Worship day will never be the same if the trending worship norm becomes the new norm. I just attended my first online Sunday mass because of the COVID19 stay at home advisory. It felt weird, being a new experience, and even the choir felt the same way. The Deacon made the celebration a spiritual experience because of the physical absence of the faithful.

I have always equated going to church as a day when Sunday clothes are worn and seated at the pews before the services started. Today, the only semblance was that I made it a point to be online before the start of services. I sat next to my wife, in our house clothes, in our living room. The dogs were by our feet.

There were subtitles as the liturgy was being read. I liked it. It made me focus more and not be distracted by each tiny noise and shadow. I felt detached though singing the hymns. There was no chorus of voices singing and it was difficult to keep up with the hymn.

I still felt that the consecration was the highlight of the service. It’s even felt more meaningful because of the visual effect of the camera close up.

COVID19 certainly has changed a lot of things. People interaction, church services, school attendance, and healthcare – just to name a few. I still do hope that all these will be temporary and we will be soon be back to the way it used to be.