Churches adjusting to COVID-19

Coronavirus concerns will force many churchgoers to stay home this weekend. But larger churches will be doing what they can to bring Sunday morning service to the comfort of their members’ homes.

While houses of worship are exempt from most government-mandated edicts, most local churches have closed willingly to help cope with the ongoing pandemic.

But people of faith are finding ways to worship together, just separately, thanks to live-streaming technology.

Faith Christian, Kingswood United Methodist, Central Baptist and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Clovis have canceled their in-church services today, but will be live-streaming their regular events on their respective websites or social media accounts.

St. Helen’s in Portales has canceled its services as well, but was working on arranging a live-stream.

“We are taking it one day at a time,” said Holly Marchman, secretary at Central Baptist. “This could be what happens for the next two or three Sundays, but who knows.”

While churches like Faith Christian have been broadcasting their events for years now, others like Our Lady of Guadalupe have stepped into in unfamiliar territory and asked for help from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe to provide services.

Pastor David Swann of Faith Christian said his church has been taking advantage of the internet to stream for the last 10 years.

“We don’t think of church being a gathering or a brick building. It’s who we are; we’re connected to each other,” Swann said.

Service information

Central Baptist: Sunday at 9 a.m. online at http://www.connect2central.com

Kingswood United Methodist: Sunday services; English at 9 a.m., Spanish at 11 a.m .; http://www.kingswoodclovis.com

Our Lady of Guadalupe: www.ologsj.org or http://www.archdiosf.org

Faith Christian: Sunday services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and Friday services at 6 p.m .; http://www.fcfconline.com

Sacred Hearth Catholic Church: Masses canceled. Upcoming livestreams available at youtube.com/channel/UC8yY1