Northwest Iowa — COVID is going to make Christmas services at area churches a little different this year.
We checked with a sampling of churches. Of all the churches we checked with, all of them are still having in-person Christmas services, with a few caveats.
At First Reformed Church in Sheldon, they plan to have two services on Christmas Eve — one at 4:30 and one at 6:30 p.m. They are limiting the sanctuary to half capacity. Masks are highly recommended, and the services, like all Sheldon First Reformed Chruch services, will be live-streamed.
At the Sheldon United Methodist Church, they plan to have four separate Christmas Eve services. Pastor Kevin Gingerich tells us that the services will be a contemporary candlelight service at 4:00 p.m.; a traditional candlelight communion service at 6 p.m.; a lessons and carols candlelight communion service at 8 p.m., and an 11 p.m. contemplative candlelight service. He says they are not making people sign up for a specific service, but they hope that by having four different services that people will spread out naturally. Gingerich says masks are strongly recommended. The services will be live-streamed.
St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheldon will have two services on Christmas Eve, one of which will be broadcast on KIWA. That service will begin at 4:30 p.m. The other service will be at 7:00 p.m. Masks are “strongly, strongly encouraged.” Social distancing protocols will be in effect and extra seating will be available in the back. The services will also be live-streamed.
At the area Catholic Churches in Sheldon, Ashton, and Sibley social distancing will be enforced. All churches are marked to indicate social distancing, and hand sanitizer will be provided and its use will be encouraged. In Sheldon, St. Patricks will have masses at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and at 8:30 a.m. on Christmas Day. Reservations are encouraged. Those who don’t fit on the main floor due to social distancing will be able to sit in the basement. In Ashton and Sibley, the churches will only be filled until social distancing requirements dictate that they are full. The masses will not be live-streamed or broadcast.
At First Reformed in Rock Rapids, people need to reserve their spot at either the 4:30 p.m. or the 6:00 p.m. service. Church officials strongly recommend and encourage wearing masks when
entering and exiting the service. Masks will be available. They also say that if you feel
you are at risk, are not comfortable being in a crowd, or do not feel well they encourage you to stay home and watch on the live stream.
