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Let's Talk Native... with John Kane, #412: Worship in the Age of COVID-19!
Let's Talk Native... with John Kane is a talk show that provides a forum for Native issues, both local and national. The show airs live from their studio on the Cattaraugus territory of the Seneca Nation in western New York. This episode of the podcast focuses on COVID-19 and worship. Kane discusses how COVID-19 closed churches, mosques, and synagogues. He asks several key questions throughout the podcast: Is "Longhouse" a religion? Must ceremonies continue during a pandemic? Does religion "require" group worship? Kane does not describe himself as big on religion, and he doesn't refer to his culture as being religious or particularly spiritual. He says even their festivals (ceremonies) are pragmatic. They are not about prayer or worship, but rather staying connected to their past and their present and making commitments to their future. Throughout the podcast, he grapples with the way their ceremonies and thanksgivings are now treated as religious, and the way Longhouses are treated like churches, and how this diverges from their traditional and historical use as spaces for celebrations and housing. He also argues that illness is a reason not to host ceremonies, festivals, or any large group events. The cultural celebrations are not worth risking their loved ones and communities. It's important to recognize that there are times to gather, and times where you can't. -
Passover in a Time of Coronavirus
This essay from Rabbi David Spinrad of the Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria, Virginia, addresses how COVID-19 has forced changes to Passover this year. Using four perspectives (priorities, people, preparation, and traditions), he encourages people to enjoy the holiday despite the coronavirus pandemic; to use technology to gather with love ones from a safe distance; give themselves a break when it comes to preparing for Seder; and to recognize that while traditions are important, they have the opportunity to make history this year instead. -
Volunteers at Church's Food Pantry Help Unload Donated Food.
Every Monday afternoon St. Mary's Church Food Pantry distributes food to families. The average number of people served has substantially increased due to Pandemic. -
Man on library steps. Church of Scientology is a few doors away.
COVID- 19 closed public libraries where homeless rested securely during the day. Man on library steps may be returning to safety. -
Woman sheltering under a scaffold at Riverside Church
On my daily morning walk, I pass homeless people sheltering under Riverside Church's scaffolding. It is rare to see a homeless woman. Daily she washes her clothes and leaves it to dry on the railing. The Pandemic causes job loss; as a consequence, eviction from their apartments. -
Homeless Jesus and Homeless Man. What would you do?
Homeless Jesus on a bench in the courtyard of St. John the Divine and Homeless man on 124th Street next to the Salvation Army. The Pandemic closed a City-run 101 bed men's shelter on 123th Street and Lexington Avenue, thus increasing the population of homeless living on the street. -
Riverside Church Service Entrance with Homeless Person's Possessions
At the service entrance of one of NYC's most iconic churches, a homeless person leaves their bundles for safekeeping. Notice the Toy Story luggage- never leave a person behind. -
#dynamicdayschools videos
Jewish day schools and yeshivas continue to be incredibly dynamic, providing excellent learning and community-building opportunities, as well as meaningful commemorations and celebrations, throughout this otherwise challenging time in the world. Because of the values our schools share, we are uniquely positioned to adapt to new challenges and innovate unique ways to educate and nurture our students. Enjoy these videos showcasing Jewish day schools across North America, made entirely from videos, pictures, and music sent to us by schools. -
Church Reopening Update for Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia
This video message describes plans to reopen Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia for in-person services after several months of online services. Pastor Joe Focht discusses changes to services, cleaning protocols and other details of the reopening. -
Fort Jackson Chapel Sign
This image of Daniel Circle Chapel, located on Fort Jackson in South Carolina, displays a message that says "Social distancing does NOT mean spiritual distancing." Of the three chapels located on Fort Jackson, two have electronic signs that display this message. -
When the Buildings Cheered
For five springtime weeks during the pandemic, I walked the sidewalks of New York to capture the nightly 7:00 PM gratitude for front line workers. Wearing a new face mask and holding an old iPhone 5s, I walked on nearly deserted streets that felt both familiar and foreign. As a born New Yorker, I have always found this city to be the most beautiful, ever-evolving place on earth. I still do. Those five weeks became these five minutes… “When The Buildings Cheered.” -
Cousins monthly get together turned into Zoom happy hour in Atlanta!
