John Egger, a United Church co-worker in mission serving in Korea, shares an update on churches there during the pandemic.
John Egger is a United Church mission co-worker in mission serving in Korea. Please join us for a web conversation with John on Wednesday, June 23, 7:00 p.m. EDT / 4:00 p.m. PDT. He will share about his experience working with Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) during the pandemic, and his overall experience in Korea. Register here. This webinar will also be simultaneously livestreamed on the United Action for Justice Facebook page.
The numbers of new cases have dropped recently in Seoul, but there are still fears of a “fourth wave.” Some restrictions have recently been eased, but the current restrictions will remain in place for at least another two weeks. This means no group gatherings of more than 4 people. Some churches are able to gather, but only if they are at less than 20 percent capacity.
Still, the work of the church continues. I continue to go to the office every day during the week and I am starting to get used to attending church services online on Sundays.
Meanwhile, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) held their annual “mission academy” last month through Zoom, preparing mission co-workers for mission assignments overseas. In this photo you can see the system we managed to set-up for the facilitators to communicate online with the participants.
Because the COVID-19 crisis is a world-wide pandemic, the PROK sent thousands of masks and other equipment to partners in Indonesia and elsewhere. In January, I accompanied my colleague JungHwan to the post office to deliver several boxes.
I took part in a tour of the PROK’s former Academy House in December. The building has become very run down, as the PROK decides what to do with the property. At one time, Academy House was an important site for human rights education in Korea, and it played an important role in the democratization of the country. It is hard for the PROK to grieve this loss.
There were a few occasions in the fall before the third wave when I was able to go to church in person. (It feels like years ago now.) At Hanshin Presbyterian Church, as worshipers entered the building, they went through a gate that gently bathed them in a spray to sanitize them.
But mostly I have been attending services online. In November I got to hear a colleague of mine from the General Assembly Office, recently ordained Rev. JeShin Yang, preaching at Seoul First Presbyterian Church.
I also got to hear another colleague of mine from the General Assembly Office, Rev. SoHyun Nam, leading "next generation" worship (worship for youth) at Shinsegae Church in Yongin.
And I participated in communion virtually by attending Sumdol Church online in December. (That was a little different.)
Let me leave with you the song that the young people from Seoul First Presbyterian Church shared as a gift with the congregation last Sunday as a virtual choir. It seems to me that it fits the current situation we are in perfectly.
Very loosely translated:
(The reality of young people living now in 2021 is really hard. But we won’t give up or get frustrated. We hope that through the goodness that the Lord has given us we will find a way out of the difficulty and the darkness.)
I am silently wrapped in the power of goodness.
When I bask in that wondrous peace
I am walking together with you
I am spending this year with you
The days of darkness have past,
Although they weigh heavily on my soul
O Lord, do not turn your back on us,
Make your promises of deliverance come true
May the power of goodness wrap around us
We look forward through faith to what will happen
You, Lord, are always with us
Everyday is always new
When the silence spreads deeply,
I can hear the song that fills my heart
Lead us back together again
This night in which your light shines
May the power of goodness wrap around us
We look forward through faith to what will happen
You, Lord, are always with us
Everyday is always new
—John Egger is a theology alumnus of both St. Andrew’s College. in Saskatoon and Emmanuel College in Toronto. He is currently serving as a United Church Co-worker in Mission with the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK). Discover more about John and his ministry in Korea by visiting his blog, where this blog post was originally published in March 2021.
The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.