Faith communities announce worship, meeting plans
Amid the coronavirus concerns, The Fig Tree and Spokane FAVS have collaborated on a list of faith communities decisions about being open, suspending worship and meetings
Gathering for worship is a time of comfort and solace, as well as a time for sharing faith resources to challenge people to move from self-focus and fear to faithful response of caring and justice.
In this time of coronavirus, congregations are deciding about gathering, sharing services/meetings online, and other concerns.
Using the Resource Directory, editor Malcolm Haworth has done online research to find the following information to share about worship and life of faith communities in coming weeks in response to the coronavirus pandemic and community health concerns, which are personal faith and justice concerns.
He has worked in collaboration with Tracy Simmons of Spokane FAVs to develop the list.
It will be updated.
For details for each congregation, go to https://www.thefigtree.org/connections.html click on the faith grouping and check in the pdf file for the congregation or faith group of choice to visit their website or phone.
There are options to livestream with a cell phone through Facebook, Vimeo, Skype, YouTube, Zoom, Instagram and more. Check options that suite specific needs and skills.
Similarly, several entities are offering multiple open licensing services for those using copyrighted music, prayers and other worship elements for livestreaming. Looking for resources for children at home or families, try this free service for the duration of the corona virus crisis from Illustrated Ministries. = weekly downloads
The following is a list of information Malcolm has compiled for public awareness.
Bethel AME: 60+ and vulnerable people recommended not to come
Alliance Churches:
https://cmalliance.org
Assemblies of God:
https://www.nwministry.com/about/resources/covid-19.html
• First Assembly (Spokane): online service
• Redemption: possible online service
• Valley Assembly: no activities or events
Baptist:
• New Creation Fellowship: open recommend vulnerable population to stay home
• Deer Park Baptist: canceled
• Dishman Baptist: cancelled service on Facebook live
• Driscoll Blvd Baptist: open and livestream
• Morning Star Baptist: gathering for Sunday worship and Wednesday Bible study with precautions
• North Addison Baptist: livestream for vulnerable
Southern Baptist (Utah-Idaho) Resources: uisbc.org
Bible Churches:
• Valley Bible canceled but on video
• Grace Christian Fellowship: Cancelled but on video
• Redeemer Bible (Deer Park): sick and vulnerable recommended not to attend
• Redemption Spokane: cancelled
• The Rock Church: open
• Southside: open but online video alternative
• Crossover Church: open
• Berean Bible: cancelled
• Access Church: open
• House Church Ministries: cancelled
Buddhist
• Spokane Buddhist Temple: cancelled. The Sangha is asked to refer to the Seattle Betsuin YouTube channel for livestream services.
• Sravasti Abbey: cancelled but livestream up to April
• Tsinta Mani Choling Center: follow weekly
Calvary
• Calvary Hillside: open
• Riverstone Chapel: open
• Westside Chapel: open
Catholic
• Catholic Diocese of Boise: catholicidaho.org/420
• Catholic Diocese of Spokane: https://dioceseofspokane.org/coronavirus
The Archdiocese of Seattle suspended all public celebration of Masses but Mass will continue to be offered in the Diocese of Spokane. Bishop Thomas Daly issued a dispensation to all 60+ and those who are ill from the obligation of attending weekend Mass through March 29.
Those coming may partake in spiritual communion.
Ecumenical Catholic
• St. Clare Ecumenical Catholic Community: closed March 15 and 22
Christian
• Spokane Christian Center: open
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): https://disciples.org/dns/disciples-and-covid-19/ advice includes: stay faithful during times of difficulty and uncertainty, practice spiritual disciplines, follow local and state health advice, coordinate resources for response
• County Homes Christian: closed two weeks
Church of Christ
• Sunrise Church of Christ: open with restrictions and cleanup
Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints
• Services cancelled globally
Community
• New Horizons Community: open with some restrictions, vulnerable and others can also watch sermon online
• Foothills Community: livestream on Facebook
• Medical Lake Community livestream option
• Eastpoint: closed but online
• Destination: open but podcast option for those at home
• Immanuel Church: livestream option
• Genesis: open but some restrictions
Community of Christ
First Presidency advises congregations and mission centers to suspend church gatherings.
