By Shelley Swift | Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY — Most of the pews will be empty at churches throughout Hancock County this weekend.
As of the Daily Reporter’s deadline late Friday afternoon, a growing number of churches were making the call to cancel Sunday services, encouraging parishioners to tune in to live-streamed sermons instead.
The closures began lighting up Facebook and other social media pages shortly after Gov. Eric Holcomb announced, around 4 p.m. Thursday, that non-essential gatherings of 250 people or more should be canceled or postponed until further notice, as the novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout the country. No new cases had been reported in the state as of Friday afternoon, leaving the total number of cases at 12. One case has been reported in Hancock County, but that person lives in Marion County; his case is being monitored there.
Big churches like Park Chapel in Greenfield and Outlook Christian Church in McCordsville took to Facebook Thursday evening, canceling this weekend’s church services.
Earlier that day, around 11 a.m., Brandywine Church in Greenfield had posted that services would still held but encouraged parishioners to avoid shaking hands. Around noon Friday, the church posted that its services would be canceled.
Laura Baker, Congregational Network Navigator for Healthy 365, a community wellness division of Hancock Health, said local church leaders are praying and working closely with government guidelines to ensure people’s spiritual needs are taken care of.
“Some are providing services via Facebook, Youtube and websites. Others are meeting in smaller groups,” she said.
Mark Adcock, pastor at New Life Christian Fellowship in Fortville, invited his congregation to tune into an online message streamed Friday night to address the growing sense of concern as Hancock County begins feeling the effects of the global pandemic.
“I am sure that all of us are trying to wrap our minds around what is happening in the world right now with regards to the virus that seems to be affecting every area of our lives,” Adock posted on his church’s Facebook page.
While Gov. Eric Holcomb’s mandate limiting crowds to 250 or fewer has shuttered a number of local churches, many smaller congregations like Adcock’s were planning to carry on with church services this weekend, as of Friday afternoon.
New Life Christian Fellowship draws about 200 people combined at its two services each Sunday.
“We are going to take all the precautions we can take, asking people who have symptoms to please not come, and streaming our 10:30 service to allow people to watch online,” said Adcock, adding that the church is ramping up its technology to prepare for the possibility that churches may be closed beyond this weekend.
Precautions will also be key at Otterbein United Methodist Church, where about 35 people attend each Sunday, making it one of the smallest congregations in the county.
“We’ll still make some changes like having more sanitation bottles around, and we may pass the peace a little differently, encouraging elbow bumps rather than handshakes, but other than that our service will probably be about the same,” said Pastor Dave Wise.
The pastor understands some church members may opt to stay home Sunday, which he completely understands. He also wondered if some members of bigger churches that are closed might consider going to smaller churches this weekend instead.
“Even if they do, we’ll be sure to follow protocol and keep our attendance below 250,” he said jokingly.
Wise said it’s surreal to see a global pandemic closing down churches, but he encourages church goers everywhere to take whatever steps they can to practice and sustain their faith, no matter how long places of worship may be closed.
“I would encourage them to tune into church services being streamed online, and obviously to read their bible and pray. Pray for an end to this insanity,” he said, adding that times of crisis tend to put the important things in perspective.
“I hope the end result of this (health crisis) would be an overall realization that life is so precious. Not one of us is guaranteed another day or another breath, and I hope we’ll all come to appreciate that more than ever before.”
Adcock also said times of crisis tend to bring people back to the church, refocusing on their faith.
“I think the church needs to begin to communicate a message that we serve a great God who is more than able to see us through,” he said. “I’m going to try to call the people of New Life to not walk in fear, but to walk in faith.”
Adcock said the church will be increasing its outreach to shut-ins and others who may feel increasingly isolated as the pandemic impacts everyday life.
Laura Baker, of Healthy 365, hopes all churches and other service organizations will follow suit.
“My biggest concern with churches closing is people will become isolated from loving support,” she said. “It is important that we reach out to our friends and family but especially please check on those in the high risk category — the elderly, those with compromised immune systems, as well as those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction, etc. Call them. They will be lonely. Listen. Pray. Offer to drop of food and medications. Let’s take care of our neighbors,” she said.
