Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this month revealed the state’s re-opening plan, which included a rough timeline along which organizations in various sectors might re-open. Up first were places of worship (up to 40% occupancy), which got the OK to welcome the faithful back beginning May 18. Natick’s religions houses, however, have been in no rush to re-fill those pews. They’re all still praying on it.

Despite the new guidelines, religious organizations in town are taking a cautious approach under advisement of each of their own committees as they study the situation carefully. Services and masses, which have been online for weeks now, will continue in that vein, while baptisms, weddings, and funerals will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

Temple Israel‘s Rabbi Daniel Lieben says, “Our plan is to re-open over time and with caution. Our primary concern is the safety of our community. The bulk of what we are doing will remain remote.”

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Temple Israel, Natick — Temple Israel, Hartford St.

The rabbi, like many religious leaders in Natick, says he’s been pleasantly surprised with the success he and his team have had in creating connectivity over Zoom meetings. “We’ve even had a bar mitzvah, and we were able to create a true experience.”

Still, he acknowledges the sense of loss that has come with the enforced separation. “People gather together in synagogue to pray as a community. It’s very important to be together, and the sense of loss runs deep. But people are coming together online because it is a way to connect.”

Milestone Church‘s Pastor Jay Mudd agrees that now is not the time to take COVID-related health concerns lightly. “We’re huggers at Milestone,” he says. “That’s just not going to work right now.”

Mudd notes that when services do resume, worship will look different than before. According to the Milestone website, “We will have to limit interaction and worship with only a handful of people in the room. Your overall worship experience will be much different than you expect.”

Day by day

Most church and synagogue offices are not staffed right at this time. A pastor or rabbi might stop in briefly to record a section of the upcoming online worship service. A bare-bones cleaning crew does the rounds of chores quickly and at a distance from one another. Phone calls either go to voicemail or are picked up by a staff member working from home.

When the buildings do re-open, expect to see masks on clergy and worshippers; plenty of sanitation supplies available from hand sanitizer to bleach wipes; and even plexiglass shields in some offices to protect staff as they interact with the public. All scenarios are currently up for discussion including traffic patterns throughout the spaces and a dismissal system that could look less like a meandering flock headed out in to the world and more like a military operation.

It seems likely that most sanctuaries will remain closed until fall, which could be the most sensible course given that attendance at Natick churches and synagogues already trends downward during the summer months. The closest to opening may be St. Patrick and St. Linus Churches. Weekly mass attendance is a precept of the Catholic Church, although dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation has been granted to the faithful for now. Church leadership at this time is working out a plan for resuming worship that will likely include a pre-registration process for a seat at mass and volunteer cleaning teams to take on the necessary sanitizing tasks.

Rev. Adam Tierney-Eliot at Eliot Church (no relation to John Eliot, the missionary leader who founded the church in 1651) says, “We’re not going back until September at the earliest. What we do as a congregation is care for our members, so coming back and gathering isn’t a good idea right now.”

Eliot Church, Natick — Eliot Church, South Natick

Tierney-Eliot said although he knows it’s hard for people to remain apart, it’s necessary because “we love them and care about them. It’s like an extended snowstorm, in a way. We stay closed so that people will stay home. We stay closed for now to keep the community as a whole safe.”

The commandment has been delivered loud and clear: Love they neighbor as thyself — but do so at a distance.

Where to worship online in Wellesley

Natick positivity signs — Photo by Duncan Brown

If you’ve been feeling more appreciated than usual while roaming around town, you might have Natick resident Anne Lafleur to thank for it.

Through signs with inspirational and uplifting messages, Lafleur has been spreading positivity in Natick since last Fall when she began selling them. More recently, she has begun lending them to fellow residents thanks to a grant from Natick Cultural Council that covered a set of 52 signs.

She lends signs to Natick residents with twenty unique messages, all meant to brighten people’s days and to make them feel hope in a time of uncertainty. The signs carry messages such as “You Are Not Alone,” “You Are Appreciated,” and “Thank You for Being You.”

Her favorite at the moment is “It’s Okay Not to Know,” but she says it’s hard to pick.

To borrow one or more signs you simply have to request them on Lafleur’s website. You can probably get it within a week, and then keep it for two. Though she adds: “I have about a dozen on my porch right now that could be picked up tomorrow.”

The signs have found their way all across town, including at places where extra positivity is needed, such as the Mary Ann Morse Healthcare Center, which has been hit hard by COVID-19.

Forty homeowners have borrowed signs since the loaning program began, with 83 signs in total being distributed.

The signs have not been limited to Natick either, with sales taking them to 37 states. Now that she’s this far along, Lafleur’s goal is to spread good vibes across all 50 states.

Natick houses of worship will continue to love their neighbors at a distance

Day by day

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Positive signs: Natick woman loaning out upbeat messages