"How Long… O Lord……How Long?"

That's the phrase that comes to mind as I think about this pandemic. I had hoped that this fall would bring a clear path forward for all of us. Yet, clarity seems to be in short supply.

"What are other congregations doing?"

This question is likely the number one question we receive. It's in reference to the practices regarding worship and fellowship in the 170+ congregations of the New England Synod, plus campus ministries and other places where people gather.

There is no singular answer. It varies and ranges on one end from a very small number of congregations that have not held any kind of worship in-person, online or hybrid, to the other end where congregations that are worshiping indoors without masks.

The most common practice is somewhere in the middle where congregations are holding some form of in-person worship indoors with masks or outdoors with masks optional combined with an online presence via the internet.

Beyond worship, some congregations have moved council and committee meetings for the foreseeable future to an online platform while others are meeting indoors with precautions. Most are not hosting larger events in their buildings but have been finding creative ways to gather outdoors for fellowship and to welcome some community groups back to their buildings with masks and distancing. Here, too, I encourage you to think through each situation with your team in conversation with local and national guidance

There are no easy answers, but here are the suggestions I encourage:

1. Have a team of people that regularly monitors both CDC guidelines, State Health Department Guidelines, and also seeks out your wisdom as you care for the people in your congregation. I think strong people balance that three-legged stool.

2. Realize that the “new normal” is not back to a “past practice”, but instead living in to a time of fluidity. In the past, we were fixed and frozen in our practices (worship always at 10 a.m. since the time of Jesus), but the “new church” is liquid (adapting to changing contexts and health concerns).

“Life” has changed radically, and while some want that to not be the case, reality points to change as the constant. I suspect that we will be going forward for another year or two of this pandemic. I know none of us want to hear that, but everything I read says that until we get close to 80% of the planet vaccinated, this Covid19 remains with us.

I encourage our congregations to be compassionate and wise. I'm also asking that people be kind to one another. We do not make smart decisions or model our call as Jesus’ disciples when we treat one another cruelly.

Let's be patient and kind!