In phase three of the Reopen Saskatchewan plan, restaurants could open with up to 50 per cent capacity, while churches were restricted to 15 people attending worship. Is the purpose of the gathering the key difference?
When eating in a restaurant as family, on a date, or a business lunch meeting, I suggest we appreciate a bit of quiet and privacy.
However, our Sunday morning experience is all about being close to each other, rejoicing in each other’s presence, sharing peace, bumping elbows during the Eucharist, singing with heart and soul and so on. Maybe, someone in the provincial leadership is providing the wisdom of worship experience.
Worship on March 15 was difficult, not greeting with handshakes or hugs. Rules since then just got tougher. If we started worshipping again with the current rules of engagement, I don’t think I could be an enforcer. Life in Assiniboia is pretty isolated from the pandemic, partly because we care about each other. A number of folks are ready to gather for worship again as we did in February.
Currently, congregations provide God’s word in worship, each in our own way, through media and internet technologies. This worship encourages the rules we are asked to follow. I have some concern about how much would be lost gathering for worship based on current provincial bylaws, since much of what we know and love about being church is not possible right now.
Our worship may not be what we are used to, but it is worship we are free to engage in. Our experience is not that of Israel in captivity, though in some ways it may feel like worship in a foreign land. The heart of Israel grew hard and bitter, as is expressed in verse nine, which is so horrible. Hopefully, God’s gift of worship in new ways and the love we know in Jesus Christ protects us from such bitterness, as we worship in health and in the freedom we know here in Canada.
Heavenly Father, save us from feelings of impatience, segregation and bitterness. Help us to respect the wisdom of those you have given to lead us and love the gift of worship you have given for now. Amen.
Please read Psalm 137:1-4, 9.
