SHELBY — As Ohio begins to emerge from the lockdown imposed by Gov. Mike DeWine, Shelby churches are implementing changes to adhere to safety policies ordered by the state’s health director Dr. Amy Acton.
The First Lutheran Church on Broadway Street in Sheby is scheduled to open its doors starting June 7. Numerous guidelines will be followed creating a different type of worship service.
According to Sue Vogel, secretary for the church who spoke for Pastor Russell Yoak, the church’s plans include: sanitizers at each door, the pews will be partitioned to observe social distancing, all social areas will be closed, coffee service/social time will not be observed before and after worship services, all services will be shortened and there will not be any children’s classes, masks are strongly encouraged, and a sanitizing crew will sanitize after each service.
These guidelines will be followed until July 12 when the situation will be re-evaluated with normal services a hopeful possibility. Services will continue to be live streamed on the church’s Facebook page every Sunday and drive-thru communion will be every Sunday in the church’s parking lot from 11 to 11:30 a.m. starting June 7 to 12.
Currently the drive-thru is each Sunday from noon to 1 p.m. in the parking lot.
Trinity United Methodist and First United Methodist Churches in Shelby are directed by the Bishop of the Methodist Churches. Currently they are in Phase I Guidelines which includes services held in the Trinity parking lot with members staying in their vehicles and a drive-thru communion, both of which have been held sporadically (Palm Sunday, Easter, and Mother’s Day).
Meetings can be held if there are less than 10 members present and social distancing is enforced. Phase II will open the doors for services when it is announced in the future. Susan Grass, secretary for both churches gave the response for Rev. Dr. Edna Stahl and Pastor Garland Harvey.
Rev. Doug Tackett of Taylortown Community Church said they never closed their church. He left the decision to his members. Earlier the service was small, but it has been growing each week. The church has been sanitized, social distancing has been encouraged, some members have worn masks, hand sanitizers are available and members from other churches are always welcome if they feel the need to attend church and their church has not re-opened.
Rev. Tackett stated the State of Ohio did not place any regulations regarding the opening or closing of the churches in Ohio. If members or non-members would like to participate in a service without entering the building they can watch the service through live-stream on the church’s Facebook page.
Pastor Lester Champer of the Church of the Nazarene stated they started services on Sunday, May 17, with close to 80 percent of its members in attendance. This church believes it was ahead of the game with restrictions because it has a pandemic daycare service in-house with strict guidelines already in place.
For the last eight weeks they have had live-stream services on their Facebook page.
Calvary Baptist Church under the direction of Pastor Stephen Schag sent letters to the members announcing in-house service would be held on Mother’s Day and the church would have services every Sunday at 11 a.m. until mid-June when they would return to a service at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Guidelines such as using every other pew, sanitizing, the doors are open so there is no touching of the door handles, and no passing of the collection plate (donations can be dropped off when leaving the service).
Pastor Schag stated the church has been doing live-stream services on its website for the past five years and currently added Facebook livestream services.
Most Pure Heart of Mary and St. Joseph Catholic Churches have had the opportunity to watch St. Peter’s Catholic Church Mass in Mansfield on television the last several weeks. Other Masses are available on several television networks at various times of the day. Livestream Mass of MPHM is available to the church members on their website.
The latest update from the Bishops Conference of Ohio states the following time frame for reopening of public Mass to take place for weekday Masses starting on May 25. The weekend of May 30 and 31 weekend Masses will resume. Fr. Chris Mileski stated in the recent bulletin that those who may be at risk need to avoid large celebrations like the weekend Masses.
They are encouraged to attend a weekday Mass when the church is less crowded for their safety and welfare. Various safety precautions have been planned such as sanitizers at each entrance of the church.
Lynette Shepherd, Administrative Assistant at Shelby Alliance Church stated it is working on a plan to reopen the church for services, possibly by June 7. They had a drive-in service on Easter Sunday and provide livestream services on their Facebook page and website.
Pastor Rick Lewis and his granddaughter, Liberty (his number one assistant) was available for comment from the Church of God, north of Shelby on State Route 61. The two gave a tour of their beautiful auditorium that is used for youth basketball, wedding receptions, family reunions, and numerous other activities.
The pandemic has affected all of those activities bringing them to a halt. The church services were stopped in mid-March. Early May they polled their members to let them know what they thought about returning safely. Of those responded 70 percent said they would like services to begin.
They had a Park and Praise service on Mother’s Day. Numerous volunteers helped to make it a successful event. Precautions have been made to keep everyone safe but together for worship beginning May 17. A list of the following precautions was sent to members: If you are sick, we ask that you stay home for now.
The 11 a.m. service will continue to be Live Streamed on Facebook LIVE. The Hospitality Team will be in the parking lot with a friendly smile, once in the foyer members will go directly to the sanctuary. They ask that for no congestion in the foyer. Every other pew will be roped off. Hand sanitizer stations will be available. Everyone will be dismissed by pews one at a time. Members are asked to exit the building as soon as possible so the volunteers can sanitize restrooms and high touched areas to prepare for the next service.
Pastor Lewis stressed if anyone is still concerned about attending, please watch the virtual service until they feel safe attending.
Pastor Josh Kocher from Crossroads Church stated they would resume in-house services June 7.
Precautions are in place for everyone’s safety. Reservations are requested for regular members of Crossroads so that social distancing can be observed. Guests are always welcome. By using reservations the volunteers can move the chairs and section them. Masks will be available for anyone attending who wishes to use one, but does not have one.
All volunteers must wear masks. This includes the Children’s Ministries which will have split sessions (9 a.m. and 11 a.m.) to aid social distancing. All touched area surfaces will be sterilized after each service. Hand sanitizers will be available. Pastor Kocher stated their main campus (Park Avenue Church in Mansfield) has livestream services every Sunday for those unable to attend. The precautions will be the same for their campus churches in Lexington, Shelby, City Center, and Park Avenue in Mansfield.
Many of the local church offices are closed or they are open on a limited basis, therefore it has been difficult to contact all of the churches in the Shelby area. Hope and prayers will bring the opening of every church in Shelby in the near future.
