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Matthew 18: 20  

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”  

  “Unhappy Anniversary” As we gathered to film worship this past week, we all remarked on how hard it was to believe that we had been doing this for a year. Wow!  In some ways it seemed like a lifetime ago, and in other ways, it seemed like just yesterday, that we were trying to figure out how to develop a Virtual Worship Service. 

How naive we were!  It is hard to imagine that we thought we would all be back in the sanctuary worshipping together on Easter Sunday 2020 and although the end is in sight, it is doubtful that we will be gathering for in-person worship by Easter 2021. 

But what a year it’s been!  The speed with which we switched to a virtual service, developed protocols around safe contact in and out of the church, began a fan out phoning program to keep in contact with all our members, figured out how to keep the office open and switched many of our programs to all things Zoom, is nothing short of amazing. 

A year ago, I barely even knew what Zoom was and now church Zooming activities include Coffee and Conversation,  One World Chant, The Men’s Shed, the knitting group, the Advent Gathering, Church Council, Worship Committee, Pastoral Care Committee, Outreach and Social Justice Committee, Bible Study, Book Study, Queer Vespers, Becoming Group and all the other ones that I may have missed.  I’ve personally taken courses by Zoom and attended the Region’s Town Hall gatherings by Zoom.  Many of you have also taken part in wider church activities by Zoom.

It is not just paid staff that helped make this happen.  I count over 30 people who preach, sing, film, edit, operate PowerPoint and read scripture just to make the Worship Services happen. Then we have another cadre of volunteers working behind the scenes to maintain the building and the grounds, develop COVID protocols, enhance security, and keep many of the programs and ministries of this church running smoothly.

All of us have learned so much during this time. For me, learning to look at the camera when we had no congregation, meeting new people and making connections by phone, and learning Zoom and other technologies, made for a steep learning curve.  This Thursday, I remembered how nervous I was preaching to the camera, when we first started filming, and remarking how weird it was going to be preaching to a full church when we return to in-person gatherings.  

COVID time forced us into thinking about what was essential to our church. I think we learned, over and over again, that it is about the people.  Somehow, through the mystery of our Trinitarian God – Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer – we have woven ourselves into the Body of Christ.  What is going on in each other’s lives matters and somehow we have managed to sustain each other and gather, albeit virtually, to worship every week since this pandemic began. Perhaps we have proven that “church” is really not a building but more importantly, the people who wish to gather together in God’s name.

It hasn’t always been easy.  Keltie, myself, the worship team and especially Hope and Chris have had to figure out some interesting stuff.  For me, having been at Comox United Church only for six weeks before COVID-19, it has been a challenge to figure out how to provide pastoral care in a meaningful way to a new community. The pandemic doesn’t put life on hold.  People continue to celebrate marriage and birth, struggle with sickness and mental health issues, and face death and grief. 

Some of the things I will remember, are people in hospital that we could not visit, sometimes dying alone, a graveside service limited to 10 people, a celebration of life limited to less than 30, a virtual memorial service where we could only have 10 people present, and many celebrations postponed until we can gather in community again. Surprisingly, I have learned to pray with people on the phone – and what a gift that has been.

So, people of Comox United Church – give yourselves a round of applause on this “Unhappy Anniversary.”  We have all contributed to the best of our ability, we have all learned new skills, mustered inner strength during difficult times and in the strangest of times, in the midst of the Lentiest Lent ever, we have not only survived, we have flourished and continue to be a people of faith, serving God, participating in the transformation of the world, and creating a life giving community.

Amen!