Return overhead
Churches are still being urged to observe coronavirus protocols such as physical distancing as they return to in-person gatherings.
For the past two Sundays, my husband John and I have gone to the physical location of our congregation, St. Stephen UMC, to serve as liturgists for our weekly virtual worship service aired over Facebook and YouTube.
Even masked and physically distanced, it felt more than good to be back in our church’s sacred space. Our interactions with others bore a mystical quality, even though the congregation consisted of no more than two dozen people – us, our pastor, the choir and the tech crew.
The day before, on June 5, we spent a morning sorting, folding, and hanging clothes for St. Stephen’s coming garage sale, which will be held in our parking lot on June 11 and 12. We're looking at the event as an opportunity for our neighborhood to enjoy the church's hospitality even more than a sale of goods.
Last Saturday also was one of our twice-monthly food distribution days for families suffering food insecurity. The convergence of these two community-oriented events meant that many volunteers were present, people we hadn’t seen in person for 15 months. We still wore masks, but it was hard to keep physical distance; there were lots of fist bumps and elbow nudges and even a hug or two between vaccinated folks.
Scenes such as these from St. Stephen are being repeated around the United States. Happy as these encounters are, we mustn’t forget the human devastation the coronavirus pandemic has caused, reports The Washington Post. Tara Bahrampour of the Post writes:
“After 15 months of surges and shutdowns, vaccines have turned the tide of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Infection rates have plummeted. President Biden has declared that ‘the light at the end of the tunnel is actually growing brighter and brighter.’ Restaurants and bars are reopening to full capacity, and flights are crammed with people excited to finally take postponed vacations or reunite with relatives.
“But for millions, there will be no reunions and no return to a pre-pandemic life. Covid has killed nearly 600,000 in the United States and left an estimated 5.4 million grieving. For many of them, watching the country open up feels like the reopening of a wound.
“’They are thankful the pandemic is coming to an end, they are thankful there is a vaccine, but . . . I think the quickness with which this happened, and the celebration with which this happened is a little discordant,’ said Chris Kocher, founder and executive director of Covid Survivors for Change, a survivors and families advocacy group, adding that because of travel restrictions, some families are only now beginning to gather and mourn.”
So here’s our next mission, United Methodists: How do we comfort those who mourn, even as we give thanks and celebrate our return to one another’s physical presence? Awareness of their grief, and interacting gently with mourning families, seem like good places to start.
Tell Congress to support climate and clean energy investments
The United Methodist Creation Justice Movement urges United Methodists to sign on to this letter to Congress “calling for passing bold economic recovery and infrastructure legislation that will safeguard creation, address the harms of climate change and pollution caused by fossil fuel extraction and related industries, and fulfill our biblical call to be caretakers of God’s creation and our neighbors, ensuring justice and funds for BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and People of Color] and low-wealth communities that have been most harmed by current and past practices.”
The movement’s press release says “the goal is to have thousands of faith leaders—lay and clergy—add their signatures. The last date to sign on is June 9. The letters will be delivered to Congress on June 14.”
Recommended Reading: Climate Justice for All
UM & Global, the collaborative blog of United Methodist Professors of Mission, calls attention to Climate Justice for All, a creation care movement sponsored by the World Methodist Council, in conjunction with the Methodist Church in Britain and other Methodist bodies from around the world.
“The youth-led initiative is an effort that ‘seeks to mobilize the Methodist family on issues of climate justice,’ says the post. “The campaign is particularly focused on lobbying national leaders in advance of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland on November 1 – 12, 2021. The campaign is creating worship and education resources around climate change and has an active social media presence. There are opportunities for individuals and congregations to become involved around the world.”
Media Mentions as of June 8, 2021
Keep COVID-19 restrictions during in-person worship, ecumenical guide suggests – Religion News Service
Poor People's Campaign plans 'Moral March on Manchin' – Religion News Service
St. Augustine & John Wesley would not be happy with numbers in empty tomb's 30th edition – Religion News Service
American Christians must humbly look to global church for solutions to decline – Religion News Service
Vaccines push the question: Are you going back to church? – The Washington Post *
Religious leaders on how the pandemic affected their congregations – NPR
Texans Lined Up to Shop at a Lufkin Bakery After Its Pride-Themed Treats Prompted a Backlash – Texas Monthly*
South Bend church celebrates first Pride Sunday service – WNDU-TV
Liberia: Methodist School Expels Student for Dressing as Drag Queen – Front Page Africa
Hillsboro, Forest Grove pastors weigh in on LGBTQ issues – Pamplin Media Group
The evangelical politician who doesn’t recognize his faith — or his party – The Atlantic *
The scandal rocking the evangelical world – The Atlantic *
*Paid subscription required.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011