(Submitted/Evangelical Free Church of Meadow Lake)

By Nicole Reis

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Faith services in Meadow Lake await clarification of the Re-Open Sask. plan

May 22, 2020 | 5:17 PM

Places of worship in Meadow Lake are waiting on the province to clarify its Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan as the document is undergoing regular updates for phase three. The third phase target date is set for June 8.

According to the current plan, churches and faith services are able to open to the public at half capacity, however, guidelines for the safe re-opening are being developed in consultation with faith leaders.

Barb Mysko, Alliance Church office administrator, told meadowlakeNOW the first service would likely happen on June 14.

“We’ve got to know whether we open at half capacity or if we’re subject to restricted numbers,” she said. “It definitely makes a difference to how our services are going to look.”

Since the closure of faith services in Meadow Lake in March, Alliance Church has been live-streaming services online and through social media. The church has also held weekly small prayer groups to four people. If the province keeps crowds restricted to a low number of people, the presence of worship facilitators and pastors could keep attendees at an even lower number.

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“Our capacity is 300 people in the sanctuary, now we don’t have anywhere near that coming in for a service,” she said. “[The whole picture changes] and makes a whole other number factor than if we have a maximum of 15 people.”

The church could hold multiple services or have people sign up to attend, however the group cannot plan for the coming days as provincial policies are still developing.

The church has kept doors open and is one of the few places in the immediate city offering washroom facilities to those who need it.

Meadow Lake Evangelical Free Church’s senior pastor Curtis Klassen, said if the province decides to keep crowds small for worship services, there wouldn’t be much of a point in opening up and would continue live-streaming its services.

“Unless you’re a church of 15 people it would be difficult for us to get together and connect at that rate,” he said.

The church has adjusted well to online services and is diligently awaiting further updates from the province.

Provincial Guidelines

According to the province, further information will be available in next week’s update of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan. The provincial government indicated the following recommendations should remain in place through all phases of re-opening.

· Protective measures for vulnerable populations.

· Individuals should continue working from home if they can do so effectively.

· Physical distancing must be maintained, wherever possible.

· People must stay at home when they are sick.

· Vulnerable individuals, such as seniors and those with underlying health conditions, should continue to exercise caution and minimize high-risk exposures, such as public outings.

· Personal hygiene will continue to be a key prevention measure.

· Enhanced cleaning and disinfection should take place in workplaces, public spaces and recreational facilities.

Although the public health order regarding the size of gatherings does not apply to businesses and workplaces, they are expected to follow the recommended public health measures, including:

· Physical distancing for staff and the public

· Regular cleaning and disinfection

· Frequent hand washing and sanitizing

· Use of PPE where available and appropriate and keeping staff who demonstrate or report COVID-19 symptoms out of the workplace.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722