One of the questions I am often
asked is about the time for church. What service is when on Sundays, what
special services are there, when is the mid-week service, etc.
So it's fascinating to be in a
place now where the buildings are (rightly) locked up, and church - the
worshipping body of Christ - is gathering (separately) in different ways. But
no one has been asking me "when is church"?
So I find it especially
interesting, as my community is one of the congregations that is offering
live-streamed prayers, and on a daily basis. Monday through Saturday we have
noon prayers, Sunday we have our regularly scheduled 8.30 BCP and 10.30 BAS. (All
from my dining room as we - in the words of our provincial premier - "Stay
the Blazes Home!")
Yet, the gift of technology
means that as soon as the streaming of worship is complete, the entire thing
remains on the social media space. So people can watch and pray at whatever
time is convenient for them. And these days, when we are relying less on our timepieces and dayplanners, time is a much more 'fluid' concept.
And yet: people are gathering, at
the same time, to pray. Despite the physical distance, we are as close as ever
because we are praying together.
This is not unique to those of
us who are streaming live; colleagues have shared that pre-recorded videos are
being viewed at large numbers at the traditional service time; other colleagues
who are distributing prayer services have shared that congregants have
commented and committed to praying at a set time - knowing that this act brings
them together.
While we know that church is
not simply a building or a time, this time of pandemic restrictions has shown
us the power of praying together - that we are called to be together, to pray
together, to connect with God and with each other. There is strength in knowing
that we are gathered for the same purpose at the same time.
So when is church? Church is
whenever we choose; how delightful when we choose to BE the church at the same
time.
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