Coronavirus diary - day 101

The second day after the lockdown was relaxed. Our first physical church service for three months, though - quite rightly - the church took extreme precautions to reduce risk to the congregation.

I've already mentioned that the church building had been very thoroughly cleaned. There was hand sanitiser and wipes at the door which everyone was encouraged to use.

All the congregation was encouraged to keep two metres apart except for family groups, so every other pew was taped off. Hassocks (kneeling mats) had been removed from the pews in use.

No hymnbooks in use and no singing - instead recordings of the hymns were played and the congregation listened. For the same reason we were asked to say responses quietly.

Communion was given in one kind only, e.g. "bread" (wafers) but not wine, and the queue to receive communion was carefully kept two metres apart.

The "Peace " was sent back forty years - the words were said with everyone staying in their place, no going round the church shaking hands, or at all, though we were encouraged to wave at one another.

All very different from what we would recently have considered a normal service.

But was it better than no service at all - or taking risks with people's health?

A million times, yes.

Later today, at 5pm I took part with my wife and family in the "Thank you NHS" clap.

Not as well supported in Whitehaven as previous such events, I'm not sure whether this was because it had not been as well publicised or because the weather wasn't too great for it.

But we were not the only ones to venture out on this 72nd birthday of the NHS and clap or otherwise make a noise to show our appreciation for those who have been working to protect us all in these very difficult times.

Thank you to all our NHS heroes. 



Keep well.


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