Love in the Time of Corona
That’s what we’re going to call this, a riff on the title of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s famous novel. We’ll use it as a reminder that across different times and geographies, people have faced uncertainty as a result of epidemics. We’ll use it as a reminder that great art has the capacity to help us get through moments like this. And we’ll use it as a theological compass: to remind ourselves that our task in the coming days will be to care for, to protect, to encourage, to help, and above all to love one another.
With that in mind, our Board of Trustees spoke this week, and our church staff met to plan for the ways we’ll need to respond to the coronavirus. Much is still unclear about how this will affect us, but we concluded that we needed to be prepared in several ways for what may occur. Broadly speaking, we spoke about the need to minimize possible exposure to or spread of the virus, taking responsibility for our most vulnerable members very seriously. And we spoke about the need to find ways to remain connected to one another in this time of heightened concern. In the words of the book of Genesis, “It is not good for (people) to be alone.” Especially in a time such as this.
And so we devised a plan with several tiers. We recognize that the situation is changing rapidly, and so we may need to revise this plan in the days to come. For now, however, here is the plan. First, unless mandated otherwise, we’re going to meet as we usually do this Sunday, March 15th, at 9 and 11. We understand that different people will have varying levels of comfort about gathering with others for worship, and all of us – ministers, staff, and board members – urge you to take the appropriate precautions that you feel are necessary. That includes, if need be, staying at home, especially for those with compromised immune systems. But again, we will gather this Sunday at our usual times.
Beginning this Sunday, we are working to videotape our worship services so we can post them online afterwards, for those members who are not able to be present physically.
That’s the first tier. Here’s the second. After this Sunday, we’ll move toward one service only, beginning on March 22nd. We’ll meet at 10:00. Again, we urge everyone to take the appropriate precautions, and we’ll revise that plan if it becomes necessary. We’ll also continue to record and post the service online for those who would like to watch from home.
Sometimes, however, moments like this can be an opportunity to try something new and different. With that in mind, we’ll be arranging to conduct short services/rituals outdoors, in different open spaces around Old Lyme and Lyme. It would be an opportunity to be together in a non-enclosed space, and to utilize the power of both nature and spirituality to keep ourselves grounded. We believe that social isolation could be as problematic as the virus itself, and so we’ll look for safe and responsible ways to gather with one another. We anticipate hosting those events at 5:00 on Saturday evenings, beginning on Saturday, March 21st. More information will be posted electronically as we finalize plans for those alternative gatherings.
Finally the third tier. We’re making plans to have teams of volunteers who are willing to deliver food and other supplies to individuals if they are homebound. We’re also making plans to have extra canned or packaged food available at the church for anyone who might have a need. And we’re planning to reach out to individuals by telephone to insure that we know what needs there are among us. We also encourage you to reach out to us by email or phone if you have any particular needs or concerns.
Love in the Time of Corona. We don’t know exactly what will be asked of us. We’ll need to be flexible and adaptable as we respond to new developments. But we’ll also find novel ways of coming together, the better to remind ourselves that none of us is isolated, and none of us are alone. Great art, to say nothing of the essential truths of our faith, remind us that above all else, in the coming days we must support, help, and love one another. Because we’re all in this together.
With faith, hope, and love …
Steve, Laura, and Carleen