• Spokane Valley Community of Christ: closed until April 6
Episcopal
Episcopal Diocese of Spokane: https://www.spokanediocese.org/COVID19/covid-19-news.html
Advice: all 38 congregations advised to suspend worship, meetings and funerals until March 31 and re-evaluate; consider livestreaming and home worship, open church for individual prayer, clean surfaces, see this as a time of wilderness with new challenges and opportunities, remember the primacy of the call to love God and love neighbor
Evangelical
• Faith Bible: all in-person activities and services cancelled
• Grace Christian Fellowship: services will resume April 26
• Redemption Spokane: services cancelled
• Southside Christian: services cancelled for 30 days
Foursquare: thenwd.org/coronavirus-resources
• Life Center: closed through April 12
• Living Hope: open
• North Church: open but online option
• River City Church: open
• Summit Church: online option
Grace:
•Living Grace Fellowship: some restrictions
•South Hill Bible: closed
Spokane Islamic Center:
https://spokaneislamiccenter.org
Jewish
• Congregation Emanu-El: cancelled through March
• Temple Beth Shalom: cancelled through March
Lutheran: ELCA
https://nwimsynod.org/news-articles/2020/3/13/covid-19-message-3132020
Follow county health advice, congregational leaders may cancel worship to protect the vulnerable. Those holding worship, follow advice on website regarding communion, passing peace and offering plates; discontinue coffee hours. Synod staff travel is canceled and April 23-24 Synod Council will be held on Zoom.
Congregations overseeing ministries to marginalized need to protect volunteers and those served.
Lutheran: LCMS
• Holy Cross: online for vulnerable
• Pilgrim Lutheran: no Sunday school, livestream for vulnerable
• Redeemer Church: some restrictions
Nazarene:
• Bethel: cleaning and some restrictions
• First Nazarene: livestream option
• Spokane First: suspending public gatherings and worship through March 20
• Spokane Valley: open but some restrictions for vulnerable
• Westside: open
Nondenominational
Portico Christian Fellowship: closed
Branches: livestream option
The Intersection Church: cleaning in advance
Open Bible
Turning Point Open Bible: recommending vulnerable population not to attend
Orthodox
• Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox: http://www.holytrinityspokane.org
• St. Gregorios Orthodox: some restrictions
Presbyterian
Presbytery of the Inland Northwest: https://www.presbyinw.org/covid-19-and-congregations/: suggestions: use online giving and spiritual resources, livestream services, take serious your leadership role so fear and isolation are addressed
• Hamblen Park: on-site worship cancelled
• Manito: services suspended
• First Presbyterian Coeur d'Alene: closed
Real Life
• Northside and Spokane Valley open
Seventh Day Adventist Upper Columbia Conference:
https://www.uccsda.org/English/pages/news-details.aspx?ID=206
Seventh Day Adventist since they meet on Saturday and getting up the information would be too late, will work on that next for next weekend first thing
• Central Adventist: restrictions to vulnerable populations
• South Hill Church: livestream
Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane: all services, meetings and events are cancelled until April, posting archived service and updates on homepage uuspokane.org
United Church of God
• United Church of God Spokane: suspending Sabbath services in the U.S. and abroad for at least two weeks
United Methodist (UMC) Church Inland Missional District of the Greater Northwest Area:
https://greaternw.org/coronavirus/
Pacific Northwest Conference has directed local churches of any size and other ministries to suspend in-person worship and other gatherings of more than 10 people for two weeks.
United Church of Christ (UCC) – Pacific Northwest Conference: suggests not meeting for in-person worship for six weeks, cancel or postpone in-face meetings (including funerals and gatherings), suspend face-to-face pastoral visits; set protocols for those who test positive, converse with groups using building, promote online and mail-in giving options, decide if you would offer your building for emergency usage
• Westminster Congregational UCC: open with Facebook livestream
Unity
• Unity South Hill: minor restrictions
• Living Hope Community: some restrictions
Copyright@ The Fig Tree, March, 2020
