JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As confirmed cases of COVID-19 rise in Florida, including a third death in the state on Saturday afternoon, many area churches have announced their doors will be closed and Sunday’s worship services will be held online instead to protect churchgoers from the spread of the virus.
For Catholic churches, mass still was held Sunday. The Diocese of St. Augustine is maintaining a response to COVID-19 section on its website. On the site, Bishop Felipe Estévez has provided a unified policy for the 17-county region of the Diocese. He said Holy Communion via the chalice will be suspended and Holy Communion will be distributed by hand only. The physical sign of the peace has been suspended and Holy Water fonts are to remain empty until further notice.
A member at Assumption Catholic Church told News4Jax he was attending the 8 a.m. mass instead of the 10:30 a.m. because there are fewer people.
“This is a hospital for the sinners, and I need to come every day to get my strength, and that’s why I come here. So if I can’t come here and if it’s not safe and if I can’t drink from the chalice or have the sacrament, I’m going to stay at home and watch it online,” Steve Hart said.
On Monday, the bishop announced new liturgical accommodations to limit the spread of the COVID-19 among the community:
“Out of pastoral concern for the health and wellbeing of our Catholic community, and by my authority as the diocesan bishop to dispense from universal ecclesiastical laws, I dispense from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass: All who are sick and those who are caring for them, those who because of age or infirmity are at higher risk for contracting the coronavirus and those who have been exposed to the coronavirus because of travel or other circumstances," Estévez said.
Estévez said this dispensation is valid for as long as conditions continue.
“And to further protect public health and calm fears, I also dispense all the Catholic faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass during the remaining weeks of March. This dispensation will allow any who are concerned to stay home and avoid public gatherings of 10 or more people in cooperation with civil authorities,” he said.
He said churches will remain open during the day for the faithful who want to visit and pray. To view options for listening to or viewing the Mass online or on the air, visit dosafl.com/diocesan-resources.
Grace Lutheran Church also has restrictions in place. Service was open Sunday, but the church was also offering a stream online to worshipers.
“We can only do so much to prevent the spread, so we’re taking everybody precautions that we can, that we’ve been told at the same time we’re not letting it disrupt our normal daily lives,” said Joe Johnson, a member at Grace Lutheran Church.
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The elders at Christian Family Chapel sent a message to its church family that services and campus activities are canceled on Sunday.
Patrons were also asked to spread the word to those who may not check their emails before church. The full message from CFC is available on its website as well as the latest sermon’s livestream.
Crosswater Community Church, which serves about 1,500 people in Nocatee, provided this release on its website, app and Facebook page reading:
“We’ve made the difficult decision to NOT have services this Sunday at Crosswater. Instead, we are moving ALL our Sunday services ONLINE... We are not making this decision in fear, but out of respect for the recommendation of local authorities and the government. We also want to protect those in our church family who are most susceptible. We love you, our church family, and we’ll see you all ONLINE!”
Crosswater Community Church
A livestream of Crosswater’s service can be found here.
Celebration Church also issued this statement:
“As your church, we are closely monitoring the Coronavirus and following all recommendations made by authorities. Due to this we will be having church in our homes this weekend that is available for you and your family to watch online. We encourage you to gather with your loved ones and tune into what the Holy Spirit has to minister to us. Pastor Stovall has a special Word prepared to discuss this timely and important topic.”
Celebration Church
Podcasts for Celebration Church can be streamed through both iTunes and Google Play.
The Church of Eleven22 posted a similar update on its website saying gatherings will be moved online at coe22.com for Sunday, March 15.
Mandarin United Methodist Church had updated it website with precautions for Sunday services, then sent out an update via email Saturday that the campus will be closed Sunday.
The livestream for Mandarin United Methodist will available here.
First Baptist Church of Jacksonville also announced multiple changes to Sunday’s services.
The downtown morning service will be held at Lindsay Memorial Auditorium at 10:30 a.m. and the Nocatee 9 a.m. morning service will both be held with a limited capacity of 500 people. Sunday school and evening services have been cancelled. Elderly patrons, individuals with health risks and those experiencing any cold or flu symptoms are asked to reconsider attending services.
For those who choose to stay at home, First Baptist also provides a livestream on its website.
Mayor Lenny Curry said the church he attends, Southside United Methodist Church, is streaming its service Sunday on Facebook. Curry said it was a remote service, meaning there was no people in the pews.
The church I attend is streaming the service tomorrow. It’s a remote Service. No folks in the pews. Check it out and social distance. #coronavirus https://t.co/F7sSu5J80D
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) March 15, 2020
Churches within the Episcopal Diocese of Florida have announced all church events have been canceled, but Sunday services will still be held at most locations. The Diocese posted a list of changes for those who attending including for communion, greetings of peace and offertory baskets. A full list of changes can be found here.
Kingsland First United Methodist Church said ushers will be wearing gloves for worship, but service will also be streamed online.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also temporarily suspended gatherings of church members worldwide until further notice, and it added local leaders are determining how to make the sacrament available at least once a month.
If you know of more churches that are holding service online instead of in-person, please let us know.