By Joshua Huff, sports editor
TRUSSVILLE — Though Alabama has entered the next phase of Gov. Kay Ivey’s plan to reopen the economy, many businesses and churches have decided that despite being allowed to open their doors, they instead will take a cautious approach to allowing customers and parishioners return.
This holds true for the majority of churches throughout The Tribune coverage area. Save for a few exceptions, many churches have decided to hold off on reopening and will instead tentatively test the waters as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread throughout the region.
Unlike restaurants and businesses, where they can contain customers and practice safe social distancing, churches have a myriad of complicated issues that have to be decided upon before reopening: How to deal with families with older parents, people who prefer to sit in their own pews, children, seniors, couples with sizable age gaps, the offering, hymnals and large gatherings in confined areas, among others.
With that, here are the schedules for several local churches:
First Baptist Church of Trussville: Will live stream this Sunday from Facebook Live, FBCT.TV, YouTube Live and the Husky Fast Network.
Trussville First United Methodist: Will conduct Sunday live stream services on Facebook this upcoming Sunday. This Sunday’s service will recognize the Class of 2020. The church is currently figuring out the best possible practices to reopen safely with a tentative reopening date around the beginning of June.
Deerfoot Church of Christ: The church is expected to reopen on May 31 with limited seating. The overflow will go in the fellowship hall. It will have three in-person worship services on Sunday morning at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., with the 9:30 a.m. service streaming live on their website, YouTube channel and Facebook page for those worshipping from home.
Faith Community Fellowship: Will remain online only this Sunday, May 17, at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. The church plans on reopening its doors on May 31 as it continues to make plans to protect the health of everybody who attends.
ONEeighty Church Springville: Will reopen for in-house worship this Sunday, May 17. They plan on cleaning the building thoroughly, before, between and after the ceremonies. They’re moving worship times to 8:30 a.m. with an overflow, and a 10:30 a.m. service, which will push the times at Pinson back. Pinson will have a 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. worship service. The children’s ministry will remain closed. The church will also take people’s temperature as they come in. Any temperature at or above 100.4 is deemed not safe, and those with that temperature will be asked to go home and watch online.
The church also asks people to make a reservation instead of just showing up.
Refresh Family Church: Will continue to offer online services until at least May 31. Bishop Stephen A. Davis encourages people to remain patient and to watch online in their cars or from their homes.
Mountain View Baptist Church: Will reopen its doors on May 17 with 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. A Zoom service will be at 6 p.m.
The Cross at Clay: Will reopen on May 17. It has removed every other row and there will be no singing. People are asked to wear masks and children’s activities will remain canceled.
Clearbranch UMC: Will stream on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. from YouTube, Facebook, Roku and at the church’s website.