SALT LAKE CITY — Calvary Baptist Church means the world to Doriena Lee. But after two months of self-isolation, the 71-year-old has finally solved the riddle of technology.
As one of many over age 65 who are high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, how eager is the Murray resident to return to the pews?
“Part of me is anxious to get back and the other half is lazy. With the modern technologies, I’ve gotten used to staying at home,” Lee said. “But to be honest, I miss the fellowship, seeing one another, having lunch, talking. The physical contact is important.”
She’s not the only senior citizen with mixed emotions.
As churches of various faiths across Utah start to reopen, some congregations with senior members are longing to return while others are content to wait at home a little longer.
Orion and Marge Sherwood, ages 89 and 90, are members of Centenary United Methodist Church. While spending the winter in Mesquite, Nevada, Orion suffered a mild heart attack. As he recovered, and with the spread of the coronavirus, the couple remained out of state but participated in Zoom and Facebook worship services. They look forward to attending church again.
“As far as I’m concerned, if the churches can separate the seating and people wear masks, that should be adequate,” said Orion Sherwood, a lifelong Methodist. “Of course we will return.”
Sylvia Allred, who just turned 81, can’t hardly wait to get back to Calvary Salt Lake. At this point, Pastor Jim Harris said the church is planning to hold its first Sunday worship service on June 7.
“This one is anxious to get back to church,” Allred said. “I will be there because I’ve really missed it. I miss the association with the friends and good people I have there. I watch the service on the computer and it’s still good, but it’s not quite the same as being there. I’m not worried. I’m in good health and I only take one med. ... Anyway, I am really looking forward to going back to church.”
Kenneth Alvey, “going on 87,” is another member of the Calvary Salt Lake congregation and happy to see churches reopening. He misses his church family but is going to take a more conservative approach.
“I think I’ll skip that first one and see how it goes,” he said.
“I will be there because I’ve really missed it. I miss the association with the friends and good people I have there. I watch the service on the computer and it’s still good, but it’s not quite the same as being there. I’m not worried.” — Sylvia Allred
Lee seems to be of the same opinion.
“F about going out, but when it’s really safe, we will be out in full force,” she said.
Last week the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans for returning to Sunday meetings and activities. Pete and Linda Strickland, ages 77 and 78, of Syracuse, have managed well at home on their own during self-isolation. They’ve appreciated neighbors dropping by with treats to check on them and using technology hasn’t been a problem. The Stricklands look forward to meeting again with ward members and the “needed weekly uplift” of Sunday meetings, but will “use good judgment and err on the side of caution due to health concerns that are ever-present,” Linda Strickland said.
“We do not want to live in fear or isolation but will move forward being careful,” she said.
One upside for seniors staying home is use of digital tools to help stay connected with their church. For the most part, faith leaders say their older members are figuring it out.
Pastor Steve Aeschbacher, interim senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church, said everybody has been on a learning curve but he’s been surprised at how well seniors have embraced technology. Even those who were initially resistant decided to try it anyway and made it work. Many want to see online worship continue beyond the reopening.
“That’s been encouraging,” the pastor said. “A lot of people want to make sure we continue even after coming together again. It’s been a surprising expansion of the ministry that we weren’t planning on.”
But there are others who are still struggling. Lee told of one 83-year-old friend who can only make a call if the number is programmed into her phone.
“She can’t dial out,” Lee said. “We still have people like that who aren’t ready to do any of the virtual stuff.”
How do faith leaders feel about their senior members coming back to church?
Pastor Harris said Calvary Salt Lake is being cleaned and prepared to welcome everyone back on June 7.
“What we’re hearing is they want to get back to church as soon as possible,” he said. “What we have found is a lot of them are, let’s say technologically challenged, and want to get back into real life church. ... We’re taking all the necessary steps. We want to be safe and cautious, but the general feeling is they want to come back. It may be a different experience once we get here, but you’re part of the body, you’re here, it’s home.”
Calvary Baptist and First Presbyterian have issued surveys to their congregations to gauge how people are feeling. At this point the Rev. Oscar T. Moses, pastor of Calvary Baptist, says it’s a mixed review. His own 82-year-old mother is in no hurry to jump back into the population.
“They miss church but don’t want to put themselves at risk,” he said. “We make sure to give them a phone call. They are almost in tears because they are just so happy that someone from the church is thinking about them.”
Pastor Aeschbacher hasn’t heard older folks clamoring to return, but more of the younger members are anxious to come back. But First Presbyterian is in no hurry, he said.
“As we look at how we worship and what the kinds of guidelines the governor has put out, waiting a little bit longer seems to make more sense for us,” he said. “That’s why our leaders haven’t moved that fast. I think there are legitimate worries about how to do it safely.”
Rabbi Samuel L. Spector, of Congregation Kol Ami, agrees.
“There are some people who have asked if we can come back, but the majority of senior citizens have been appreciative of our efforts to keep them safe,” the rabbi wrote in an email. “Likewise, we are not resuming services until it is safe for everyone to attend.”