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Abingdon Episcopal switches to online services

By Melany Slaughter on March 25, 2020
Abingdon Episcopal Church livestreamed its Sunday worship service on Facebook, something that a growing number of churches have been doing in response to the precautions taken in the wake of COVID-19. Last week, the Abingdon’s broadcast had 624 views to date and, as of Sunday night there were over 500 views this week. Only four or five people are involved in the service as those present were practicing social distancing. On Sunday, the Rev. Sven vanBaars set up a little station for washing and sanitizing hands, lower left. Abingdon’s director of music Alisa Bohon provided organ music. Christian Education Director Carolyn Teclaw has been acting as production manager while Linda Tjossem was behind the camera. Last week, vanBaars presented the homily. This week, his wife, the Rev. Jen Kimball, delivered the sermon. Shown above, vanBaars talks with Teclaw before Sunday’s service.

Abingdon Episcopal Church, White Marsh, is one of many churches in this area that has switched to online services because of the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19.

According to the church’s rector, the Rev. Sven vanBaars, Abingdon is offering one live worship service each Sunday on its Facebook page, as opposed to its two in-church services. The church will provide supporting documents to its online services on its webpage. The Facebook services can be viewed at any time. The church is also being connected via Zoom and conference calls.

Abingdon has had to adjust in the ways that it worships. “Our main worship is weekly Eucharist where we bless, break and share bread and wine in the sacrament,” said Mr. vanBaars. “Obviously, we can’t do this via a streaming service. It has called us to remember that we are people of Word and Sacrament and this situation asks us to focus more on Jesus as the Word of God.”

The church has also adjusted the number of participants leading the service. Typically, Abingdon has up to 18 people helping to lead worship every Sunday. Now, that number has been reduced to seven with some of those working behind the scenes.

Another challenge that Abingdon is facing is outreach to current members. “While we are reaching a lot of people, I feel that we are not reaching some of our very regular parishioners either because they do not have good internet access at their home or because it is not a technology they are comfortable with,” said vanBaars. “Our vestry is in phone contact with our parishioners to maintain our bonds of friendship and to check to see how everyone is doing. We enjoy seeing each other face-to-face and that is harder to do via online.”

The church has seen many people join online who are not regulars at Abingdon, including those who have moved away and by others who want a traditional service during this time of uncertainty.

“We hope this is an opportunity for a lot of people to become comfortable with us in the comfort of their home and then join us for in-person worship after the outbreak has been contained,” said vanBaars.

Abingdon is also offering an online hymn sing on Thursdays at 6 p.m. on its Facebook page.

“The situation has also caused us to move toward online giving faster than we had planned,” he said. “I think this will be a good thing for us.”

Aside from worship services, outreach and Christian Formation, people can contact the church office. Abingdon office is still open its normal office hours.

Abingdon’s outreach to Gloucester continues amid the pandemic. “We delivered two weeks of weekend food packs to Abingdon Elementary School for their distribution,” said vanBaars. “We are also participating with Bread for Life in a communitywide food drive and distribution.”

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