Seems like all we hear on the news is about COVID-19, the coronavirus which is spreading like wildfire and has affected over 80,000 people to date. Just yesterday, which was Ash Wednesday, I read Sarah Pulliam Bailey’s article on the Washington Post, “Sip from the common cup? On Ash Wednesday, coronavirus and the flu have religious leaders tweaking rituals.”
“It’s a very intimate moment,” said Teer Hardy, an associate pastor at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church in Arlington, Va., which has about 350 people on an average Sunday. “You’re a couple of inches from someone’s face.”
Pastors at his church planned to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer before administering ashes in the shape of a cross. The practice symbolizes penance and mortality, the idea that Christians are to “repent and believe in the Gospel” as they “remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Hey, though, I understand Pope Francis celebrated the Ash Wednesday ritual in traditional fashion while greeting the public in Rome—other masses were cancelled over fears of the coronavirus outbreak.
The article listed some of the ways in which the virus could affect our worship, not only the practice of intinction (dipping the bread into the cup) which the article says spreads more germs than drinking from the common cup, but also, how about the hymnals that everyone picks up? Apparently the coronavirus germs can live on surfaces up to 12 hours.
And shaking hands and kissing during the passing of the Peace? Definitely rethink those practices. I have attended a church in Honolulu on numerous occasions where the people in the pews turn and nod to you during the Peace, but dare not think to touch!
The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey told clergy and lay leaders Tuesday that anyone administering Communion should wash their hands, preferably with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and keep their distance during the greeting ritual known as the “passing of the peace.”
This whole coronavirus crisis even had me thinking about whether I should wipe down the organ keys with disinfecting wipes before playing, or whether it would ever come to having to stop teaching, since I come in close contact with my students, and occasionally touch their hands.
It was even suggested that churches livestream their services, so you can sit alone in your home, away from people. But aren’t we already on our screens too much—the ones on our phones, our tablets, and our televisions? I’m especially feeling guilty since I bought myself a 75″ large screen TV for Christmas!
Somehow the people on the TV don’t seem real— or at least, on my TV they are larger than life! Which reminds me of the time I saw one of the Doc Martin characters in the flesh, Katherine Parkinson (who played Pauline, the doc’s former receptionist), whom I saw in a London play, “Home I’m Darling.” I absolutely loved the play! But what was so extraordinary for me was seeing and hearing in person a character I’ve only seen on television.
Which brings me to my latest exciting moment. Look what I opened in the mail today! (For background on this photo, read my post “OMG! I’m on the BBC!“
Thanks to Gaby Otterbach, my Doc Martin friend in Germany, for getting these photos signed! It helps to know people in high places—thank you, Gaby! (Even though my name is misspelled!)