MOHAWK — There were temperature checks and doughnuts.
After having only virtual services from March 22-June 7, and again from late November through Feb. 14, worshipers at Mohawk United Methodist Church are back in services together. They lined up for temperature checks and spaced themselves out in the sanctuary. One person worshiped in an overflow area via a large-screen TV.
After Sunday’s service, a fellowship time resumed with modifications that included having someone serve the doughnuts and coffee or juice. Families sat at their own tables to eat them, spaced from other families but together.
“The sanctuary was filled with the voices of happy worshipers, though it wasn’t yet full capacity wise,” the Rev. Kerry O’Brien wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter. “Everyone was genuinely glad and even excited to see one another again after such a long absence.”
Sunday marks a year since many Hancock County churches shifted from in-person worship to services posted online amid efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For several months, they drew viewers to their websites or Facebook pages for services that were either prerecorded or streamed live.
Some churches that had not had much online presence sought to quickly establish or bolster one to help their flocks stay connected. Many Hancock County congregations bought cameras and other equipment, some with grants from the Lilly Endowment-funded Center for Congregations.
“During all of this we upgraded our audio/visual capabilities so we could livestream our worship with more quality than Zoom allowed,” said the Rev. Mark Havel of Cross of Grace Lutheran Church in New Palestine.
Beyond the services, churches sought to maintain connection in various ways.
The Rev. Mark Adcock of New Life Christian Fellowship in Fortville led a study on the Bible book of James over the video conferencing platform Zoom and found the turnout “more than we would have had if I’d done it at the church.”
Worship directors at New Palestine United Methodist Church have shared music on the church’s Facebook page. The leader in the traditional service shares “Hymns and Hope;” the contemporary service leader shares “Prayer and Praise.”
The Rev. Aaron Jenkins, priest at St. Michael Catholic Church, continued to visit parishioners and anoint the sick, joining the list of chaplains at Hancock Regional Hospital so he could continue to perform that pastoral duty. He said he’s been pleased with how county and hospital leaders have navigated coronavirus concerns.
How long church buildings stayed open or closed varied. One church called the Daily Reporter to affirm it was still meeting in person, as there were only about six people in the service and plenty of room to spread out. Another church has not yet reopened to in-person services.
Many churches, however, had virtual services starting in March and phased in in-person services during June or July. Some had a time of late fall or winter virtual-only services as well.
There are common methods church leaders mention when talking about the safety measures they took when resuming in-person worship: masks available, sanitizer stations at strategic points throughout the building, Communion in pre-packaged individual units, parishioners leaving every other row of seats open, and encouragement to socialize outdoors at a distance.
“We use an electrostatic disinfectant sprayer to sanitize our building,” said the Rev. Anthony Stone of New Palestine United Methodist Church. “We purchased eight air purifiers that are spaced around the building.”
Worshipers at St. Michael Catholic Church were meeting in the gymnasium while their sanctuary was renovated. They sat on spaced chairs and wiped down their chairs after Mass.
“I just constantly feel like the church space is one of the safest places we’re in all week long,” Jenkins said.
Still, Jenkins realizes some parishioners have legitimate concerns and notes the dispensation for Catholics on attending Mass continues.
So does churches’ care for those still keeping their distance.
The Rev. Marianne Nichols, a Hancock County resident, has been taking soup to members of the Wayne County churches she pastors who are comfortable with such a visit.
Paul Galbraith, one of the pastors at Brandywine Community Church in Greenfield, said staff there are calling to check in with those who have not yet returned, “to encourage them, pray for them, and continue to deepen our connection with them.”
Adcock has experienced the past year in a variety of ways, both as a pastor and as a grieving son. In April he hopes to finally conduct a funeral service for his parents, who died of coronavirus days apart from each other last spring.
“I think that will help me, emotionally, experience some closure,” he said. “I think sometimes people just don’t realize the depth of an emotional loss. …
“As much as I miss them, I know they’re in a better place.”
In this most challenging year of his ministry, he sees other reasons for hope around him. New people are connecting with the church. Those already part of it have continued to be generous in giving. He feels good about the future.
“We’re overwhelmed with the goodness of God and his faithfulness to the church in the midst of this.”
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“I suspect I will never do another wedding or funeral that isn’t livestreamed.” — Mark Havel, pastor of Cross of Grace Lutheran Church in New Palestine
“The human touch, especially hugs … may never come back.” — Marianne Nichols, Hancock County resident and pastor of Cambridge City First United Methodist Church and Milton United Methodist Church
“I seriously doubt that we’ll ever return to the public chalice we had at Mass.” — Aaron Jenkins, priest at St. Michael Catholic Church
“We quickly learned of the blessings of online worship through Facebook Live and will continue in this way to reach worshipers indefinitely.” — Sharon Feister, member of Greenfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
“The ‘both-and’ of in-person and virtual connection points is something that we will be continuing in the future.” — Anthony Stone, pastor of New Palestine United Methodist Church
“I see new families coming to church. I’m finding a real hunger on the part of people who had not been spiritually hungry before.” — Mark Adcock, pastor of New Life Christian Fellowship
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