Oh, how you love the old hymns! Today in church you sang Now I belong to Jesus and you were transported back to the halcyon days of attending church of your childhood where you often sang this song, led by the strong, beautiful voice of your pastor. These are precious memories in a time of so much strife and confusion.
A phone conversation with your sister later in the day helped you remember some other hymns that were her favorites from those same days. She reminded you that at some of the other churches she attended in her early years of marriage, they always sang Now I Belong to Jesus after the baptisms. Two more songs your sister associate with those years at your childhood church are Yes, I Know and Come to the Feast. Of course there was always Kneel at the Cross, which your sister was pretty confident in her memory that it was hymn number 95.
It certainly It seems as if each congregation you have ever been a part of has its favorite hymns, and you know you have learned several good ones from the church your Mom currently attends. With all of these memories, of course, you are reminded of the easier days that you once took for granted. The days when you were able to attend church in person, sing all of the old hymns together, and take communion among a community of believers.
Today, of course, the church marquee sign indicates that in person worship is still not happening, but that there are online services that allow most of the community to gather digitally.
Many Churches Are Making Physical Changes to Their Buildings in Preparation for Returning to In Person Worship
With the use of materials that were formerly used for warehouse partitions and modular warehouse offices, many churches are rethinking the spaces in their buildings. As a way to direct traffic in and out of previously crowded worship spaces or as a way to separate office staff, these materials that were originally designed for modular office buildings are proving very helpful. And in a time when many churches are operating on less funding while they are not yet worshipping in person, a report by the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia estimating that going modular can reduce construction cost by 9% to 20% is especially encouraging. Permanent and relocatable are the two main types of modular construction. The relocatable products are the one that are most often being used by churches and other places that are looking for a temporary solution. These materials that have long been used for modular office buildings are now finding a place, at least for the time being, in churches, schools, and many other locations.
Fortunately, modular methods allow for speedier construction times while still maintaining quality. One Chinese modular construction company, in fact, recently built a 57-story building in just 19 days. This fact alone should provide encouragement to churches and other groups that find themselves in need of rethinking current spaces. In an increasingly popular trend, some companies are now renting out materials that in the past may have only been used for modular office buildings. This means that as churches and other buildings need to be reconfigured for these current times, the modular office buildings supplies can provide an immediate solution and then be removed when they are no longer necessary.
Many people long for a return to the days of sitting in their family’s normal church pews and singing their favorite hymns. Many congregational leaders, however, are leaning toward a more measured and safe approach during the pandemic. This does not mean, however, that these religious leaders, including church councils, are ignoring the physical changes that may need to be implemented when they do open. Many of these groups are, for instance, partitioning off public gathering spaces like coffee bars and removing casual seating options in common space places. The use of modular and prefabricated office walls are often the easiest and most affordable options. No matter where you live in the country it is likely that you have had to make some major adjustments to your life, including the way that you worship.
