CHURCH fetes are entering the cyber age as St Luke’s Congregational Church in Glenashley hosts a virtual fete while lockdown prohibits them from setting up at their church premises. Reverend Ian Booth said the fete was first held in 1961, and has been an annual event ever since.
“When it became clear that the fete could not be held on the first Saturday in June, a spontaneous ‘Virtual Fete’ sprang up among the members of the congregation. The fete is well loved and well supported by the north Durban community. This is the first year since 1961 that the annual fete has not been held,” he said.
Congregants have been making marmalade, lemon curd, fudge, milk tarts and other items to sell.
“There was an online auction of a painting by one of the members of our church; and the online auction of handmade wooden toys by one of the members of our church. All of this has taken place through the WhatsApp group that was established to enable the community to stay in touch during this period when we could not gather physically,” said Booth.
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While lockdown has prevented church meetings, Booth says services have flourished online.
“The congregation has not met in our building for public worship since 22 March due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and the subsequent restrictions placed on religious gatherings. We have instead joined in a live stream YouTube worship service at 8.30 am each Sunday, our regular time for worship. This has widened our ‘reach’ in terms of attendance, as friends and family from around the country and other parts of the world have been regular participants in our worship,” he said.
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“The restrictions on physical gathering have not prevented us from being a community,” he added.
For more information email Joy Simpkins via joyste@absamail.co.za or Megan Botha via megan.ernies@absamail.co.za.
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