With attendance waning, religious leaders are scrambling to adapt to congregants’ new needs.
Empty pews. Taking communion at home. Zooming into Shabbat services in pajamas.
“I think it has something to do with the fact that we have just experienced collectively and individually one of the most profound and challenging times we have faced in this country for 100 years,” said the Rev. Phil Brochard of All Souls Episcopal Parish in Berkeley. “What we do know is that it has altered the ways we live our lives. … And we’re struggling to understand what it means and what to do next.
Parishioner Jim Feeley sets up the live stream to broadcast on Facebook the 11:15 a.m. mass at All Souls Episcopal Parish in Berkeley, Calif., on Sunday. Nicky Silver, of Oakland, went to Kehilla Community Synagogue regularly before COVID, attending services and a 7:50 a.m. meditation group. Now, she does it on her computer.After carefully avoiding the virus throughout the pandemic, Silver decided to venture out and attend in-person services this year for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. A week later, she came down with COVID for the first time.
“The problem is we bring people together, and that’s how we do what we do well,” he said. “Creating community and connecting people with each other — that’s our bread and butter.”
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