Some churches take a COVID pause, go back to online only

The recent rise in COVID-19 cases and Illinois’ move to Tier 3 mitigations has caused some local churches to take a pause with its regular services.

Three Princeton churches have made the switch in November.

St. Matthews Lutheran had been limiting in-person services to 50 people in the sanctuary and 50 downstairs while following all CDC guidelines. The St. Matthews Church Council suspended in-person services and went back to online services only on Sunday, Nov. 22.

In addition, St. Matthews is mailing out church bulletins with sermon messages to anyone in the community who may not be up on technology.

"We're a microcosm of the whole country. We've got people who think we shouldn't even be doing parking lot services and other people who think we should be in church," Pastor Scott Schmidt said.

St. Matthews held a special congregational meeting in the church parking lot following the Nov. 22 online services utilizing a FM broadcast.

It will hold a drive-through communion service on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 10:45 a.m.

Schmidt is conducting a weekly Bible Study through a conference call and is planning to set up up Confirmation classes by Google Classroom. St. Matthews will also be utilizing Zoom for adult and children Sunday School classes and will post a Sunday School Christmas program on Dec. 20.

Schmidt anticipates moving back to in-person services when Illinois moves back to Tier 2 mitigations level.

The Northern Illinois Conference of United Methodist Churches strongly recommended all of its churches, including Princeton, to suspend in-person services through Dec. 13. UMC went to online only on Sunday.

“They’re trying to keep everybody as safe as possible during this second wave especially following the Thanksgiving (gatherings),” UMC pastor Ryan Sutton said.

In the meantime, UMC will continue to live stream its services with a small amount to people in the sanctuary to run the technology. Sutton said UMC has been able to reach more people than they would otherwise since they have provided live streams in March.

“That part of it has been a positive in terms of reaching more people on a weekly basis. Of course we wished it hadn’t happened at all and pray it ends as soon as possible, but that’s been one of the positives,” Sutton said.

New Hope Church of the Nazarene in Princeton went to online services only Sunday, Nov. 1, due to COVID-19 concerns. It planned to reopen Sunday, Dec. 6, but has pushed the date back another week.

Indoor services are being planned for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, with two services on Sunday, Dec. 13, including a southern gospel service at 8:30 a.m. and a contemporary service at 9:30 a.m.

In a letter to the congregation on Nov. 17, Pastor Laura Root said, "We will try to implement safety strategies that will help us as a church body to be safe and hopefully allow us to continue to meet in person."

Seatonville Community Church took two weeks off as a safety precaution and returned to the sanctuary Sunday, Nov. 29. Masks are required when entering and in all common areas and during singing.

The audio of the Sunday sermons will be posted on the church's website at www.seatonvillecommunitychurch.com.

Walnut Community Bible Church is holding in-person services, but also streaming its service for those who wish to stay home. The sermon is also being broadcast on FM 91.9. Masks are strongly encouraged when you walk into the church until you are seated.

Princeton Bible Church is utilizing options for everyone’s choices. Parishioners are able to attend socially distanced services in the sanctuary or in the gym where everyone is required to wear masks.

Evangelical Covenant Church in Princeton is holding services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sundays, limiting attendance to 50 worshipers by invitation only. The first service is being live streamed on Facebook and the late service is being broadcast on WZOE 1490 AM, as well as on YouTube on ECC Princeton.