“The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia”
Thus began our Easter Day service by Zoom—different from any service St. James’ Parish has ever held before! It did not feel diminished, though; on the contrary, it was glorious!
My husband Bill and I were talking about the service afterwards. He had not attended church for the last couple of months because of medical issues. He also had really low expectations for attending a service online, but he said that it really was moving and so good to see all those smiling faces and to see John+ celebrating and preaching in the church again. Ok, John+ wasn’t really in the church (no WiFi), but with Zoom technology it sure looked like he was!
There was something very special about this Easter service for me also. After a month of time apart and the changing stay-at-home rules, we came together making the best of our situation with joy! We say a lot that St. James’ Parish is like a large family, and it really was. The Zoom windows gave such an intimate ability to have eye contact and see everyone comfortable in their casual clothes sitting in various rooms of their own homes. Zoom windows connected by video ranged from individuals to whole families; windows of those connected by audio appeared black, but had voices rising out of them! And sometimes our dogs and cats came to church (in silence or not)! It was all good and all of God.
It was wonderful to be back together again! This was such a gift to me after having no choice but to experience a slowed-down and reflective Lent. I don’t know when we’ll be able to physically be together again, but I know that God is present in it all! The reminder that I take away from a Zoom service is the same as when we are in our physical building, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Right now that may involve making special efforts to connect with our neighbors in new and different ways until that day when we can all physically be together again.
Marjie Mack
