{"id":24515,"date":"2020-05-11T18:57:57","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T22:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=24515"},"modified":"2020-05-21T12:02:10","modified_gmt":"2020-05-21T16:02:10","slug":"pumc-rises-above-social-distancing-on-easter-4-12-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=24515","title":{"rendered":"PUMC Rises Above Social Distancing on Easter! (4\/12\/20)"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the pandemic that turned everything upside down during the Spring of 2020, we were all (mostly) following a catchphrase that was designed to dampen the spread of the virus:\u00a0 “Social Distancing.”\u00a0 The virus is spread through person to person contact, so we were supposed to stay at least 6 feet away from each other.\u00a0 Face masks became required attire when out in public.\u00a0 But the preferred action was to stay at home.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Stay at home… Stay away from others…. no handshakes… no hugs… no smiles.\u00a0 And don’t even come to church.\u00a0 Stay at home!\u00a0\u00a0 So we did what we could.\u00a0 We created “Live Stream Only” services where the Pastor, Music Leaders, and Tech Team were the only ones in the sanctuary.\u00a0 Instead of a full congregation participating in a Spirit-shared worship, a skeleton crew produced a “TV Show.”\u00a0 But it was the best we could do and it was a blessing.\u00a0 But we still missed the personal contact.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

But this is Easter!\u00a0 This is the most important day on the Christian Calendar.\u00a0 Christ is Risen… He is Risen INDEED!!! We need to come together and celebrate this glorious day!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Hallelujah Chorus<\/span><\/h3>\n

On Easter Sunday, we couldn’t be together, and the Easter celebration just isn’t right without your church family. Our Easter services usually end up with the singing of “He Lives!” while members of the congregation join the choir in the loft.\u00a0 Then we sing “Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.”<\/p>\n

But… social distancing…\u00a0 the sanctuary was nearly empty, and there weren’t nearly enough voices to do Handle’s majestic piece justice.\u00a0 So, we played an audio recording of when our choirs joined with the community and a string ensemble to present Handle’s Messiah in all (or most) of it’s glory.\u00a0 The below pictures give us a reminder of that special evening back in 2017:<\/p>\n

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