We have just passed one year of unusual church circumstances. I thought it would be fun to highlight a bit of the transition from one form to another in a condensed blog post.
(Jan 2019 church changes from a 3-hour block to a 2-hour block plus a home-centered gospel study.)
March 8, 2020: Attended our regular two-hour block of church. Sacrament Meeting, Primary, Adult classes (I wish I could remember if it was Relief Society or Sunday School or what the lesson was about.)
March 15, 2020: Gatherings of Church Members Suspended Worldwide - We were authorized to hold sacrament meeting in our home with David being able to bless and pass the sacrament for our family.
August 2020: Our ward was assigned one week per month and our congregation was split into three assigned times on that specific day. Come, Follow Me was held at home in families. The sacrament was authorized for the weeks not attending in person.
October 2020: Alternating each week, half of each ward meets in person at the Chapel for the 1st Hour and the other half watches the Sunday Worship Service remotely via technology. Immediately following the Worship Service, those at the Chapel participate in the Sacrament and those at home (where authorized by the Bishop) administer the Sacrament in their homes.
November 2020: Virtual Primary Meetings are approved. (Some begin Zoom primary, some pre-record a lesson or song to distribute to primary kids.)
February 2020: Updated Primary Meeting Guidelines-Under the direction of stake presidents and bishops, stake and ward leaders are asked to counsel together and seek new options and times — including weekdays — to conduct virtual or in-person Primary classes, singing times and activities. (Nothing changes in our ward at this point.)
March 2020: Plans are being made for primary to begin meeting in person for a shortened schedule, but much is uncertain, and masks and social distancing will still need to be considered.
A lot has changed in the past year and it's neat to see how even the changes in 2019 were preparing us to create "home-centered, church-supported" gospel learning habits. We have been encouraged to make our homes sanctuaries of faith and gospel study and it is clear that we have needed that this year.
It's been challenging but also incredibly powerful as we've brought our sacrament service into our home. To see David kneeling at our small side table in our family room blessing the sacrament for our little family. For my kids to take turns sharing testimony and singing primary songs for our sacrament songs.
We don't really know what the next year will bring, but we are hopeful that things will return to normal. (and that temples will open, we hope soon!)
But we will be grateful for the support and strength from the spirit we have felt as we have worshiped the Lord this year.
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