Where to worship in Modesto region now that governor has closed indoor services
It’s back to online and outdoor worship services for Modesto area religious organizations.
While Gov. Gavin Newsom allowed places of worship to reopen with limited capacity to indoor services in May, on Monday he ordered them to shut down again in 30 counties on the state’s COVID-19 watch list — including Stanislaus County.
Pastor Bobby Kirchner at Big Valley Grace Community Church said that while their indoor services will shut down, they will gather instead for outdoor services beginning this Sunday at 9 a.m., with social distancing protocols in place.
The outdoor service will be held in the outfield at one of the baseball fields on the church campus in Modesto, he said. People should take blankets and lawn chairs. Masks are encouraged but not required.
“We are all about the safety of people and we’re honoring our authorities, so this is about being a good testament to our community,” Kirchner said.
Big Valley also will continue its online services Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 9 and 11 a.m., he said.
“We are willing to pivot ... as long as we can continue to worship, that’s what’s most important to us.” Kirchner said.
Crosspoint considering outdoor options
According to the website for Crosspoint Community Church, Sunday services will move back to online only, but they may expand to offering services outside.
“We’re working on some ideas for outdoor services so be watching for updates on that in the coming weeks,” the website said.
Pastor Tres Adams at Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Modesto said they opened indoor worship around early June, but only had about 20 people show up in a sanctuary that holds 600. “We had talked about ‘How long do we keep this going?’ ”
Adams said their outdoor service in the church parking lot at 8:30 a.m. on Sundays will continue “and we’re anticipating that’s going to continue for the foreseeable future.”
They also post a pre-recorded service online on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. on their website and Facebook page, he said.
At Shelter Cove Community Church, Executive Pastor Ed Kelley said in an email that they had planned to reopen indoor services for the first time this Sunday, but that those plans now have been scratched.
Shelter Cove continues to offer its Church on the Lawn at 7 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. Sundays, as well as streaming services at 6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. Sundays.
Two counties must close in Stockton Diocese
The only Catholic Churches in the Diocese of Stockton that fall under the closure order are in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, according to Communications Coordinator Chandler Marquez.
“Moving forward we’re going to do Masses and liturgical services outdoors in those two counties,” he said. Liturgical services also include weddings, First Communion, Confirmation, confessions and funerals.
Churches doing so will continue to stream services online, he said, adding that things will look different from parish to parish.
Pastor Sam West at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Modesto said they will continue to offer a Sunday 8 a.m. outdoor Mass in the parking lot, with cars spaced out. “It’s been a good option for people who don’t feel they could come indoors,” West said, adding they will look into expanding outdoor services while continuing to stream Masses online.
Some leaders feel closure a safer move
Congregation Beth Shalom’s Rabbi Shalom Bochner indicated in an email that he agrees with Newsom’s decision.
“We fully support and agree with the state order to pause indoor worship services. In Judaism there is nothing more sacred or important than protecting life, safety and health,” he said.
Bochner said they had held Shabbat Services for two weeks outdoors, with masks, no singing and 8 feet of physical distancing, but had already put those services on pause the last two weeks “due to county contagion levels.”
“We hope that everyone will adhere to the current state and county guidelines, particularly in terms of wearing face covers, so that we can all be successful in facing this challenge and resume normal activities in the near future,” Bochner said.
The Hindu Temple of Modesto had started small indoor services, but has canceled all programs since Monday’s announcement by the governor, according to board member Vidhu Mehra.
They will continue to offer worship services online via Zoom on Sunday through Friday evenings from 7 to 8, she said.
“We think it’s much safer, this action that they did, at least until the numbers stabilize and not increase this way,” Mehra said.
Pastor Joshua Trautmann at Geneva Presbyterian said in an email that his church had never reopened to indoor services since the initial shutdown early in the pandemic.
“No, we have not yet reopened, and after yesterday we are glad we haven’t. This would have created more anxiety and sadness for our church family,” he said in the email.
Trautmann said he understands “the need for this move. Church services have been shown to be places where COVID is spread quickly and easily.”
Geneva Presbyterian actually has been streaming services for more than two years, he said in the email. “The shift for our congregation was in having our regular attenders start to watch the service online. This is a platform that remains important for us and will continue to be used after this crisis is over.”
This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 4:00 AM.
