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The pandemic has forced some changes to our worship routine--some welcome, and others not so much. I do miss singing with a congregation (because they drown out my off-notes). We were attending the contemporary service before the pandemic, with a worship style that I didn't prefer, but I preferred the time it was offered and was becoming accustomed to it. Our church now does only one service and blends elements of the traditional and contemporary services, which I like. Services are live via Zoom or are recorded for viewing whenever you like. We joined this congregation only about seven or eight months before the pandemic shut everything down, so we didn't know that many people well. However, we made a deliberate effort in our first few months of membership to get involved, and that meant we had at least some foundation to build on when we began operating mostly on Zoom. Monthly committee meetings have continued (we joined the Mission Committee), we've had fairly nonstop weekly (antiracist) book discussion group meetings--including small group breakout sessions, and women's and men's weekly Bible studies have continued--all of these on Zoom. I'm finding this a pretty good way to get acquainted, in spite of the limitations. I also volunteered to co-coordinate a ministry partnership with a local elementary school, which has been rewarding. While all these activities aren't technically "worship," I think any time we engage with our community in the name of Christ, we are worshiping. And Zoom helps keep our worship activities corporate, because we can still interact and greet others during online services. Another outgrowth of the pandemic is my rededication to a daily meditation, or individual worship, schedule. For Lent last year, the church sponsored a prayer vigil, and I signed up to pray at 6:20 every morning. I haven't stopped! I'm not obsessive about the time, but I generally spend the first 40 minutes or so of my day in meditation, journal writing, and prayer. It helps orient me for the day and provides fresh inspiration via meditations from the Center for Action and Contemplation or lectionary readings. This year for Lent, we're doing a book discussion online group on centering prayer, which I look forward to incorporating in my morning routine. Each of these online activities promotes worship of a different variety than I was used to, but I'm finding reasons for gratitude in the changes. --Janice
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January 2022
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