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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. Typicall...

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