The coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak has prompted some changes to worship in Verona.
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit will not hold in-person public worship this Sunday, March 15 or the following two Sundays. Instead, the church inviting the public to attend an 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. service via an online video conference. You can use any computer or smartphone to join as a video and audio participant, or you may use a telephone for audio only.
The First Presbyterian Church has cancelled Sunday morning worship in the sanctuary for the next two weeks and the church building is closed to all activities, including its Thrift Shop and committee meetings until the end of the month. But tomorrow, March 15, at 10:15 a.m. it will be offering “Parking Lot Church” in the lot behind the building on Fairview Avenue and everyone is invited to drive up and attend. The will livestream this service on its Facebook page.
Our Lady of the Lake is following the guidance of the Archdiocese of Newark, who has dispensed the faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday mass. Parishioners who are sick are being urged to stay home and those who do attend should keep the appropriate space from others and exchange the sign of peace without physical contact. The Archdiocese has suspended distribution of the Precious Blood of Christ from the chalice to parishioners and parishioners need not receive the Body of Christ on the tongue. The Archdiocese notes that mass is broadcast on several television channels and the sick can make a “spiritual communion” until they return to good health.
Calvary Lutheran Church will hold its regular Sunday service. Communion is only offered on the first and third Sundays of the month, and March 15 is the third Sunday of the month. But the church will be using individual paper cups at communion and not the Common Cup.
UPDATE: Calvary Lutheran’s board of directors met after worship on Sunday and decided to cancel all worship services and church activities through April 1. The church will keep its website, www.veronalutheran.com, updated
as necessary.
