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Keeping Religion Safe and Vital: Congregation Beth Israel in Portland Oregon

Congregation Beth Israel in Portland, Oregon was first established in 1858, It is currently part of the Union of Reform Judaism. The congregation is dedicated to meaningful spiritual experience and commitment to social justice. Since mid March of 2012 CBI has reached out to those most vulnerable to Covid-19 and offered events and services on Zoom and other platforms.

A Hospice Chaplain

As a hospice chaplain I serve nursing home residents. Several of the facilities have restricted who can enter. As such my work has shifted to a telephonic ministry. For the individuals I can visit it means donning PPE and establishing a spiritual presence through gown, gloves and face mask. I also provide spiritual care for a residential community for individuals with Down Syndrome. The facility has been in lock down since the pandemic started so there are no group gatherings. Chapel services are prerecorded and the residents watch them on YouTube. This has in some respects expanded the residents and staff I minister to as some who were not able to make it to chapel now see the video service where they were not able to. Has my misistry changed? Yes. In some ways sadly as I am not able to be face to face with some. In other ways I am encouraged by the new opportunities and wondering what will carry into the coming days.

Early Bird COVID-19 Sermon For The Jewish New Year

A key prayer connected with the Jewish High Holy Day services states in part, "“On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed, how many shall pass away and how many shall be born, who shall live and who shall die, who in good time and who in an untimely death. Who shall have rest and who shall wander. Who shall become rich and who impoverished.” This sermon is about how the pandemic has affected our feelings about this chilling prayer about fate and how we might interpret it. An alternate "gentler, kinder" version is offered and discussed. This sermon will be preached in mid-September during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year Please note: For the date below, I put the month and day I plan to preach the sermon on Zoom; the date I "prepublished" it is June 24th, 2020 in my blog, offbeatcompassion.com

"Minced" virtual southern Jewish cooking competition

Four staff members of the Institute of Southern Jewish Life participated in a Facebook Live cooking competition via Zoom, hosted by ISJL Historian Dr. Josh Parshall and Dr. Marcie Cohen Ferris, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill Professor Emeritus and scholar of foodways and southern and Jewish cultures.

Institute of Southern Jewish Life Pass(over) the Seder Plate Video

A video from Institute of Southern Jewish Life celebrating Passover with a virtual passing of the Seder plate. All the staff at the ISJL participate to virtually welcome Passover. This video was shared on social media with ISJL supporters and partners.

Easter for two

Not being able to go on retreat as planned for Holy Week, I created my own retreat time at home. Together with my partner, I created an Exultet roll for use at our 4:30 AM Easter Vigil. I chanted the Easter Proclamation off this roll and we had a complete service of our own, but for the Sacrament, including Gregorian chant and a reading from the Paschal homily of St. John Chrysostom. Easter came all the same!

Medicine and Faith

I am a medical doctor and a person of faith. During the pandemic I have written several blog posts from these two perspectives. Several have discussed our family religious observances at home.

Lent in the Time of Pandemic

I am Roman Catholic. Lent, the time of penance leading up to Easter, is the most solemn time of the year. For me, it is also a time of extra reflection on the mysteries of Christ's life and death, while continuing to live in the hope of the resurrection. This year, Lent was broken in half by the sudden imposition of "stay-home" orders that prevented us from going to work, going out to eat, going to mass, or enjoying most recreational activities, such as movies, plays, or concerts. I missed all of these communal activities. Soon it became clear, though, that we all were in this together. Shocking and unbelievable though it was, the whole world had shut down. On March 27, 2020, Pope Francis held a special service at the Vatican to ask God to end the plague and to give a blessing so we had the strength to endure what was coming. This haunting image of him alone in St. Peter's Square reflects to me the melancholy feeling of the time. It was as if the whole world was experiencing Lent together.

Study, study, study

Like you, I have lots of time on my hands during the past several months. I have chosen to increase my knowledge of Judaism by studying online with my professors in Jerusalem (Hebrew University), here at home at my synagogue, and with the Jewish Theological Seminary in NY. The webinars have been free, usually one hour, presentations on Zoom with hundreds of other adult learners. A wonderful way to connect and learn from some of the leading experts in many fields of research.

Zion Hill Church of the Brethren March Facebook Posts

Posts made to the congregation's Facebook page

"God Be With You Till We Meet Again"

The First Parish (Unitarian Universalist) Weston, Massachusetts, choir sings "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." Choir members sang individually, and Max Hall synchronized the voices.

Apostolic House of Faith Facebook posts March-May

Posts made to the Apostolic House of Faith including sermons, updates, and inspirational messages.

First United Methodist Church of East Liverpool Facebook posts during March

Facebook posts that cover corona virus procedures, inspirational messages, livestreams, etc. posted during March

First United Methodist Church of East Liverpool March Worship Services

Worship services posted to the church's Facebook page during the month of March

First United Methodist Church of East Liverpool Facebook Posts during April

Facebook posts involving calls to worship, corona virus updates, videos and more

First United Methodist Church of East Liverpool April Worship Services

Worship services posted to the church's Facebook page

First United Methodist Church of East Liverpool April Scripture of the Day

Daily scripture messages that are posted to the church's Facebook page

Kentucky Governor Sends State Troopers To Church To Enforce Social Distancing

Kentucky State Police respond to an anonymous complaint against a church to enforce social distancing rules.

South Bay United Pentecostal Church vs. Newsom

In South Bay United Pentecostal Church vs. Newsom, the Supreme Court of the United States decided against the Church's request for a temporary injunction of California's safety guidelines regarding reduced gathering size due to the COVID-19 pandemic. California's guidelines limit religious worship services to 25% of a building's capacity or 100 attendees. The concurring opinion, authored by Chief Justice Roberts, upholds California's guidelines because they work to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The dissenting opinion, written by Judge Kavanaugh, states that the order violates the First Amendment because it is discriminatory against places of worship and in favor of secular businesses.

First United Methodist Church of East Liverpool Facebook Posts during May

Miscellaneous Facebook Posts from the First United Methodist Church of East Liverpool posted during the month of May. Includes inspirational messages, videos, and images

St. John's Prep Diploma Delivery

As the COVID Pandemic prevented Commencement Exercises for the class of 2020 at St. John's Prep the Headmaster and Principal delivered 280 diplomas. The delivery process took 14 days, 1,100 miles and went to 64 towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Pictures profiling each delivery can be found here: https://stjohnsprep.smugmug.com/2019-2020-School-Year/Diploma-Deliveries/

Pandemic Religion: A Digital Archive