to my priest, "Er, sorry. No can do. Please give me my bread and let me off the hook on that kissing-your-hand part."

I certainly hope the Patriarch (i.e., Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople) thinks long and hard about how our church will go forward.

Re: Church changes

hckynut — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:13:45 GMT

In my opinion at some point it should return to pre-virus normal. Sooner rather than later.

hckynut 🏒

Re: Church changes

Qgirl26 — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:13:56 GMT

I wonder the same things @Boomernichols . I go to a fairly large church but we still have people greeting at the door, greeting during the service to those around us (which I'm sure will be suspended awhile) and we pass the communion trays as well as the offering plates. Last church service we had, communion had been prepared differently. We always have one small cup of juice and one small cracker representing the bread that was all together in the pan. We used to have to dig for our cracker and also take one cup of juice. Last time they put the cracker in one cup and stacked a second cup of juice on top of it and you just picked one complete set out. But now I don't know. I think this is going to be a real challenge for church leaders to figure out. I also think it might be awhile yet. Is it bad to say I'm not looking forward to it? We have live online services and I miss my church family but I want to make sure we are relatively safe before we gather together again. I am afraid it's going to look a lot different though. It's sad, isn't it?

Re: Church changes

walker — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:22:48 GMT

Interesting thoughts and comments on this subject. I have been wondering myself. I am worried about our church financially if we don't get back. So far, at my church, they are ok with electronic or mail-in donations. It will be interesting to see how they handle going back....definitely not the same. I will be watching Mass on TV for awhile. Can you imagine being in church and someone sneezes or coughs? 😳 Run! Seriously, it has to get better someday!

😷 and 🙏

Re: Church changes

jeanlake — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:30:32 GMT

I think we'll be more aware in general, which is good. On my last church visit, I didn't pass the leather-bound, common attendance log down the row. I thought - no one wants to fill that out anyway and why have all the hands touching it and the pen. Our communion always has had gloved attendants handing us pieces of bread and individual juice cups. I'm not a hugger, although I'm big on handshakes. I'll modify my handshake. I quit drinking out of drinking fountains years ago and use paper towels in community restrooms to open doors. Hubs likes an aisle seat and I put my handbag on the seat next to mine. Will move it if people need the room. I guess I'm a natural-born social distancer.

Re: Church changes

ECBG — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:35:19 GMT

I think that the head of each church committee (in our church, the Elder), will meet with the minister and create some new protocol.

Practices will need to reflect what is happening in their community.

Re: Church changes

Alison Wonderland — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:37:38 GMT

I think it's too soon to say. I'm not sure there's going to be one new normal for some time.

I think we're going to see waves of evolution and backtracking as things open, are hit by new waves of the virus, contract, and try again.

Re: Church changes

kaydee50 — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:37:52 GMT

I too am curious to see how things will change. I never did the "kiss of peace" handshake and don't care if people think I'm rude. A friendly smile is enough. We don't "pass the basket". An usher has a long handled basket that he/she holds. Communion is given in the hand. And no one hands out bullletins. It's help yourself.

But I wonder how many people will actually return to church. Personally, I will be skipping Sunday mass for quite some time. The church gets crowded and there is no way to keep "social distancing." I will however attend mass during the week when the church is much emptier.

Regardless, should be interesting.

Re: Church changes

golding76 — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:46:13 GMT

[I found this online. Well, the Greek Orthodox Church is being challenged for its practices. Listen, if the Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox have not been able to mend their schism from 1056 (?), I predict things will not be changed.]

As religious leaders bend the rules to comply with government and health officials working to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, some commonly held practices are being called into question.

In Australia, the country's medical association (AMA) said Greek Orthodox churches are putting their believers at risk by using the same spoon for hundreds of congregants to sip wine during communion — but the archdiocese disagrees.

"We believe that no disease or illness can exist in Holy Communion, which we believe is the body and blood of Christ," Reverend Scoutas said.

While a spokesperson for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia said anyone showing signs of illness should stay home, he explained they believe in the effectiveness of the Holy Communion.

"But once we decide to go to church, we believe there is absolutely no possibility of contracting (the) disease from the holy cup," he said.

AMA associate professor Julian Rait notes the spoon could spread saliva, and therefore, coronavirus, among congregants.

"I would doubt very much their faith would provide the protection they believe," Rait told CBS News.

[Another one showing the traditionalists are not going to budge.]

https://www.rferl.org/a/coronavirus-vs-the-church-orthodox-traditionalists-stand-behind-the-holy-spoon/30492749.html

Re: Church changes

Qgirl26 — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:44:27 GMT

I worry about the financials myself, @walker . We can mail in our tithes and offerings or we can give electronically as well. But with some being out of work and things so uncertain, it's tough for the churches. I know our church is financially hurting already as they had to let 2 people on staff go just a week ago.

Having said that though, I think that they still need to take their time and make sure we are safe. But yeah, we are all going to be wanting to run when we hear someone cough. And heaven help us if WE start on a coughing fit! Have you ever noticed when one person starts coughing, several follow? I have noticed that before. You get just a little tickle in your throat and you don't want to cough because it's so quiet but someone coughs and then someone else does and you think, what the heck, so you let your cough out too? Well, it might just be me but I have done that. But I seriously will be afraid to let out the tiniest cough in church, even if it's something I know is just a tickle in my throat. Nobody else realizes that! We will all be tacking one another to get out the door! It's going to be fun.

