If attending a church service is part of your Christmas plans, this year you might want to make that plan sooner.
Local churches are adapting their logistics for Christmas events and services in light of COVID-19 concerns.
Some churches are taking their Christmas Eve services entirely online. Outlook Christian Church in McCordsville (www.outlookchurch.org/christmas) is offering an interactive online Christmas Eve service at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Households can follow along by picking up a Christmas Eve Box in the weeks leading up to the service on outlookchurch.tv.
Among churches planning in-person Christmas services, some have planned more services than they usually offer, in an effort to have fewer people attending at the same time. For example, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Fortville will offer four Masses instead of three, and they’ll take place in the church’s Parish Hall, as Masses have since the church resumed in-person services June 14.
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The Rev. Robert Hankee, priest at St. Thomas, said the change of venue allows for more flexibility in seating arrangements and greater ease in cleaning between services.
Brookville Road Community Church is also adding to its Christmas services. Even though seating capacity increased with the opening of a new sanctuary Nov. 1, the church in New Palestine will offer four Christmas Eve services this year instead of the two it has presented in the past. The first of those services is meant for high-risk attenders.
In each of the services, battery-operated candles will replace traditional candles because they don’t have to be blown out; the coronavirus is believed to spread through droplets when people cough, speak, sing or blow out candles.
Some churches, such as Park Chapel Christian Church and Brandywine Community Church in Greenfield, are asking parishioners to register online for a particular time slot ahead of time, so church leaders can ensure distanced seating. Like Brookville Road, Brandywine is offering more services this year — four instead of three, as in 2019.
Some churches are not publicizing Christmas service times beyond their congregation. The Rev. Aaron Jenkins, priest at St. Michael Catholic Church in Greenfield, said it’s unfortunate, but the church is limiting seating this year, particularly as it continues to meet in the gymnasium while its sanctuary is still being renovated.
“We are offering households tickets after any weekday or weekend Mass so that all have the same opportunity to get their tickets (tech savvy or not),” Jenkins wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter.
Hankee said his parish is not publicizing its in-person Christmas Mass times, either, but a Christmas Eve Mass will be livestreamed at 5 p.m. on the parish’s Facebook page.
Just about all of the churches offering in-person services also will have an option available for viewing the service online from home. In fact, for those who’ll watch its Christmas Eve service online, Park Chapel Christian Church offers a gift bag including Communion supplies and a candle that can be picked up the week before, teaching pastor David Barnett said in a video on the church’s Facebook page.
“We want everyone here at Park Chapel, our friends, our families, the community, to worship and celebrate the birth of Christ however you’re comfortable and however you’re able, whether it’s in person or online,” Barnett said.
Jenkins expressed similar sentiments.
“In implementing ticketing and maintaining our social distancing and mask policies,” Jenkins wrote, “we hope to make as many people as possible feel comfortable coming to Mass in person to celebrate the incarnation of our Lord.”
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Dec. 23
6:30 p.m.: Brandywine Community Church (make reservation online at https://brandywine.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/87/responses/new)
7 p.m.: Realife Church
8 p.m.: Brandywine Community Church (make reservation online at https://brandywine.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/87/responses/new)
Dec. 24
1 p.m.: Brookville Road Community Church (specifically designed for high-risk attenders)
2 p.m.: Brandywine Community Church (make reservation online at https://brandywine.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/87/responses/new)
2:30 p.m.: Brookville Road Community Church
2:30 p.m.: Realife Church
4 p.m.: Brandywine Community Church (make reservation online at https://brandywine.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/87/responses/new)
4 p.m.: Brookville Road Community Church
4 p.m.: Outlook Christian Church (virtual service on outlookchurch.tv)
4 p.m.: Park Chapel Christian Church (also viewable online)
4 p.m.: Realife Church
4:30 p.m.: St. James Lutheran Church (also viewable on Facebook)
5:30 p.m.: Brookville Road Community Church
5:30 p.m.: Realife Church
6 p.m.: Outlook Christian Church (virtual service on outlookchurch.tv)
6 p.m.: Park Chapel Christian Church (also viewable online)
7 p.m.: New Life Christian Fellowship
7 p.m.: St. John United Church of Christ (virtual)
8 p.m.: Outlook Christian Church (virtual service on outlookchurch.tv)
8 p.m.: Park Chapel Christian Church (also viewable online)
Have a local service, in person or virtual, to add to this list? Send it to [email protected].
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