On Palm Sunday, Placentia church holds first service under new relaxed COVID rules

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Fr. Barrett Van Buren was busy greeting all his parishioners Sunday morning, many he hadn’t seen in person for more than a year. It was the first Palm Sunday service held at Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia since 2019 and it was a blend of in-person and Zoom attendance.

A blend of enthusiastic greetings mixed with the socially distant elbow bump would have to do for now, but people were genuinely happy to see one another. Ashley Mangino, music director for the church, said: “We have gathered outdoors when it’s been allowed and it was absolutely beautiful. I’ll miss it. I’m happy to be back in the church, but I really enjoyed being in nature.”

With every door and window open in the church, the parishioners prayed, sang and lined up to accept communion with the constant singing of birds outside the sanctuary. Fr. Van Buren also offered communion to community members who would drive into the parking lot later in the day.

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    Carol Miller prays during the first Palm Sunday service held at the Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia since 2019 on Sunday, March 28, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

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    Deacon Dominique Piper waves hello during the first Palm Sunday service since 2019 held at the Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia on Sunday, March 28, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

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    Fr. Barrett Van Buren gives communion to parishioners Richard Reyes and Rose Valdez in their car at the Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia during the first Palm Sunday service held at the church since 2019 on Sunday, March 28, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

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    David and Lyn Farman carry palm fronds as they walk to the front of the Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia for the first Palm Sunday service held at the church since 2019 on Sunday, March 28, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

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    Fr. Barrett Van Buren throws holy water on parisioners after the distribution of palm leaves at the Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia on Sunday, March 28, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

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    Amy Aul plays the flute and leads a procession of palms into the Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia for the first Palm Sunday service held at the church since 2019 in Placentia on Sunday, March 28, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

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    Fr. Barrett Van Buren brings up the rear in the procession of palms at the Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia for the first Palm Sunday service held at the church since 2019 in Placentia on Sunday, March 28, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

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    Amy Aul wears a mask and sits socially distant from other parisioners during the first Palm Sunday service held at Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia since 2019 on Sunday, March 28, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

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    Fr. Barrett Van Buren welcomes parishioners back to the Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia on Sunday for the first Palm Sunday service held at the church since 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

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