For vocalist Adriana Samargia, who sings at the United Church of Christ at Valley Forge, located in Wayne, Christmas caroling was a challenge this year, but not impossible, write Te-Ping Chen and Chip Cutter for The Wall Street Journal.

The unrelenting pandemic left churches around the nation wrestling with how to safely mark the festive season with caroling, a usual holiday staple, as singing can currently pose a health risk. Some opted to hold virtual-only services while others organized Christmas sing-alongs in parking lots. Meanwhile, other organized services offered significantly reduced musical offerings.

“The thing about music for Christmas is it’s hard to keep people from singing” when most know the words by heart, said Jeremy Helmes of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.

Samargia appeared both virtually and in-person for several churches last week. And while the overall experience has been pleasant, she said that singing with her closely fitting mask can prove a challenge.

“It’s sort of like someone has a hand over your mouth,” she said. “Sometimes, you do feel like you’re hyperventilating.”

Read more about caroling in The Wall Street Journal here.