Local churches offering online worship

As a response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, local churches are responding, helping their congregations worship in a variety of ways, from online services, YouTube videos and more.

Below is a roundup of what local churches are doing to help congregations meet in faith and stay connected.

• Cedar Hills — Cedar Hills meets Thursdays at 6 p.m. and on Sundays at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. To take part in one of its online services, go online to its website at cedarhillschurch.com.

• First Lutheran Church — The church has suspended all congregational and community group activities for at least 30 days (as of March 13) and has closed the church office. For questions or concerns, call 208-263-2048. Updates and spiritual online resources will be added to the church website at firstlutheransandpoint.org. or check its Facebook page. Mailings will be sent to those without digital access.

• First Presbyterian Church — The Session has suspended all in-person gatherings, including worship and the Lenten devotionals. In addition, the office is closed to the public and the staff will have limited hours to promote social distancing until further notice.

Sermons and online gatherings can be accessed on the church’s website — fpcsandpoint.org — or on its Facebook page — facebook.com/First Presbyterian Church of Sandpoint. The congregation is using the Zoom app for Tuesday afternoon book study, contemplative prayer group, and Sunday school. Participants are sent an email with links and need to download the Zoom app., and there is a phone connection for audio for those who don’t have a webcam, Pastor Andy Kennaly said.

For Sunday services, the church will be using Facebook Live to hold and post an abbreviated service, such as prayer, scripture, and sermon, Annie Welle will feature some piano playing with some special music, and Kennaly will post a manuscript in the sermon archive on the church website.

• Holy Spirit Episcopal Church — The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane is inviting the community to join the diocese in morning prayer online. A link to the sermon can be found on the church’s Facebook page, facebook.com/ Holy Spirit Episcopal Church.

• New Life Church (Sandpoint Christian Center) — New Life Church, 1925 N. Boyer Avenue, is holding online Sunday services. The services begin at 10 a.m.

• Northside Christian Fellowship — At this time NCF is canceling all church services, Gospel Kidz, Bible studies, and other church activities that may involve more than 10 people. The church plans to resume as normal starting April 2 unless things change.

• North Summit Church — North Summit Church offering online services at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sundays online at northsummit.online.church.

• River of Life — River of Life has online services and invites all to join with the congregation on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at sandpointriveroflife.com. Service is also available online any time on the archives. Live service can also be viewed on River of Life’s Facebook page and on Instagram.

• Sandpoint Church of the Nazarene — Sandpoint Church of the Nazarene is not having their regular Sunday morning services. Instead the church is inviting people to join them from their homes with an online worship service. There will be a link on the church’s website — sandpointnaz.org — and also on their Facebook page. The links will go live at 7 a.m. so that families can choose the best time of the morning to gather together for the service.

• Sandpoint Lifetree Cafe — Sandpoint Lifetree Cafe will not meet through April 2020 to encourage social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Sandpoint Single Adult Ministries — Due to the ongoing concerns about the COVID19 virus and the resulting closures, the Sandpoint Single Adult Ministries group is canceling all events until further notice.

This includes the group’s normal Thursday evening Bible study, our First Friday celebrations and other miscellaneous activities. The group will re-evaluate at the end of the month and notify everyone of what activities resume and when.

• St. Joseph’s Catholic Church — The church is livestreaming all Masses and worship online at its website, st-joseph-church.net.

• Sandpoint United Methodist — Sandpoint United Methodist will worship online every Sunday until the congregation can all gather again in safety. Services are on the Zoom platform and all are welcome to join in however you will need an invitation. Please contact Pastor Jo Dene Romeijn-Stout if you would like a link to attend the online service. For more information, contact Pastor Jo Dene Romeijn-Stout at 208-263-4232.

• Sravasti Abbey — Sravasti Abbey, the Buddhist monastery near Newport, will rely on the Internet to share teachings and meditations to help viewers stay calm, hopeful, and helpful in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Broadcast over the Abbey’s livestream channel in March and April, offerings include talks by abbess and author, Ven. Thubten Chodron, and a three-day virtual retreat with Buddhist teacher Ven. Sangye Khadro. People of all spiritual backgrounds are welcome to tune in. Additional livestream events will be scheduled in the coming weeks. See the event schedule at sravastiabbey.org or go to livestream.com/sravastiabbey for detailed information. The Abbey is closed to visitors at this time.

On Fridays at 6:15 p.m., Ven. Chodron teaches a weekly on The Foundation of Buddhist Practice, a book co-authored by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ven. Chodron.

• Victory Church — Victory Church has moved its services online and invites the community to join them Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at vbcsagle.com, where the church will stream its service online for the next several weeks.

If you would like your church added to the list, send us an email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and share the details of how you are worshiping and we’ll make sure to share them with your friends and neighbors.