Among the institutions the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown were churches.
But in such a tumultuous year, those closures, particularly in communities of color, meant a loss of a brick and mortar space to grieve, mourn and celebrate life.
According to Revs. Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmett Price, co-hosts of the GBH post All Revv'd Up, communities of color, particularly Black communities are not only mourning the deaths of their neighbors from COVID-19, but at the hands of systemic racism. And healing from that collective trauma was forced to be from a distance, either through a screen or over a phone line. Monroe and Price say despite things leaning towards normal, that healing with take time.
Meantime, over in Lincoln, one congregation has found a way to stay connected and keep singing. Jay Lane is the music director of St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church. Back in the fall, with help from the founders of drivewaychoir.org, his congregation started signing outside in their church parking lot from their cars using a system of wired and wireless microphones. Jay says it's helped them all stay connected, even while social distancing.
Click on the audio player above to listen to the full episode.
Segments:
Jay Lane - 2:12
Reverend Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmett Price - 16:01
