May 7, 2020

Several area churches will open their doors Sunday for in-person services on Mother’s Day, but with safety precautions and occupancy restrictions in place. Other churches have chosen to remain closed until later in May or even in June, opting to continue with online/live streaming services...

First Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff is one of several area churches, which will be holding in-person services Sunday on MotherÕs Day.
First Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff is one of several area churches, which will be holding in-person services Sunday on MotherÕs Day.DAR file photo

Several area churches will open their doors Sunday for in-person services on Mother’s Day, but with safety precautions and occupancy restrictions in place.

Other churches have chosen to remain closed until later in May or even in June, opting to continue with online/live streaming services.

First Methodist Church

500 N. Main St.

“We are planning to have an in-person service, one in-person service at 10:30, starting this Sunday,” said Renee Bobo, the church’s office manager. “Our max capacity would be 90 people.

“We’ll have gloves, masks, hand sanitizer available and be checking temps at the door. We’ll be practicing social distancing.”

Doors will open to the public at 10:15, and pews will be blocked off, Bobo said.

“We are only allowing people entry through the sanctuary entrance and the back main entrance,” Bobo said.

The church still will have a Facebook live traditional service at 9 a.m., a Facebook live contemporary service at 10:30, as well as a service on NewWave channel 18 at 8 a.m.

“That’s what we will continue to do through June,” Bobo said.

In June, she said, church officials will reassess “whether we can add additional services. We’ll see how that goes.”

Second Baptist Church

503 W. Pine St.

There will be no Sunday school classes at Second Baptist Church Sunday, but the morning worship service will be at 10:45 a.m., said Saralie Morgan, the church’s secretary.

Those attending are to follow social-distancing guidelines, including refraining from hugging, she said.

“Families can sit together and then (have) distancing between families,” Morgan said. “We’ve removed all the hymnals, pencils and Bibles from the pews so no one will be touching” those.

Bluff City Apostolic Worship Center

200 Walnut St.

“We are actually having services (but) different than normal,” said Carla Cox, the church’s secretary. “Everyone can’t gather in the sanctuary.”

Those attending, Cox said, will be separated by age group to keep the 60 and older together and the people 59 and under together.

Cox said a list has been compiled of those planning to attend, and church officials anticipate others may be there Sunday.

“They will have precautions for that too,” Cox said. “It’s Mother’s Day, and people will show up for church that you didn’t have on the list.

“The pastors have a plan for that too.”

The church, Cox said, has enough room an additional room can be set up to accommodate the extras as long as they are “abiding by all the guidelines,” including social distancing.

“Everybody wants their kids with them or their moms with them in service” on Mother’s Day, Cox said. “This year, it’s a little different.

The 11 a.m. service, Cox said, also will be streamed online for those not in attendance.

Zion Lutheran Church

450 N. Main St.

“We are planning to have a regular church service on Sunday … and hopefully, we’ll continue on til the end of time,” said Rita Fry, the church’s secretary.

Divine service, setting one, will be held at 8 a.m., Fry said.

“We’re going to put families, they can sit together (with) space between (others) to make it where you’re not so close,” Fry said. “ … Members will space themselves out; we’re going by what the rules are right now, distancing ourselves.”

Mt. Calvary Power House Church

1875 Speedway Drive

Services at Mt. Calvary will start at 10:30 a.m., with social-distancing protocols in place, said Martessa Woods, the church’s secretary.

“We’ll be spread out” in the sanctuary, balcony and choir area with eight-foot distancing, Woods said. “All the staff will be wearing masks and gloves. …

“We are asking everyone to wear masks if they have them.”

The church, Pastor Ronnie Webb said, also had some masks donated to its membership.

As far how many will be allowed to attend the services, “we have not put that plan in place,” said Webb. “We’re working on speaking with local officials to decide” that to “make sure we are in compliance with everything.”

Woods said the church also will have a Mother’s Day dinner, but instead of “all dismissing to the fellowship hall, we’ll dismiss in increments of 10.

“ … As they walk out, we’ll have the dinner in to-go boxes, they can take (the meals) to go.”

First Church of God

2482 S. Westwood Blvd.

There will be a 10 a.m. worship service at the First Church of God Sunday, but no Sunday school classes will be held, said Sue Little, the church’s secretary.

“They are going to have ushers at the door to open the door, so they don’t have to touch the door” to enter the church, Little said.

Social-distancing protocols will be in place, with families and couples sitting together, but six feet apart from others.

“We’re not giving out masks (but) if they have a mask and want to wear them, that is fine,” Little said.

Doniphan United Methodist Church

305 Plum St.

“We’ll have regular church services (but) it’s going to be limited … with limited seating capacity,” said Jane Kelly, the church’s secretary. “ … We will be able to have 44, and everyone is asked to wear the masks and gloves. We’ve got the seats marked off six feet apart.”

The church’s nursery will not be open, and no Sunday school classes will be held, Kelly said.

“We usually have coffee and cookies … There will not be any of that,” she said.

Services will be at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Other churches

Churches resuming in-person services at a later date include:

First Christian Church, 1601 N. Main St., May 17;

Memorial Baptist Church, 2215 S. Broadway, May 31;

Fellowship General Baptist Church, 3581 N. Westwood Blvd., June 7; and

Little Brushy Missionary Baptist Church, Highway T, Wappapello, June 21.

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