Church services during this COVID-19 virus pandemic are mainly online, mostly by hosting watch parties on Facebook or posting podcasts on YouTube.
“We’ve been using the live stream feature of Facebook,” said Pastor Shawn Hazel of Calvary Lutheran Church in Stayton. “We considered that keeping the schedule and using a live stream felt the most connected to the schedule people are used to keeping, providing the least amount of change as possible. Of course, people have come back to watch the recording later as well. We don’t really want to package it since the ‘live’ feel is what people are used to.”
Hazel said most meetings have been canceled.
“We did have one meeting with half of us there and half of us on the screen using Google [Hangouts] Meet,” he said.
If members of his congregation need prayer, they are added to the church’s prayer chain.
“However, I had to ‘visit’ with a woman who was nearing death through the phone because the hospital turned me away,” he said. “That was a first for me.”
Before Gov. Kate Brown tightened the stay-at-home directives, church members had been doing wellness calls to those who were homebound.
“We have volunteers who lead this and others who would bring them items if needed and they are available,” Hazel said.
“Our church body – Lutheran – believes that God gives forgiveness not just in word but through bread and wine,” he added. “Holy Communion is a necessarily physical experience as we believe Christ’s body and blood are truly present. Because of this we are following the parameters set for restaurants and preparing to share Holy Communion in our parking lot with cars driving to the covered entryway of the church. It would be just one more way of fulfilling the distancing required but carefully and thoughtfully connecting with each other and with God.”
Like many local churches, Santiam Chapel’s normal gatherings are being conducted though video and phone calls.
“We are responding to this crisis by following the guidelines of the governor as well as our own denominational leaders,” said Pastor Bart Stoltey. “We continue to reach out to the community as we can through Joseph’s Storehouse. There has not been an increase of calls for assistance, but I believe that will change in time.”
Links to the sermons of the Lyons church are on its website.
“We are here to help in anyway we can, even if that is simply a prayer of encouragement,” Stoltey said.
On March 13, Pastor Brent McCall announced to his congregation at New Life that he had finally succumbed to
the virus.
“No, I don’t have it, but there are enough of our people who make the church run smoothly that are not going to be here, that we simply cannot make it work,” he said. “I pray that you will open up the scriptures and sing worship songs at our normal time, and that if at all possible, you will be able to do something for someone who might need your help.”
The Stayton Foursquare church also looked into doing a Facetime Live broadcast for future services, McCall said.
Foothills Church in Stayton cancelled all meetings for the duration of the social distancing mandate.
“We are delivering our services online indefinitely,” said Tyler Butenschoen with Foothills. “All other in-person gatherings are suspended. Our Sunday morning services are being posted via video on our website, Facebook, and on our app.”
Butenschoen reported no increase in calls or prayer requests, but did say that the church “responds to prayers by sharing them with people in our church committed to prayer. Also, we respond individually to prayer requests personally with one of our staff members.
“We asked people to reach out to us if they are in need of help and also if they’re willing to help out someone else,” he added. “People can fill out a simple form online to get or give assistance.”
Butenschoen said Foothills staff are making more phone calls, sending out more texts and emails, and reaching out on social media.
“Also, several of our small groups started using Zoom to meet (with) over video chat,” he said. “We have been making major shifts every week for the last three weeks. It started with suspending communion, turning off and covering water faucets, and such. This week we are all working remotely as much as possible.”
St. Boniface Catholic Church cancelled all Masses and parishioners were advised to watch services on television or online.
“Should you find yourself in need of any assistance over the coming weeks, call the parish office and let us know how we can be of help,” said Father Paul Materu. “You are part of a loving community and we are all here for you.”
Mike Cline, lead pastor of Mountain View Church in Aumsville, wrote a letter to his congregants saying, “This is not a time to panic; this is a time to pray. Historically the church has always thrived in times of crisis because these moments remind us of our dependence upon the God who created us, sustains us, and promises never to leave us.”
He challenged them to “go be the Body of Christ, looking for ways to spread his love.”
“We aren’t cancelling church,” he said in the letter. “We are postponing Sunday morning gatherings. You can’t cancel church because WE are the church!”
Cline encouraged members to write letters of appreciation to school officials, go grocery shopping for neighbors who are at risk, and be a non-anxious presence in the middle of panic.
“Let’s be the church!” he challenged, adding, “We are here for you!”
