10 June 2021

This morning I read an article in the press about how this summer will be especially hot, and the article was not about global warming. Rather this summer will be sizzling, because people are ready to socialize, dine, dance, and make love. Younger people are especially ready to cut loose and party, shaking off all the inhibitions from the past pandemic months.

The church is no different in some ways. In many places on the continent congregants are able to sing in church now without masks. A priest friend of mine told me how his congregation practically shouted the hymns when they were given the chance to sing. The organist was not able to register the instrument loud enough to effectively accompany the congregation. After about two or three stanzas of singing, a cacophony of coughs, grunts, and hacking broke out in the church. People had not sung in a long time, and they had lots of cobwebs to clear out of their throats.

I remember how at the beginning of the pandemic many self-anointed prophets were declaring how the pandemic would be the end of the church as we know it. The pandemic was going to bring about radical changes in all aspects of life. Now that we are hopefully seeing the pandemic’s end, much does not seem to have changed. It’s probably too early to make any grand predictions about the pandemic’s effect on the future, but what is clear currently is that people seem to be returning to life as it was before. They are eager to repeat the good times of the past, even if it wasn’t always so good.

Currently during Evening Prayer we are hearing from the Book of Ecclesiastes, and we are reminded that nothing really ever changes under the sun. Vanity of vanities! All is vanity! Nevertheless, I am completely fine with people being a bit vain with their lives after this pandemic. People need the release. When they are done with their partying, dining, socializing, and sizzling, as has always been the case, the church will be ready to be of service. Whether it is a pandemic, or it is the parties after the pandemic, our doors are open, and hopefully they will be open for singing soon.

Father Paul Lillie +