Faith community offers many options

As a response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, local churches are responding, helping their congregations worship in a variety of ways, from Zoom and Facebook Live services to 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 — First Lutheran Church on Olive Avenue, Sandpoint, offers online worship opportunities and faith formation resources on their website: firstlutheransandpoint.org. The weekly Sunday worship link can be accessed anytime after 8:30 a.m. on Sundays. If you have questions, please call 208-263-2048.

The leadership is considering Gov. Little’s reopening plan for worship centers, but will not resume office hours or in person worship until we can put the CDC’s recommendations for social distancing and cleaning into place.

• 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 Ave., has online and in-church services for its 10 a.m. Sunday service. Go online to newlifescc.com or join the congregation on Facebook. Information: 208-263-8578 or email the church at office.sandpointcc@gmail.com.

• Northside Christian Fellowship — Beginning Sunday, May 3, services will resume at Northside Christian Fellowship. Special measures will be taken to maintain recommended social distancing. At this time, a livestream is tentatively planned to air on YouTube for those unable to attend — this is subject to change. Details can be found online on the church website — ncfchurch.net .

Those wishing to attending the service, please note the special service time. Service will be held Sunday at 10:30 a.m.; there will be no Sunday school at this time.

• 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 — Due to the delayed reopening of host restaurant Jalapeno’s Mexican Restaurant, and the Memorial Day holiday on the last Monday of the month; Sandpoint Lifetree Cafe will delay resuming its normal schedule until June 1. “Stay tuned,” Stan Norman said. “We’ll be back.”

• 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, 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. 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.