Items

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  2021-02-10

  A year of Zoom church

  We are approaching a year of dealing with COVID-19. Our little Presbyterian congregation has been worshipping by Zoom during this time. Zoom Palm Sunday; Zoom Easter; Zoom Advent and Christmas. We are preparing for Zoom Ash Wednesday as we live through our second COVID Lent. How do you do Ash Wednesday over Zoom? We will impose ashes on our households or by ourselves, as we hear “From dust you came, and to dust you shall return.” The PCUSA sent advice about what kinds of ashes are appropriate. Burned candle wicks, outdoor dirt, or even house dust were all deemed OK. This letter, with ashes from last year’s Palm Sunday palms, came from one of the church elders. It speaks to the longevity of the pandemic and its disruption. It also speaks of all the little things that individuals have done to keep our traditions in some form and keep our community connected to each other and to our communal rituals.
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  2020-04-20

  Palms

  With the church closed on Palm Sunday, palms are left outside for people to pick up.
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  2020-04-06

  Churches spark outrage by defiantly holding services despite coronavirus orders

  This article is about church members who lined up on Palm Sunday for communion at a Calvary Church near Los Angeles. Ten people were allowed inside at a time, but by the end of the day the church had seen hundreds of memebers. While people were attending church, protesters were lined up in the parking lot of the church honking their horns becuase this church was not closed and members were disregarding Los Angeles "stay at home" order due to COVID-19.
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  2020-04-05

  Amid Coronavirus outbreak, Pope Francis Celebrates Palm Sunday Mass Without the Public

  The articles desxcribes how Pope Francis had to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass in solitude. Typically, thousands from around the globe attend the service at St.Peter's Basilica. He had a few aides, nuns, and a choir all adhering to the social distancing protocol of six feet between them. Other priests took to rooftops so followers could participate and view them from the safetly of their homes. In the Pope's native land of Argentina, congregants used house plants instead of the usual palm leaves used to participate. Palm Sunday opens Holy week, leading to Easter. Currently the Vatican has seven reported cases of COVID-19 among residents and employees in the very small independent city state.
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  2020-04-01

  “Exposure: Quarantine in the Valley” Photo Series

  Ansonia, CT-based photographer Jason Edwards is compiling a photo series to document daily life in the Naugatuck Valley during the Covid 19 pandemic. He has set out to capture the many ways people are adapting during this uncertain times. His photos highlight precautionary measures put in place, like social distancing, as well as the strength of family and local communities.