Newsom has banned all Christians from singing in church.
Literally the entire Byzantine Catholic /Orthodox Divine Liturgy is sung or chanted. Being liturgical - sacramental Churches, such services are considered essential. Actually, thinking clearly about it, more essential than earthly life, more essential than the physical Universe. Newsom effectively outlawed all Eastern Christian “services” in California, and the actual worshipers have banned (themselves) from thinking too hard about it.
Save Thy people, O Lord,
and bless Thine inheritance.
Grant victory to Thy Church over her enemies,
and protect Thy people by Thy Holy Cross!
Grant victory over her enemies,
foreign and DOMESTIC!
I dunno. The only ones who sing at our Divine Liturgies in our Serbian Orthodox Church (NOT in CA) are a small choir of the priest’s family members (one of whom is over 80), and the Priest himself. The rest of us pray silently behind our masks.
I’m normally used to singing during the entire Liturgy—the parts that are for the Faithful—LED by the choir—to sing.
We recently got a notice from our lay president to fill out stewardship forms, as we “move toward more normal operations”. Lord willing!!!! (Might we have an outdoor Serbian Picnic before the summer is out?)
Meanwhile, my other parish, in the OCA, remains closed, but is moving toward reopening. My former ELCA Lutheran parish is closed, with NO reopening plans! Their “bishop” sounds as if none of his (”gay”/feminazi/BLM-infected) parishes will open until there is a vaccine. Amazing!
Happy Independence Day to all!!!! May our Lord destroy the coronavirus, and make ALL churches reopen whether they want to or not!!!!