The Bregman clan getting together once covid hit to continue our monthly celebrations with one another! -
Website for Christ Church in Poughkeepsie, NY
I have sent you a copy of the Christ Church website. It gives information about our church and its mission along with access to our newsletter and the YouTube videos of our services. I am an ordained priest in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, retired from active service since 2012. When COVID-19 so radically interrupted our regular way of worship and community life, it was a great comfort to discover how we could in fact come together in worship by means of technology. I particularly appreciate our Rector, the Reverend Susan Fortunato, whose sermons are both apt and inspiring. -
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Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley v. Sisolak
The Supreme Court denied a request from Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley to hold services on the same terms as other facilities in the state (such as casinos). Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court's more liberal judges in the majority decision, while the ruling drew sharp dissent from the more conservative judges. This is the second decision from the Supreme Court regarding religious institutions' ability to hold services. -
Corona Contemplations
I have been struggling on how to represent the changes and destruction of life as we know it. Time seems to have shifted dramatically and feels like it is being taken apart bit by bit. Not knowing what the future will be like, the only thing we know is that life will never go back to the way it was in the past. I am participating in a text study and creative arts class which has really helped how I view art and study of sources that guide me and inspire me. -
Corona Contemplations
I have been struggling on how to represent the changes and destruction of life as we know it. Time seems to have shifted dramatically and feels like it is being taken apart bit by bit. Not knowing what the future will be like, the only thing we know is that life will never go back to the way it was in the past. I am participating in a text study and creative arts class which has really helped how I view art and study of sources that guide me and inspire me. -
May The God Of Hope Fill You (Romans 15:13)
Our church choir, as is most church choirs, is a tight community that was devastated once we learned that not only would we not be able to gather together until the pandemic eased, but the act of singing together could physically be the most harmful thing we could do to spread this horrible disease. Though zoom calls were nice for fellowship, our choir deeply missed the ways we could connect to one another through music. To make a long story short, I wanted to write a piece of music that could be sung by members of our choir from their homes, that also provided optimism and hope. I stumbled upon Romans 15:13, which became the text for the music included in this post. I am grateful for the technology to be able to put something like this together, and I am praying and longing for the day where we can sing again together, in person, to worship God. -
How Will You Move Forward?
"How Will You Move Forward?" is spray-painted onto a red brick sidewalk along 7th Street NW in Washington, D.C., in the near the Chinatown/Gallery Place Metro stop. The art was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. -
Funeral in the time of COVID-19
An image portraying how funerals have changed in response of the COVID-19 pandemic, including reduced attendance, face masks, and social distance between attendees. -
Weekly Torah Class via Zoom
Rabbi Mark Urkowitz teaches his weekly Torah class, now via Zoom, for the residents of The Medallion, a Jewish senior care facility in Houston, May 2020. Photo credit: Stephanie Kleiner From the collections of the Houston Jewish History Archive, Woodson Research Center, Rice University -
Virtual Havdalah
Capital Camps' first ever Virtual Havdalah. 150 Camp Families connected with them over Zoom and facebook live, and even more have watched the recording posted to their facebook page. It was a magical evening connecting their camp community across the US and globe -
Weekly Virtual Shabbat
Karen Levi contributed this image to the Capital Jewish Museum's COVID-19 archive, documenting her weekly virtual Shabbat -
Seder Plate for Virtual Seder
Seder plate for virtual Seder. Contributor Karen Levi drew items she couldn't get at height of Pandemic fear. -
Free Prayers from Latter-day Saint Missionaries
A typical missionary experience for young men in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would involve a lot of person to person interaction through knocking on doors, approaching people on the street, and being in strangers home. With COVID-19 who wants strangers in their home, right? These missionaries found a creative way to still try to serve the community they have been assigned to. When we drove past they were dancing and twirling their homemade signs, waving at cars, and encouraging people to honk. They were on one of the busiest intersections in the city.