Church this Christmas? You might need to RSVP
Houses of worship try to accommodate faithful amid COVID concerns
Fewer songs. Open windows. RSVPs required.
While some Connecticut churches will only offer virtual celebrations this Christmas, others are taking a variety of measures to hold in- person services that offer the gathering experience while still minimizing the risk of COVID- 19 exposure and adhering to state guidelines — which still could change in the next two weeks.
The state Department of Economic & Community Development guidelines,
available online, most recently were updated via a Nov. 4 executive order returning the state to Phase 2 and limiting houses of worship to 50 percent capacity or 100 occupants, whichever number is lower.
As of Friday, the DECD had not decided whether it would recommend a change in restrictions one way or the other before Christmas.
“It depends on how much of a surge we see and whether people are listening to the public health guidance and largely stay within their households and limit gatherings and unnecessary trips, etc.,” agency spokesman Jim Watson said in an email.
The guidelines available online represented the most current information, Watson said.
State protocols recommend congregations refrain from singing during services, set up pre- registration for attendees, post greeters to enforce capacity limits and hold drive- in and online services as safer alternatives to meeting in person, among other measures.
The Connecticut Department of Health reported having investigated 69 COVID clusters statewide as of Nov. 9.
Six clusters were linked to houses of worship, and the worst of those involved 15 cases.
Max Reiss, spokesman for Gov. Ned Lamont, did not return a request for comment about churches and COVID protocols during Christmas.
‘ A very, very hard decision’
Clergy across the state are taking health concerns into account as they plan services.
Southport Congregational Church, for instance, had planned to hold four Christmas Eve services instead of its usual two, so as to accommodate more people while maintaining capacity limits, but was uncertain Thursday whether those would go forward.
Hundreds of people already had made reservations, according to the Rev. Paul Whitmore, the church’s senior minister.
But as COVID- 19 numbers surged in recent weeks, the church canceled its Dec. 6 and 13 in- person services, and leaders opted to reassess whether they could proceed with live Christmas activities, he said.
“This Sunday we’re going to make the decision about Christmas Eve with our board of deacons,” Whitmore said. “Honestly, I do have discomfort about going forward with meeting in person. … The fact is that there a lot of cases around, and we’re responsible for the safety of a lot of people.”
It’s “a very, very hard decision” for the minister, he said.
Without in- person worship on Christmas Eve, “you lose the sense of community,” Whitmore said. “You don’t get the in- person … sense of spirit. … You don’t get to sing.”
In lieu of in- person services, the church would hold one “fabulous” livestreamed service on Christmas Eve, featuring recorded performances from a brass quartet and several choirs, according to Whitmore.
Across the state, churches’ plans for the holiday vary. Hearst Connecticut Media spoke with representatives from 12 congregations, as well as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport.
All parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport also planned on in- person Masses, according to a spokesman.
Of the 12 churches, seven planned only virtual Christmas events and services.
One — Whitmore’s — was undecided, while four intended to proceed with some version of in- person events.
Multiple Masses
In the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, which includes 82 Fairfield County parishes, most will add extra Masses to accommodate worshippers while allowing social distancing, according to Director of Communications Brian Wallace.
He said Bishop Frank Caggiano granted a one- time exemption allowing parishes to celebrate Christmas vigil Masses beginning as early as 2 p. m. Christmas Eve.
“We know that it’s a day when many Catholics return to church, even if they have not been at Mass during the year,” Wallace said. “By enabling vigil Masses to be celebrated an hour earlier, the bishop hopes to safely accommodate those who come forward.”
As of early November, the diocese had considered appealing to Gov. Ned Lamont to temporarily — and safely — increase occupancy at houses of worship for 24 hours at Christmas.
But, Wallace said, “We didn’t go forward with that request because of the need to safeguard life in the face of the surge in the virus and concern with the growing number of hospitalizations in the state.”
Wallace emphasized that Caggiano “believes protecting people from the virus is a life issue and a priority … he’s profoundly aware of the suffering so many people are facing from physical illness, job loss and the constant anxiety and isolation.”
“At the same time,” Wallace continued, “public worship is essential for Catholics, particularly at Christmas, and the diocese is doing everything possible to ensure it’s safe, welcoming and compliant with public health recommendations.”
Staying virtual
Even during Advent — the four Sundays preceding Christmas — some churches are staying completely virtual.
First & Wesley United Methodist Church in West Haven will not be holding in- person services through the end of the year, according to the congregation’s pastor, the Rev. Sungmu Lee, who said the decision was based on the recommendation of the UMC’s New York Annual Conference.
“We want to see each other but this is the reality,” he said. “[ The pandemic’s] getting more serious, it’s not a joke.”
The same recommendation affected UMC of Danbury, which resumed in- person services in October but stopped them about six weeks later, according to the Rev. Kimberly Bosley.
“That’s really, really hard, because people, you know, look to this time of year to be together,” she said. “We’re working really hard to make a meaningful online service.”
Meanwhile, Pastor Jason Gobourn of New Haven’s Church on the Rock said he decided to return to all- virtual services when the second COVID wave hit.
“I really felt like it’s important for us – and for me – to keep my congregation safe and help bend the curve,” he said.
The church is known for having “very extravagant Christmas celebrations” that include pageantry, lights and dancing, according to Gobourn.
The celebration, which takes place the Sunday before Christmas, instead will be virtual, he said.
“It’s going to be a more intimate, but still powerful, celebration of the birth of Christ,” Gobourn said.
“At times like this when we’re not able to physically gather in our church,” Gobourn said, it’s important to remember “that we don’t just go to church, but that we are the church.”
Some, like East End Baptist Tabernacle Church in Bridgeport, still had not resumed in- person services.
The church stopped in- person masses in March and never went back, according to the Rev. Charlie Stallworth, who said that will continue through the Christmas holiday, even though many members miss the experience.
“The demand is there. The people are really missing the worship experience, especially in an African- American church. We’re a very community- oriented church,” he said. “But our population is … an elderly population. We definitely don’t want to put those people at risk.”