By Colleen Nelson
I must admit after the first shock of not being able to go to church as part of how I write this column, I started to enjoy going on Facebook to see what Pastor Phil Campbell had to say. His first online sermons were full of the bumps on the road of him learning how to use technology to reach his congregation at New Beginnings Ryerson Baptist Church in Wind Ridge. Hearts floated up from the bottom of the screen, happy hellos appeared in text boxes as we settled in to hear the good news, punctuated by the occasional technical glitch and giggle. We are all on the learning curve for this new normal and it’s been a treat to see the patience and good humor that has gone out, week after week, from down home pulpits, cheered on by the sudden applause of hearts punctuating those parts of the sermons that resonate with the times we’re living through.
Over the weeks, the concept of being on a message board has turned into a family gathering of sharing who needs prayers, who’s graduating and how are you doing today? As I clicked into one live sermon after another, on one Facebook church page after another, and stayed to read the messages, I could feel the ties that bind growing stronger as the days ticked by.
Still, it was the best good news on May 15 when Greene County moved out of the red and into the looser mandates of yellow, bringing new possibilities for safe socializing. Gatherings of 25 with proper social distance was starting to sound like Sunday sermons would soon be happening, in parking lots filled with cars, or parishioners safely masked and spaced in country churches.
But what about the cozy comfort of watching and listening to sermons at home any time you feel the need, safe from COVID-19 even though you miss sitting with your friends and neighbors?
Not to worry, Pastor Phil posts. Church trustees and other leaders have decided to “resume church beginning May 24 at our regular time” with guidelines to be announced. And yes, the live streaming will continue for those who still stay at home for whatever reason but especially because of health reasons. Be safe!
Harmony Presbyterian Church in Wind Ridge holds a “drive-in worship service” that first Yellow Sunday and Diane Stokes tells me Pastor Linda Shaw has been broadcasting her services via outside speakers during good weather throughout the lock down, allowing neighbors to sit on their porch and be part of the congregation.
Wind Ridge Christian Church, with its close knit congregation of families with young children has enough room inside to keep safe family distance throughout services lead by Adam Stokes.
“We use hand sanitizer and wipe the doorknobs,” Diane tells me. Stokes Store also sells sanitizer from big plastic jugs – bring your own containers.
That first Sunday I find myself driving past the old wooden church on Macedonia Road that was organized by Baptists in 1877. Now it is Macedonia Interdenominational and I’m just in time to see Pastor Ken Curfman coming out with his extended family to say hello and God bless and how’s everybody doing before heading home.
We stand in the sunlight of a perfect spring day, grinning and telling tales. I’m parked in the road and get called a real country girl by the neighbor who drives by and has to get his truck around me. The hunger of togetherness is palpable; the urge to hug hangs in the air between us and makes us laugh some more.
We’ll be okay as long as we remember to follow the commandments that protect the sacredness of life, I find myself thinking. This is not the first time neighbors had to hunker down and get through dangerous times when disease stalked these hills and threatened what we love.
The scripture lesson that Harmony Church broadcast today for all the neighbors to hear is John 14:21 – He that hath my commandments and keepeth them….”
And don’t forget to wash your hands!
