In the News

Coming home at the end of the day is not necessarily a comfort if there’s a risk of exposing a family or household member to COVID-19. That’s where family physician Dr. Dayna Ferguson found himself, working in the emergency room at Monadnock Community Hospital a couple weeks ago. In a turn of…

A bright yellow, daffodil cross stood outside the front door to Ascension Memorial Church on 31 County Road for almost two weeks not only to commemorate Easter, but also to offer all a symbol of hope. The cross for Christians, of course, symbolizes Jesus, his suffering and his resurrection, but…

Hingham’s faith communities are doing what they can to keep worshiping during the age of social distancing, as coronavirus disrupts Easter and Passover celebrations along with most other aspects of church and temple life. While some churches and temples have canceled services because of…

Christians across the North Shore and Cape Ann marked Easter Sunday in a variety of ways under the strictures of the coronavirus pandemic, which has kept people quarantined at home and prevented large gatherings, including church services. At St. Peter’s, the Episcopal Church in Beverly, a total…

Churches across New England found creative ways to celebrate Easter Sunday services during the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic, which has sickened over 35,000 people in New England, has forced religious institutions to rethink worshiping practices as local health officials urge people to…

For the past 10 years, Good Friday has probably been my most intense day of the year. As an Episcopal Priest, it is an emotional day, the one day set aside for us to contend with all of humanity’s worst inclinations. To contend with betrayal and death and absence and silence. The services on this…

Most of the people I know moved to online worship quickly, recognizing its necessity for public health. But shifting to online service just as quickly showed how digital interactions are so different than being together in person. The Reverend Kit Lonergan, rector of St. James Episcopal Church in…

After losing a loved one, millions of Americans turn to their religious communities for support and comfort. But social distancing measures are changing what that support and comfort looks like. Rev. Bill Parnell, a leader in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, told me that many people in the…

With crowds banned to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus, faith leaders throughout the South Shore have turned to the internet to broadcast services and reach out to the faithful.  Even for the Rev. Tim Schenck, who was an early adopter of social media and already does a portion of…

The headline is tongue in cheek, but on a practical basis at least it isn’t far from the truth.  Numerous local churches and temples were contacted by The Bedford Citizen for a two-part article querying leaders about what is being done in their organizations in response to the restrictions…