Worship continues in spite of coronavirus
Willa Barger has attended Union Baptist Church on the northeast side of Springfield for 69 years. “I’m a lifetime member,” she explained. This Easter, she celebrated at home where she lives with her son. They watched service from a livestream on Facebook. “I have never experienced this,” said Barger. “The only (other) time that I can remember being inconvenienced is in 1978 when we had the ice storm, and people were without electricity, but that was just a very short period of time.”
It’s been about four weeks since the last inperson service held at Union Baptist on March 15. On March 21 the governor’s stay-at-home order went into effect, barring public gatherings including worship services. The church had been recording its services before the pandemic, but there’s still a major difference now in the way services are done. Lead pastor T. Ray McJunkins explained, “There’s no congregation that you’re looking at. It’s empty pews there in the sanctuary.” McJunkins prerecords the sermons and then livestreams them on social media during the regular time of service.
He’s been making other videos too – his own sort of PSAs, urging people to stay at home and help mitigate the spread of the virus. “I know there are some who say that this is a conspiracy, the government did this,” said McJunkins. He wants to counteract that by sharing guidance from experts, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He said he has built trust in his community and when it comes to guidance from experts and officials he’s trying to lead by example: “Look at me, I’m doing it, so I want you to follow.”
McJunkins had a quiet Easter dinner at home with his wife. In previous years, there would have been an all-weekend event run by church: an egg hunt with prizes, a play by the kids, a sunrise service and breakfast, the list goes on.
While the majority of cases in Illinois are concentrated in the Chicago area, black residents are facing higher incidence of infection and death. Many point to long-term disparities in medical care and other forms of structural racism as reasons. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, more white people have been tested than black people, though more black people than white people have tested positive. As of April 13, more black people had died, 340, than white people, 286.
McJunkins is a social justice activist who years ago helped found the Faith Coalition for the Common Good, which he describes as being a voice for those who have historically been discriminated against. He said this virus is showing the continued need for the fight for justice. As activists continue to seek better access to health care for the elderly, the poor and people of color, this is “another statistic that we can add to our list,” he said. “See, this is why we need more health care and equality and equity.”
As for his services, McJunkins said they will continue on virtually for as long as needed. He and others in church leadership have been systematically calling each member to check in by phone. And when they do return to worship again together, he says things will remain different to what they had been before COVID-19. “I think we will have a new normal,” he said. For instance, the services always had a portion where congregants embrace and welcome each other. “After this is all said and done, even me from the pulpit, I will tell them we’re not quite ready to jump back into the handshaking and hugging.”
Willa Barger is appreciating the streamed services, but looks forward to going back to church. She misses the music, teaching Sunday school classes and the fellowship. “I like being present in the sanctuary, where the word is being preached and God is being praised.”
For now, she has lots of time “to really read my Bible and pray, really encourage myself so that I can be an encouragement to others.” Barger said she’s made a point to regularly call people and check in. “It’s been a nice quiet time,” she said, before adding, “I’m ready for it to be over.”
Contact Rachel Otwell at [email protected].