Re: Church changes

Qgirl26 — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:52:41 GMT

@golding76 wrote:
[I found this online. Well, the Greek Orthodox Church is being challenged for its practices. Listen, if the Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox have not been able to mend their schism from 1056 (?), I predict things will not be changed.]

As religious leaders bend the rules to comply with government and health officials working to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, some commonly held practices are being called into question.
In Australia, the country's medical association (AMA) said Greek Orthodox churches are putting their believers at risk by using the same spoon for hundreds of congregants to sip wine during communion — but the archdiocese disagrees.
"We believe that no disease or illness can exist in Holy Communion, which we believe is the body and blood of Christ," Reverend Scoutas said.

While a spokesperson for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia said anyone showing signs of illness should stay home, he explained they believe in the effectiveness of the Holy Communion.

"But once we decide to go to church, we believe there is absolutely no possibility of contracting (the) disease from the holy cup," he said.
AMA associate professor Julian Rait notes the spoon could spread saliva, and therefore, coronavirus, among congregants.

"I would doubt very much their faith would provide the protection they believe," Rait told CBS News.

[Another one showing the traditionalists are not going to budge.]

https://www.rferl.org/a/coronavirus-vs-the-church-orthodox-traditionalists-stand-behind-the-holy-spoon/30492749.html

That's scary, @golding76 ! I'm of Protestant faith so we do things differently. We don't share any cups or spoons or anything. But definite changes need to be made for all of us during this time of coming back together, whenever that should happen. We need to be realistic. Truthfully, if I was told this was how it would be, I would stay home and continue to worship online. I have faith but I believe we were given common sense too! We can't just go back to how things were right now.

Re: Church changes

Anonymous032819 — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:56:50 GMT

@Qgirl26 wrote:
I worry about the financials myself, @walker . We can mail in our tithes and offerings or we can give electronically as well. But with some being out of work and things so uncertain, it's tough for the churches. I know our church is financially hurting already as they had to let 2 people on staff go just a week ago.

Having said that though, I think that they still need to take their time and make sure we are safe. But yeah, we are all going to be wanting to run when we hear someone cough. And heaven help us if WE start on a coughing fit! Have you ever noticed when one person starts coughing, several follow? I have noticed that before. You get just a little tickle in your throat and you don't want to cough because it's so quiet but someone coughs and then someone else does and you think, what the heck, so you let your cough out too? Well, it might just be me but I have done that. But I seriously will be afraid to let out the tiniest cough in church, even if it's something I know is just a tickle in my throat. Nobody else realizes that! We will all be tacking one another to get out the door! It's going to be fun.

Or, how about having seasonal allergies, or a bit of dust tickles your nose and you have to sneeze?

Re: Church changes

morganjen — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:58:25 GMT

They will have to limit how many people can be inside the church at one time.

Re: Church changes

wishmoon — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:58:37 GMT

I'm non-religious but I used to be a believer and KNOW that they'll pass the collection plate but will probably put a new spin on it. You'll probably have to dump your envelope in a box with a slit on top.

Re: Church changes

ALRATIBA — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 22:01:24 GMT

Our church has a link to Mass online each week. St. Patrick's streams Sunday Mass on their website. EWTN has daily and Sunday Mass.. On Facebook and Twittter there are streaming Masses from the Vatican and parishes all over the US.

Our various ministry and parish meetings are being held via Zoom. Aside from our ministries, we're friends and are in regular email contact.

Donations are online or mailed in.

Our parish website has links for prayer requests, requests for assistance, etc., Regular messages from our priests.

Other than actual Mass attendance ... things seem to be moving along really well.

Tomorrow is first Friday and an organization I belong to is streamng Mass at Noon.

Saturday is first Saturday - and we are doing a Rosay via Zoom.

Like I said .... other than presence at Mass ... we're doing okay.

In addition - there are lots of Catholc resources online.

Re: Church changes

golding76 — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 22:19:23 GMT

Qgirl126,

Thank heavens I have a diverse religious background, but I have been a Greek Orthodox Christian from the time of my baptism and chrismation (that occurred the same time -- when I was six months old).

However, I grew up in a small town that, when I was young, did not have a Greek Orthodox Church. Since weekly attendance at Sunday School and Church were non-negotiables in our parents' home, my brother and I attended Protestant churches on a weekly basis and attended Greek Orthodox Liturgy on the "High Holy Days." We typically went to the church in Baltimore, Md.

So, I very early on attended Episcopal Sunday School and church, but as we grew, we wanted to attend church with the neighborhood kids. So, for our truly formative years, my brother and I attended Sunday School and church at the Grace Reformed Church. Wherever we went, I was satisfied.

When I married and settled in Northern Virginia, I was able to attend Greek Orthodox services weekly. Older now and not wanting to drive far, I started attending services at my local Catholic Church, and I have enjoyed that very much. It isn't as though I stopped attending services at my church, but about two years ago it was obvious that I was attending Mass at the Catholic Church more often than attending Liturgy at my Greek Orthodox Church. So, I do have a place to go, but in my heart, I will always be a Greek Orthodox Christian.

I truly hate that I will probably have to stop attending my church, though. I know they won't change.

I am able to continue live-streaming my church's services, but it just is not the same as being there in person.

Re: Church changes

Porcelain — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 22:08:59 GMT

Better have people sit a lot farther apart. And probably no singing.

It's a graphic of how a cough spreads virus droplets on an airplane. Social distancing.