Virtual Christmas Eve
First Presbyterian Church, Ottumwa
7:00 PM, December 16, 2020
OACC typically caravans all over the Ottumwa community to rehab centers and nursing homes, on an annual “two-hour tour”; singing 15-20 minutes worth of Christmas Carols in 4- part harmony. Since it was not possible to go to any of these places and sing for all the residents and patients in the midst of COVID-19, we decided to perform a virtual (no audience) Christmas Eve Service, in which singers were placed at least 8’ apart, in every other pew, and fully masked for the entire service. The service included the actual Christmas story, with scripture passages from the Bible being read aloud by various singers, young and old, along with a variety of songs and carols selected specifically to enhance the different parts of this story, so well-known to one and all. This Christmas Eve Musical Service was video recorded, and DVDs were burned and then personally delivered by Dr. Bergan to local rehab and nursing homes.
