Valley churches adapt to social distancing restrictions

In the warm glow of stained-glass windows, a lone form occupies the pews at Saint Richard Catholic Church Thursday morning. Harriet Mize, of Columbia Falls, is there for her daily hour of prayer. Like the other Catholic churches in the state, Saint Richard suspended Mass services as of March 17. However, the church remains open for private prayer with a 10-person maximum. For parishioners like Mize, it’s a way to stay connected to her faith even without the church community, regular services or religious rituals. “To be able to have access to him and to be able to sit here in his real presence, in that tabernacle, it’s just something that I live for every day,” Mize said. Churches throughout the Flathead Valley are making a variety of modifications to the way they gather and serve their community in light of the coronavirus pandemic. In Montana, 184 cases of COVID-19 have been reported as of Tuesday afternoon, including 11 patients in Flathead County.

The White House issued a guidelines recommending organizers cancel or postpone events with 10 or more people for an eight-week period — including religious services. The best way to prevent COVID-19 is to avoid exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Social distancing, keeping at least six feet apart from others, had washing and staying at home, especially if you are ill, are recommended by the CDC to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The Rev. Sean Raftis, of Saint Richard Church, in Columbia Falls said parishioners are encouraged to check in on each other, and he’s been sending out information via email or through the cellphone app, myParish. “I think the parish has been reacting well,” he said. “It’s a little surreal — It’s unprecedented.” The Helena Diocese suspended public Mass through March 30 at all Catholic churches in the state, including Saint John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork. Instead, the Helena Diocese will be streaming Mass daily at noon on their website. Services aren’t the only gatherings that are impacted: All baptisms will be delayed in Montana Catholic churches, while weddings can be postponed or move forward with only the couple and two witnesses present. However, like Saint Richard, Saint John Paul II is also open for private prayer with a 10 person maximum, according to their website. Other Bigfork area churches are turning to the web to reach their congregations. The Community United Methodist Church, CrossRoads Christian Fellowship and Real Life Church are all streaming services on their respective websites and Facebook pages. CrossRoads Rev. Randy Passons said his church was well-equipped to make the digital transition, since CrossRoads had already been streaming services online prior to the pandemic.

“We were thankful that we already had so much of the equipment and infrastructure,” Passons explained.

CrossRoads now streams on Facebook and Youtube two days a week has assigned one pastor per service to respond to social media comments, prayer requests and other inquiries during the live broadcast.

Uniquely, the church has also established a crisis hotline — an extension of their existing counseling ministry — as a way to help those who may be particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Trained volunteers take call between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. for the Choosing Hope Crisis Hotline, which can be reached at (406) 282-4780.

“They knew that there would be a potential uptick in people that are struggling,” Passons said. “Maybe they have suicidal thoughts and need someone to talk to and to help them and encourage them. There have been many things cancelled, but faith and love and courage and hope have not been cancelled.”

Rev. Kelly Addy with the Community United Methodist Church said he is reaching out to churchgoers via email, newsletters and Easter greeting cards and over the phone.

“We have quite a few older people in the congregation and we just make to make sure that they’re able to get groceries and get to the doctor,” Addy said.

Like many other places of worship, United Methodist is providing services virtually, and they’ve also utilized the video conference platform Zoom for their book club. The tech transition hasn’t been without its challenges, but Addy said the desire for folks to stay connected outweighs the challenges, and he’s learning a lot in the process. “Church is something you’ve got to keep in touch with, especially at times like this,” he said.

He also reiterated that if there is a need in the community, United Methodist will do what they can to help.

“If there’s some way you need help we want to hear from you we’ll do what we can,” Addy said. “The worse things get, the better people get.” Canvas Church, which has campuses in Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Cut Bank, is also among the local worship centers that had already made technology a part of their gatherings. “We’re not canceling, we’re just going to do it differently,” lead pastor, the Rev. Kevin Geer said. “The church has never been about a building.” In addition to virtual services, Cavnas is also holding interactive social media games for youth to help keep the feeling of unity alive in the congregation. Additionally, on Wednesday evenings, Canvas will post video interviews with community leaders to share the latest information on how the Flathead Valley is tackling the coronavirus situation.

And for folks who aren’t already connected to the web or may be uncomfortable using their devices, the church is offering tech support via phone, and if necessary, in person. Most of the church’s 50-person staff is working from home and they’re conducting meetings through the video conferencing service, Zoom. Geer said he believes the role of the church is to be a calming voice amid so much uncertainty. “We can bring healthy practical tools in an unsettling time that allow people to go, ‘OK I can manage this day and manage the next day,’” he said. “We want to spread peace, not virus.” Other changes include postponing other religious events such as baptisms and memorials.

The Rev. Dan Heskett of Northridge Lutheran Church is taking a less tech-focused approach, providing written worship information and sermons for folks to use when worshiping at home. Copies of the materials will be provided via email and hard copies are available in the church narthex. He is also encouraging members of his congregation to keep in touch with each other with phone calls and by exchanging cards and letters. “We have people who have volunteered to help vulnerable people with running errands and grocery shopping,” he added. “The danger is to only look inward because of our own anxiety, but as a church we have to continue to look out to the outside so we can see how we can serve.” Attendees are also asked to continue giving to the church so they can continue community outreach at organizations such as the Samaritan House, Abbie Shelter and local food bank. “Our biggest challenge is how to be a church without gathering, because the very definition of church is community, so we are going to be learning how to do that the best way we can,” Heskett explained. “I am prepared for the long haul, however long that is. We’ve never faced anything like this before…we’re going to be learning on the fly.” ■