Even in the Bible Belt, coronavirus is closing churches. Here’s how they’re adapting
Weekly worship services are among the most regular large group gatherings around the world and locally.
In messages to local congregations, many Columbia-area churches have expressed it’s been a difficult decision to cancel services and activities. But these church leaders have said they believe it’s the most responsible thing to do during a time of widespread caution and uncertainty.
“For the sake of safety and because we are living in uncertain and unsettling times, we felt it best to do it,” said the Rev. George Ashford, pastor of Journey United Methodist Church in northeast Columbia. “I know my members will miss gathering every week. I miss it. I miss them, and I’m sure we’re going to miss one another gathering every week. So in that sense, it was hard.”
Government and health officials at local, state and national levels have advised people to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In light of those warnings, in South Carolina, the Catholic church and most major protestant Christian denominations have advised or instructed their churches to suspend regular worship gatherings the next two weeks or more, including the S.C. Baptist Convention, S.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church, Seventh District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and S.C. Lutheran Synod.
While in-person services and meetings are canceled, many religious groups are encouraging their congregations to continue to support one another and practice tenets of worship and community-building in other ways.
Many Columbia-area churches are able to livestream their services or plan to share video or audio preaching from previous services.
Church leaders say it is important that people not be isolated from one another during this break from regular meetings.
“If there’s any good thing, perhaps, that can come out of this quarantine, a bright side in a sense, is making us more intentional about those connections,” Ashford said. “We’re still going to have to stress the intentionality of it.”
Some churches are encouraging members to host virtual meetings with one another through online apps, such as Google Hangouts or other video chatting platforms, in lieu of regular small-group gatherings. Members have also been reminded to be diligent about reaching out to one another and maintaining close relationships and social support while practicing “social distancing.”
Many places of worship in the Columbia area that have announced the cancellation of upcoming services and activities, including:
- Trinity Episcopal Cathedral: 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday services streaming online at https://www.trinitysc.org/live and on Facebook, along with weekday worship opportunities online.
- Washington Street United Methodist Church: Sunday services canceled through at least March 29, will be livestreaming its 11 a.m. Sunday service from its sanctuary via www.wsmethodist.org and on YouTube.
- Brookland Baptist Church: Sunday services canceled at both campuses; livestreaming 11 a.m. preaching via the Brookland Baptist app and and at www.brooklandbaptist.org.
- Midtown Fellowship Church: Services and activities canceled at downtown, Two Notch and Lexington campuses through at least March 31; recorded sermons available online at www.midtowncolumbia.com.
- Downtown Church: Services canceled; preaching audio, worship playlist and kids’ lesson available online at www.downtownchurch.me.
- St. Joseph’s Catholic Church: Public mass canceled through at least the end of March, but the church is open for personal prayer 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, broadcasting 10:30 a.m. mass on the radio at WZJO-LP 90.9 FM.
- The Basilica of Saint Peter: Public masses canceled through at least the end of March; livestreaming daily mass at 10 a.m. and Spanish mass on Sundays at 11 a.m. at www.facebook.com/visitstpeters
- First Baptist Church Columbia: Services and activities canceled through at least March 31; a live worship service will be broadcast on television (WLTX channel 19 locally) online at www.fbccola.com/watch-live-archives and on Facebook at 11 a.m. March 22 and March 29. The live online Sunday school class, Always Learning, will be streaming at 10 a.m. on the website and on Facebook.
- First Baptist Church Lexington: Services and activities canceled until further notice; service streaming online Sunday at 9 a.m. Facebook and Vimeo.
- Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church: All services and activities canceled through the at least the end of March; Sunday services streaming online at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. at www.mthorebumc.com.
- NewSpring: No live gatherings, online only preaching and worship “for the foreseeable future” including Fuse and KidSpring, available at https://live.newspring.cc/.
- RADIUS Church: Sunday and Thursday services at all locations canceled for at least three weeks; service content available online at http://radiuschurchsc.online.church at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sundays morings.
- Seacoast Church: In-person services canceled through at least the end of March; Sunday services available online at live.seacoast.org and the Seacoast app.
- First Presbyterian Church Columbia: In-person services and meetings canceled; Sunday services livestreaming at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at www.firstprescolumbia.org/live and radio broadcast at 11 a.m. Sunday on 1320 AM.
- Tree of Life Congregation: Virtual gatherings will be held online via Zoom at 7:30 p.m. Fridays; more information about how to join gatherings and more resources available at www.tolsc.org/covid19.
- Beth Shalom Synagogue: Services streaming via a private Facebook group each day at 6 p.m., Fridays at 6:30 p.m., Saturday mornings at 9:45 a.m.; more info shared via email and online here.
- Trinity Baptist Church Cayce: In-person services canceled but posted online Sundays (available at 8 a.m.) on Facebook, tbccayce.com/watch and the church’s app, including children’s and youth teaching materials and Wednesday night Bible study.
- Bible Way Baptist Church: No in-person services until further notice; services available by livestream at www.bwcar.org and on Facebook.
- Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia: Services and events canceled through at least March 22, recorded sermons available online at http://www.uucolumbia.dreamhosters.com.
- Second Nazareth Baptist Church: All in-person services canceled; 9 a.m. Sunday services and 10 a.m. Sunday School streaming on Pastor Johnny Ray Noble’s Facebook page, sermons broadcast on radio 101.3 FM.
- Shandon Baptist Church: Sunday services livestreaming online at https://shandon.org/ at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Shandon Presbyterian Church: In-person service canceled March 22; livestreaming on Facebook, taped sermons available on YouTube and audio recordings available at www.shandonpresbyterian.org/sermons.
- Eastminster Presbyterian Church: Livestreaming Sunday services March 22 with the Lord’s Supper at 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. at www.eastminsterpres.org/live-services.
- Village Church: Sunday services canceled, livestreaming at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Facebook and YouTube.
- Journey United Methodist Church: In-person services and activities canceled through at least April 1; 10 a.m. Sunday service livestreaming online at www.journeycolumbia.org and Facebook, and sermon videos posted to YouTube.
- Shandon United Methodist Church: Livestreaming 11:05 a.m. Sunday service on YouTube.
- Christian Life Church: Livestreaming 10 a.m. Sundays at www.clcolumbia.com and on Vimeo.
This list may be updated as The State receives more information.
Is your place of worship canceling services or altering its activities? Is your faith community continuing to meet? We’d love to know more about those plans, too.
Let us know by emailing online@thestate.com, and we will update our list to help keep your community informed.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 11:23 AM.
