Congregating in Norfolk in the time of COVID-19

By Christopher Sinclair

To congregate means to come together in a group or an assembly, particularly in large numbers, derived in part from the Latin root grex, meaning crowd or flock. While the physical act of congregating is currently and foreseeably off the table, the power and spirit of the congregation itself remain steadfast and robust. During a time when it can seem that people are united primarily by their fears and anxieties rather than by their joys and successes, the people of Norfolk have a renewed awareness of the broad and unconditional support that exists not only in the town’s congregations but in the community more broadly, uniting us in our desire to see that each individual person is well cared for. 

Rev. Erick Olsen, of Norfolk’s Church of Christ Congregational, recently suspended Sunday services indefinitely amid the outbreak of Covid-19, a move that is, to his recollection, “as unprecedented as the virus itself.” Olsen listed just a few of the myriad reasons why individuals are drawn to the church congregation, from “the beauty of the space and sacred music that inspires beyond explanation,” to “the sense of belonging and community that can only be known when you’re close enough to hear a voice and see a face.”

While the absence of this sense of connection in the lives of many will likely bring on feelings of “stress, anxiety, and sadness,” Olsen quickly notes that “we are keenly aware that we are not alone in experiencing these feelings.” To combat isolation, he encourages individuals to “engage a discipline that allows them to connect in a transformative and healing way, in a manner that at least heightens awareness that we are each a part of something much bigger and beyond our individual lives.” This pursuit can manifest in many different ways, from prayer and meditation, to solo walks or hikes, or to the exploration of a forgotten artistic endeavor. 

During this time, thoughtful and intentional action is one of the most powerful methods to allay pervasive stress and anxiety. To that end, Olsen affirms that “central to our identity as a community of faith is tending to the needs of others, and during a pandemic this clearly emerges as a priority,” adding that “Norfolk is blessed with elected and appointed leaders and volunteers who are uniquely caring, attentive, creative and responsive.” He urges individuals to reach out to the church or any other town or community organization during this time if they have acute needs that are not being met. 

Olsen has been coordinating with some of his peers in the hopes of establishing more of a presence on Zoom, a cloud-based video conferencing app, which would allow interested people to congregate remotely. Already in operation is a weekly video online worship, which is posted to Facebook on Sunday mornings and is also available by direct link via email (all those interested in receiving this weekly link are welcome to contact office@cofcucc.org). 

In addition to using certain new technologies to tackle the unique circumstance in which we find ourselves, the old tried-and-true support mechanisms continue chugging along as they always have. The NorfolkNET food pantry continues to operate as of the writing of this article, with current hours of operation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. 

For the next few weeks, individuals are asked to call ahead (860-542-5721) before coming to the food pantry and to remain in their cars, whether picking up or dropping off, while church staff provide assistance. If people need help outside the regular hours of operation, they are encouraged to call anyway, and their requests will be accommodated to the best of the pantry staff’s ability. 

Olsen also cites a ramping up of efforts within the community regarding the formation of what he and others hope will be a “fairly comprehensive phone tree” to enable residents to check on the welfare of each other. Any Norfolk resident who would like a “check-in” call should not hesitate to reach out to Olsen or other community leaders, and they promise to do their best to step up, until congregating is once again an option.