Coronavirus cancels Oysterville’s 43rd annual Vespers Season

Published 1:19 pm Friday, April 17, 2020

OYSTERVILLE — There will be no Summer 2020 Music Vespers Program at the historic Oysterville Church. The announcement was made Sunday after a meeting of the Oysterville Restoration Foundation (ORF) Board of Trustees.

“We deliberated for a long time before making the decision,” said Vespers coordinator Carol Wachsmuth. “This will be the first summer since 1977 without our Sunday afternoon services.

Social distancing requirements resulting from the covid-19 pandemic were key considerations of the closure plan. “Normally, our services begin in mid-June on Father’s Day. This year, however, there is still no way of knowing what government and health directives will be in place by then with regard to gatherings and sheltering,” Wachsmuth said.

“Also,” she pointed out, “all participants in the programs are volunteers — the ministers, musicians, ‘Oysterville Moment’ storytellers, and organists. Some come from out of the area and, often, the musicians, in particular, are professionals who take time away from for-pay opportunities. Their lives have been seriously disrupted as it is, and we don’t want to add to their difficulties. We feel they all need the opportunity to plan for the summer without the uncertainty of Vespers hanging over them.”

Proceeds from collection baskets circulated at Vespers are significant to funding the church’s day-to-day maintenance, as are donations to the Poor Box in the lobby, and rental fees charged for weddings and other gatherings.

“Last year, 3,800 visitors — 1,700 from out of the state and country — signed our guest book,” said David Williams, ORF president. “We would very much like to remain open to the public as we have in the past, but that will also depend upon directives from health professionals and governmental leaders.”