For many believers it is an important relief: Christian services are taking place again, in most churches in the district for the first time in the coming days.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen - There can be no question of a return to normality, because strict requirements apply. In many churches, for example, prior telephone registration is required.
At the Dean's Office in Bad Tölz, the procedure in accordance with the infection control requirements of the archdiocese was discussed intensively in the past few days. In order to adhere to the distance and hygiene concept, the times and places of worship had to be adjusted individually in each parish or parish community. For example, two trade fairs that take place in quick succession are not possible, explains Dean Thomas Neuberger from Dietramszell. "Because in between all the benches have to be cleaned and disinfected."
In addition, the number of people who can be in the churches at the same time is limited. According to Neuberger, no mass can be celebrated in small houses of God "which, due to the distance rules, may only allow eight people inside". So there will only be open-air services in Gaißach and Reichersbeuern: in Reichersbeuern at the cemetery, in Gaißach at the school. Seating will be set up there. "Then of course we are dependent on the weather," admits Neuberger. The services would be canceled if it rained. "This is an emergency solution," says the dean. “But otherwise we would only have 18 seats inside the churches. Up to 50 people can take part outside. ”
Rejecting believers is extremely difficult
A maximum of 50 people are now likely to be present in the Dietramszell church, which, according to Neuberger, can accommodate “hundreds of people” on special occasions. If you remove the pastor, lecturer, mesmer and security officer, there is room for a maximum of 42 believers.
In order to avoid having to reject anyone at the church door, there is a registration system in many parishes. In the Dietramszell parish office, for example, someone can be reached personally from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. “It is very important to us to process the registration in person so that you can discuss alternatives in person if necessary,” says the pastor.
Names and telephone numbers would also be noted when registering. If it turns out in retrospect that a demonstrably infected person also attended the service, you could notify everyone in this way.
Whether on the phone or at the door: in an emergency, having to tell believers that there is no longer any place in the church for them, "that's what we struggle with the most," says the minister. When it comes to church services, the basic idea is "that everyone can come". A rejection is "theologically unjustifiable" and "incredibly difficult". But there is currently no other way, says Neuberger. And the conditions ultimately served "to protect the faithful".
What is also unusual for the faithful: There is an “order service” for the services. Neuberger emphasizes that this should not be taken to mean “bouncer”. It is volunteers from the community who take on this task. "They greet the visitors, help with the search for a place and support when someone is unsure."
Neuberger asks all believers to come to the church services early so that long lines do not form at the entrance just before the start. There would be no holy water and no hymn books, and of course there would also be no handshake.
Salesians in Benediktbeuern Abbey remain among themselves
During the entire service, all visitors must wear face masks, which they can only remove to receive communion. The communion donor will disinfect his hands and also put on gloves. The hosts - until then they will be in a covered container - would then be handed over to the hand, observing the maximum possible distance.
According to Neuberger, there will be organ music in the services. However, the singing of the congregation was severely restricted to two songs per service.
The hygiene concept of the Protestant churches includes, among other things, dispensers with hand disinfectants at the entrance, as Dean Martin Steinbach from Bad Tölz explains. In addition, song sheets are distributed instead of the hymn books. “We will not preach from the pulpit because we would be too close to church visitors there,” says Steinbach. The distance should be four meters. "We'll go behind the altar."
For the time being, no sacrament celebration in Johanneskirche
In the pews, the places that may be used are marked, or excess chairs are removed from the church. For example, according to Steinbach, 50 people are allowed in the Johanneskirche in Tölz, and 20 in the Lenggrieser Waldkirche.
The Protestant congregations do not register. "I think there will be enough space," says Steinbach. Most recently - when Corona was already a topic, but services were still allowed - about 30 believers came instead of the usual 60 in Bad Tölz. For those who find no place in Lenggries in the prayer at 9.30 a.m., there is a second at 10.15 a.m.
For the time being, according to Steinbach, the Protestants have completely foregone the sacrament celebration - which is usually held every second and fourth Sunday of the month. Their reintroduction will be considered again at Pentecost - "if, then only as a communion to change and only with hosts and without a chalice". So you don't stand in a circle as usual and shake hands.
Parish finds a solution: There are also services in Bichl again
Theologically, the waiver of the sacrament celebration is unproblematic, since in the Protestant church "word and sacrament are equivalent", says Martin Steinbach. All in all, the services would be shortened, the dean further explains. "They should last less than an hour in any case." Overall, the dean looks relaxed at the community life under strict conditions. "The main thing is that the word of God will be announced again."
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