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Getting Back to 'Normal' with James Roy

Getting Back to 'Normal' with James Roy

Ministry for Pastor James Roy and the United Bengali Lutheran Church of America (UBLCA) looked similar to many other Lutheran congregations during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic...

Ministry for Pastor James Roy and the United Bengali Lutheran Church of America (UBLCA) looked similar to many other Lutheran congregations during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. When the world shut down in March 2020, all Pastor Roy could do was communicate with his members via text. By Palm Sunday he had learned how to set up an online service from home, and his members were able to see his online Easter service from the sanctuary of Christ Lutheran Church in Woodside, Queens, where the UBLCA worships.

In late July, the congregation was finally able to worship together in person. Through education, Pastor Roy prepared them to do this safely. “I kept telling my people about the CDC guidelines: masks, distancing, sanitizing, and staying away from crowded areas. I educated them on how to stay safe and careful. We have been lucky and have only had 15 cases in our congregation, and all of them survived.” After a moment of thought, he continued, “Too many people think Covid is a curse, and too many people suffer. So we educate to stay safe.”

When asked what has changed since July, Pastor Roy became very excited. “After we started in-person worship again, we also started an online Bible study and prayer service.” Getting used to “doing church” this way allowed more people to attend the Bible study, especially those who might not have been able to do so before because of their busy lives. Holding it online has “expanded our reach to other people outside of our congregation.” This included a young Muslim man who was baptized on Christmas and soon after was married by Pastor Roy.

This brings to mind Pastor Roy’s other vision for the UBLCA. “We are getting ready for thinking about a Sunday School after [this] Easter. We want to reach out to the children.” Pastor Roy believes that children need to be educated about the Bible, and he wants to open up the youth group. He is looking to open a campaign for tithing so that the UBLCA can reach more kids. “Right now, there are 5 kids. Once we start, other children will come in. We want to do this for other people. We have that ambition that once we do it well, we will be known to the people in our community, and they will bring their children. Our activities have been judged by others as very good in the Bengali community, so I have hope that this will work.”

The church has also started an informal choir with mostly teenagers and young adults. “Perhaps that will turn into our permanent choir. We have hope that through this young group many others of other faiths will come to us.” He paused for a moment after saying this, then said with conviction, “We need to be strong in the Spirit, and we are really getting ready for something new.” This gives Pastor Roy and his congregation hope.

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