"Things will never be the same."
Christian worship in the United States, long characterized by its adherence to tradition, appears to have been significantly altered by the coronavirus pandemic.
A survey by the Pew Research Center in April found more than 90% of regular churchgoers in the United States saying their churches had closed their doors to combat the spread of the coronavirus, with the vast majority saying that worship services had moved entirely online. Social hours and church suppers are a thing of the past, at least for now.
In some cases, the coronavirus shutdowns have weakened church connections. The Pew survey and a survey by the Public Religion Research Institute found that one-third or more of those who had previously attended church regularly were not bothering to watch online services. For those whose church affiliation was already tenuous, the disconnect may be permanent.
(https://www.npr.org/2020/05/20/858918339/things-will-never-be-the-same-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-worship)
Yes, I am missing gathering with our church family. And yes, I fully understand why we cannot do that right now.
Not because the government says we can't. But rather, we have to do our part to protect the vulnerable, the compromised, the elderly.
That is putting others first. That is respect. That is love.
On-line church has positives. And negatives. This phase of life definitely requires patience.
But, "this too shall pass".
And, the church is much, much more than just what takes place inside the walls.
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt
Christian worship in the United States, long characterized by its adherence to tradition, appears to have been significantly altered by the coronavirus pandemic.
A survey by the Pew Research Center in April found more than 90% of regular churchgoers in the United States saying their churches had closed their doors to combat the spread of the coronavirus, with the vast majority saying that worship services had moved entirely online. Social hours and church suppers are a thing of the past, at least for now.
In some cases, the coronavirus shutdowns have weakened church connections. The Pew survey and a survey by the Public Religion Research Institute found that one-third or more of those who had previously attended church regularly were not bothering to watch online services. For those whose church affiliation was already tenuous, the disconnect may be permanent.
(https://www.npr.org/2020/05/20/858918339/things-will-never-be-the-same-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-worship)
Yes, I am missing gathering with our church family. And yes, I fully understand why we cannot do that right now.
Not because the government says we can't. But rather, we have to do our part to protect the vulnerable, the compromised, the elderly.
That is putting others first. That is respect. That is love.
On-line church has positives. And negatives. This phase of life definitely requires patience.
But, "this too shall pass".
And, the church is much, much more than just what takes place inside the walls.
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt