‘Trust in Jesus ... but be responsible’: Beaufort County churches respond to coronavirus
Churches across Beaufort County are making changes to services in light of health officials’ advice to avoid close contact amid the spread of coronavirus.
“We trust in Jesus to take care of us, but we want to be responsible,” said Lynda Hopkins, ministry assistant at First Baptist Church of Hilton Head.
Hopkins said First Baptist is planning to hold Sunday services this week, but the staff will be meeting early next week to decide what to do beyond that.
Other churches told the newspaper about similar plans to make decisions one week at a time. Churches are inviting members to find services streamed online and telling those who attend in person to avoid hugging or shaking hands.
At St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton, flu precautions have been in place since December, said parish manager Suzette Greiner. She said so many members are retirees and vulnerable to the flu that, for the past four to five years, they’ve switched to a wafer-only communion for flu season.
Now, though, the church is ramping up those precautions by removing hymnals and other items that a lot of people might touch, Greiner said.
This follows a directive from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. In a news release on Thursday, the diocese outlined measures churches should take to limit the spread of COVID-19. Those include removing holy water from the hand-fonts, not holding hands during prayer, and administering communion by hand only.
Social distancing
The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina postponed its convention scheduled for this week at The Church of the Cross in Bluffton, according to a message posted on the diocese website.
“Should our clergy en masse inadvertently make contact with an infected person during such an assembly it would necessitate canceling worship services throughout the diocese for an extended period ... during a time when the comfort brought by the regular worship life in our congregations is so vitally important,” read a statement from The Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence, bishop of the diocese.
The Rev. Jon Black from Campbell Chapel AME in Old Town Bluffton said his church was planning to open the balcony and fellowship hall to encourage people to put some space between themselves during Sunday’s services. With advice from a member who is a physician, the congregation will make decisions about what to do next, he said.
Cindy Bobbitt, communications coordinator for First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head, said church leaders decided to move forward with regular Sunday services as planned. She said the goal was to try to balance safety while also “providing some comfort which we feel people need at this time.”
“We do ask people at church to make good decisions about coming or not coming,” Bobbitt said.
Ellen Fabien, church secretary at Carteret Street United Methodist Church in Beaufort, said the church was canceling Wednesday night dinners and other midweek activities. Members are being asked to email or call instead of dropping by the church office.
Sunday worship services and Sunday school will still be held, with one caveat.
Said Fabien: “If you are sick in any way, stay home.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 3:21 PM.
