We have all been dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic in our own ways. As the months have passed it has been amazing how we and our congregations have discovered new ways of being the church. The work never stops, it just transforms. And God is always there.
In the past, online resources were seen as luxuries used by larger churches with more resources. Today we all rely on digital tools to do our work. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Zoom and Livestream are no longer a mystery, but words that populate our daily vocabulary and help us do our ecclesial work. Small and rural churches, more than ever before, have been reminded that distance is not an obstacle, but a fact of life that we have worked around. Even when we cannot safely visit in the homes of our members, we have found a way to bring the church into their homes on a regular basis, in worship, Bible study, Sunday School, Virtual Coffee Hours, and dozens of new creations that enable us to do our work and encourage the recognition of God's presence in our everyday lives.
Someday (soon hopefully) the virus will be but a memory. But the steps we have taken to build the church and the new tools that we find at our disposal will continue to be a part of our work and worship.
Last month I wrote a satirical poem about our life with the virus as a way of helping our church to celebrate the victories we have had during this difficult time. It was meant to be fun and a little bit silly, but when the service was done it felt that we had done exactly what God wanted us to do that day.
With apologies to Longfellow and Dr. Seuss and anyone else who takes poetry seriously, I thought I would share it with you today.
‘Twas the Month Before Covid
by Skip Shaffer
‘Twas the month before Covid came
and all through the town,
Nothing new was really happening,
not a thing going down.
We were all quiet as we lived on
our own,
After Christmas and New Years no
virus had shown.
It’s amazing how much you take
for granted in life,
Until you are separated from your
kids and your wife.
Along came the Super Bowl and we
started to hear,
That a virus from China had found
its way here.
By the end of February so many
were sick,
That by the middle of March we
were in it too thick.
We were closed down real tight,
like a people embargo.
Unless you were a protestor or
the mayor of Chicago.
No restaurants, no parties, no
large groups or closed spaces,
No workouts, no gyms, and no
working type places.
Worst of all came the news that
our Worship was closed.
We had never seen such a time,
when our faith was exposed.
Our church was closed down, our
youth groups had no room,
And the only way we could really
meet was by Zoom.
All the things that we loved,
like mission trips and Green Lake,
Were cancelled for the first
time, it was too much to take.
We had to wear masks and stay six
feet away,
And even the session had no place
to play.
Through Easter and confirmation
and into the summer,
This church quarantine had turned
into a bummer.
And then we discovered the most
amazing thing,
That our faith didn’t need a
sanctuary to ring.
We worshipped at home, we watched
on TV,
Even though we were separated,
there was so much to see.
The song leaders sang, and the
instruments played.
The video and sound and tech guys
all stayed.
The pastor, he read from that
same Holy Book,
And he preached over and over
‘til it finally took.
Our communion was different, our
confirmation recorded,
But the Spirit never let our
faith be distorted.
The politicians they rambled,
told stories and lied,
We didn’t believe them, no matter
how hard we tried.
They told us the virus, it soon
would be gone,
But it didn’t seem to really
matter which one of them won.
The virus, it stayed, after the
commercials were finished,
A vaccine is coming, we’re told,
but our faith is diminished.
We still are kept out of our
worshipping spaces,
Looking ahead to the day when we
can see familiar faces.
Yet our God is stronger than the
virus, we don’t lose our hope.
Through racism, elections, and
murder hornets we cope.
The church remains strong, no
matter what problems we face,
Our worship is faithful, in spite
of the place.
That day will soon be here, if we
can hang on,
Have hope. In just a few days,
2020 will be gone.
- Pastor Skip Shaffer
Oswego Presbyterian Church
December 27, 2020