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 imposed by Covid-19.
Zoom (www.zoom.us), the free video-conferencing and messaging application that simplifies virtual meetings across any device, is being used by nearly all of the congregations (and many other local organizations) in Bedford to take the place of in-person services, programs, and even counseling sessions.
Services at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will be offered via a live webcast beginning March 15. A small number of people, including Rev. Chris Wendell, will gather to conduct the service while maintaining social distance (as of this writing).
Contemplating the longer-term, Wendell said “Our call to be a faith community does not end when we have to do it differently. Parishioners are stepping up…they care about their community and want our church to continue to thrive and carry out its mission.” Plans are developing or in place to help those who may be self-quarantining and need help with food pick-up and delivery.