This year the flu is going to have to share the church pews with COVID-19.  Besides those bugs, the cold, cough, pinkeye, and everything else will still be out there actively recruiting hosts.  With all of the changes put in place at our church, it is hoped that none of the germs have a chance to acquire any draftees.  What is our church doing to meet in person and keep COVID out of the building?

• When you enter the building(you are requested not to enter the building until 15 minutes before the service starts), you need to have a mask on.  If you forget to bring a mask, they are available to grab when you walk in.  If you choose not to wear a mask, there may be a grey area surrounding your delivery to the balcony area.  If you cannot or will not wear a mask, they ask you to sit up there with the others who so choose.  From my glances into that area, it appears most everyone is still wearing a mask of some type.
• I had no idea mask came in so many varieties.  Possibly there are only have as many mask types as I realize.  Some people strike me as being very lackadaisical in attaching the mask to their face.  I think a few of the people are placing the masks on their faces upside down.  When you look at them, it covers their noses and mouths disturbingly.
• The scariest masks are “face gloves”.  They conform to the face nearly perfectly.  They look like something a mutant who has no mask would wear.  They snug up on the face so well it is believable the person has only eyes on their face.  The donation of the nose and mouth are unexplained but obvious to all who behold.
• When singing is taking place, cheating is a survival necessity.  Unless you just whisper the words to the songs, you are going to need air.  The mask we wear are designed to limit your access to air.  Either you cheat a little and put your mask below your nostrils, breathe less deeply than you desire, or you end up winded by the end of the stanza.
• The benches/pews have been modified in two ways.  Since the church has 2 services, each service has its own set of benches.  If the first service uses benches 1, 3, 5, and 7, then the second service will use 2, 4, 6, and 8.  The benches are divided in half.  One family group can sit on each side of the tape.  Some older retired people who know each other well view the tape as a suggestion and not a demand.
• We don’t greet each other during the middle of the service.  This is really unfortunate.  Before we attended the services in person, I found it difficult to watch at the house.  It was too distracting.  Singing in person with actual music does not compare to singing in your living room.  Except for singing louder than the person on the bench two rows behind you, the lack of greeting each other makes me look forward to the changes yet to come.
• The discomfort of the mask promotes cheating, even when there is no interesting reason.  Yes, the mask stink.  Yes, the pandemic stinks.  But, again my rule-following is coming out, if the rule for sitting in a designated area means you wear your masks, you are making a contract with those around you you will wear your mask.  Many nostrils are visible in the older members.  If they are not worried about their health risk while being in a more compromised group, I suppose I should not get all worked up either.

We hope the shift comes soon.  With all of us prepared for masks until the end of November, anything short of that will be a blessing.  Expect the worst and hope for the best.  A little praying won’t hurt either.