DOTHAN, Ala.— Over the last year, the pandemic has changed the way we go about our daily lives.
This includes people of faith and how they now worship.
Last year, many Sunday worship services were either canceled or moved online not giving many opportunities for people to come together in community. This year, pastors around the Wiregrass are continuing to practice COVID-19 regulations but allowing people in doors for Easter and Palm Sunday.
Taylor Rutland is the pastor at First Baptist Church Dothan and is very passionate about bringing people closer to their faith especially during times like these. As the COVID-19 pandemic is closer to coming to an end, he feels confident that worshipers can be safe inside church walls.
“We are very confident that as long as our people continue to use mask and practice social distancing, using every other pew, that this is a very safe environment to have Easter Sunday worship and Palm Sunday,” Rutland said.
Rutland and Pastor Ralph Sigler, lead pastor at Harvest Church agree that even though both churches were able to adapt to the COVID-19 restrictions they are relieved worshipers can once again enter their doors for services like Palm Sunday and Easter.
They tell WDHN News that there has been a sense of community missing and they are ready for it to be back.
“The church of Jesus Christ is made up with people that need to be in community with each other, face to face so we couldn’t be any more thrilled,” Rutland said.
The two churches typically can sit more then 1,000 people in their pews, but both said during their services no more then 300 will be singing and praying.
“It’s really been a blessing to have the availability of online, but everyone has realized it is not the same thing so much else takes place when we are here together,” Sigler said.
On top of having a limited capacity, the churches will also offer multiple services and have people social distance inside the sanctuary.
First Baptist Church Dothan will be having two different services on Easter Sunday. They typically because they anticipate bigger crowds.
Sigler said they typically have around 3,400 people show up for Easter Sunday, which is why they want to offer additional opportunities to worship. Harvest Church will have an Easter service on Saturday night along with three Easter Sunday services.
“There have been a lot of events in history that have interrupted culture and regular life,” Sigler said. “The church has always adapted to those. It was a blessing to be able to do stuff online but we knew that would have to be temporary.”
The two pastors tell me they are very grateful to be able to hold services, especially on these two very important days. Their main goal now is making sure everyone stays healthy and safe.
