ATHABASCA — If you hear church bells ringing at noon on Fridays, it is a moment to pause and think about all those lost and otherwise affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Right Reverend David Greenwood with the Anglican Diocese of Athabasca, which includes the All Saint’s Anglican Church in Athabasca, along with 16 other parishes throughout the northern half of the province, proposed doing something as a way to encourage people to stop and pray, said Rev. Rose Howell in a May 27 interview.
“We just started to brainstorm around ringing the bell for those who have died,” she said. “Originally, we started with those who had died because of COVID and then it kind of morphed into not only those who have died, but those who are sick with COVID and those who are grieving for those who have they lost because of COVID.”
For one minute every Friday starting May 28, the bells will ring across the Diocese and Howell is encouraging other churches, faith groups and even individuals to join in.
“We want to walk with (people) through this tragic time and be of support in that way,” said Howell. “And you know, sometimes people when they know someone's praying for them in the midst of hardship like that, it brings great comfort to them.”
Howell acknowledged there have not been many deaths – only one in the Athabasca region – but there have been many cases; 703 with 56 active and 646 recovered as of May 28, but it’s not just about Athabasca.
“It will go way beyond because when people start lifting up prayers it may start local, but it tends to trickle out,” she said. “And everyone in the world is affected by this so, yes, it will trickle out and it will become a worldwide prayer as well.”
She said other churches have been asked to join in, even if it means ringing handbells or even a cowbell.
“If they have a church bell, not only us but them too, join in to ringing the bell,” said Howell. “And if we all rang the bell at different times, can you just imagine that sound all across Athabasca? A powerful statement to the community for sure.”
Howell hopes it will remind people to pause and either pray or send out positive thoughts.
“The whole point of ringing the bells is still to draw us into prayer, and I know that that may not suit everyone in our community, but I want to encourage people to pray,” she said.
Howell also encourages anyone struggling to reach out.
“People are struggling more and more as we go; days go by and we're not returning back to our normal kind of lifestyle,” she said. “I have the sense that people are really struggling; they're struggling mentally, they're struggling physically, they're struggling financially. Please reach out and talk to someone or even call the church and we're always here to listen.”
If you want more information on taking part in ringing the bells or just to talk, Howell is available at 780-213-0439 or at [email protected].
See the inaugural ringing of the bells from last Friday on the Athabasca Advocate Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/athabascaadvocate/videos/179537743974690.
