Church in 2020

 I've blogged about how things have changed with Covid-19 during this year, but not much about church.  thought it would be appropriate to document the timeline of what happened.  

March 12, 2020 The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles announced that all public gathering of Church members were temporarily suspended worldwide due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During this time our ward held Sunday School via Zoom with Scott Spilker teaching.  Our family also met through Zoom with Joy’s family for Sunday School. 

May 19, 2020 – letter issued authorizing some meetings and activities to be resumed on a limited basis using a phased approach.  The Brethren authorized Area Presidencies, working with the member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the Presidency of the Seventy who supervise them in deciding when and where meetings can begin in their area. 

In our area, Phase 1 we could begin to hold Sacrament meeting in June.  The 3 wards in the building decided that each would have a Sunday and we were assigned the 4^th Sunday of the month. 

Mark Hatch sent this email Friday, June 26, 2020

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

We will be holding Sacrament Meeting at the Stake Center beginning this Sunday, June 28th.  Until we are advised differently, we will plan to continue meeting on the 4th Sunday of each month. We have gone to great length to make sure our meetings will comply with the current COVID-19 requirements.  Based on the survey results of who is planning on attending this Sunday, we have determined that we will be holding 2 meetings so that we can keep the number attending each meeting to less than 99.  The meeting will consist of administration of the sacrament and one speaker.  The meeting will not exceed 45 minutes.  For those who have advised us that they will be attending, here is the schedule:
Last name beginning with A-L - 10:00amLast name beginning with M-Z - 11:30am
Emma Apsley is leaving shortly to serve in the Canada Toronto Mission and will be our speaker in both meetings.
Here are the changes that the church has recommended we implement for the safety of those attending:
- If you are not feeling well, or have recently been quarantined, please do not attend Sacrament Meeting.- Hand sanitizer will be located at the entrance to the chapel.- Please enter from the South side of the building.  Doors on the North and West sides of the building will be locked.  - Please only sit in the designated rows and seats and maintain 6 feet of separation between families and/or individuals. - Hymnbooks will not be available.  If possible, please download the hymns onto your phone. - The bathrooms on the West end of the building will be closed.  If necessary, please use the bathrooms on the North side of the building. - The drinking fountains will be covered and unavailable for use.- As per Gov. Herbert's order from yesterday, face masks are mandatory.- Priesthood holders will all sanitize their hands before preparing and administering the sacrament.- Bread will be administered in a sacrament cup to avoid any contamination.  Gluten free bread will also be available.
- At the conclusion of the meeting, we will exit by row to accommodate social distancing. - Before and after the meeting, please do not congregate inside the building.  If you would like to socialize with each other, please do so outside. - If you are comfortable assisting, we would appreciate volunteers to help clean the building between meetings and after the 2nd meeting.
If any of you are the least bit uncomfortable meeting in larger groups, please stay home and observe the Sabbath with your family.  Authorization to administer the sacrament in your home remains the same.  If you should have any additional questions regarding this Sunday's Sacrament Meeting, please contact a member of the Bishopric.  We look forward to seeing you all again.
Lovingly,
The Bishopric

July 26, 2020  This was the first Sacrament meeting Jacob and I attended.  Jason continued to stay home due to his health issues.  I was asked to speak.

September 11, 2020 The First Presidency announces holding Sacrament meeting via Zoom for those who can not attend in person.  The meeting opens with a hymn, prayer, 2 speakers, closing hymn, and closing prayer.  The virtual broadcast is then ended and those in the building participated in the Sacrament. Total meeting time is 1 hour.

We began Zoom Sacrament meeting in October.  Jacob and I still went in person and Jacob now began to pass the Sacrament again.  In the summer it was done by groups of fathers and sons to help with social distancing.

Virtual 2^nd hour began on Oct 18, 2020 with Sunday School and Oct 25, 2020 with Relief Society, Elders Quorum, Young Men and Young Women.  Sacrament meeting was held 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.  Youth meetings (SS, YM/YW) were held 10:30-11:00 and adult meetings (SS, RS, EQ) 11:00-12:00. 

I am assuming that sometime in 2021 we will begin to meet as normal again.  ?????