Faith news

Many in-person church services in Wyandotte County have been canceled because of efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wyandotte County is under a “stay-at-home” order and all meetings must be no more than 10 persons per gathering, spaced at least six feet apart. Some faith groups will hold video services instead.
We will try to update this list as we learn of more services in the area. Residents are advised to visit the social media page of their church or faith organization, or to call them or email them, to see changes that have been made to regular schedules, or if there are video services planned on Sunday.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is planning some video Masses during Holy Week. The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is planning to livestream and broadcast Holy Week services from the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas. The livestream schedule includes 7:30 p.m. Holy Thursday Mass, April 9; 3 p.m. Good Friday service, April 10; 7:30 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass, April 11; and 10 a.m. Easter Sunday Mass, April 12. The Good Friday 3 p.m. service and Easter Sunday 10 a.m. Mass will be carried on KMCI-TV, Channel 38, virtual channel 38.1 and UHF digital channel 25, and is on Spectrum Channel 8 and Google Channel 38. The direct livestream is at https://livestream.com/archkck.

The New Bethel Church, 745 Walker Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, plans a “drive-by prayer” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Good Friday, April 10. According to the church, Senior Pastor A. Glenn Brady felt led to host something for the members and community to encourage and uplift families at this time. All social distancing orders will be in effect to continue to prevent and limit the spread of COVID-19, according to the church. The pastors of the New Bethel Church will wear masks and stay at least 6 feet away. Instead of hugging and giving handshakes, they will encourage drivers to honk their horns, flash their lights and praise God in their vehicles, a church official stated. According to the church, Pastor Brady does not take the situation lightly, and he and the NBC leadership team are in constant communication and prayer to ensure wise decisions are being implemented for the health and well-being of the members and the community. For more information, visit www.newbethelkc.org. The church is on Facebook and Instagram @NewBethelKC. The church is planning an online Easter service at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 12 at newbethelkc.org.

Open Door Baptist Church, Kansas City, Kansas, will have livestream services at 10:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 12, on the church’s website https://www.opendoorkc.com/, Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/opendoorkc/, on YouTube and on the church’s app.

Following the restrictions in place for COVID-19, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church will offer the annual Blessing of Food by drive-through on historic Strawberry Hill in Kansas City, Kansas. For more than a century, the parishioners brought food to the church on Holy Saturday where baskets would line the aisles. The food was blessed by the priest during the Croatian Blagoslov or Blessing of Food ceremony. With social distancing in place, Father Peter M. Jaramill decided to continue the tradition. Parishioners are planning to drive by the front of the church without leaving their vehicle as Father Peter blesses the food at 10 a.m. Holy Saturday, April 11. Father Jaramillo is the pastor for three parishes: St. John the Baptist, Holy Family and St. Mary-St. Anthony’s, all located on historic Strawberry Hill. The parishioners are planning to go from Fifth and Barnett, east on Barnett down the hill, and then turn left on Fourth Street, driving in front of the church, and then moving on. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church also is planning Easter Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m. on St. John’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ourcroatianparish/.

Stony Point Christian Church, Kansas City, Kansas, is posting devotional messages on its Facebook page during Holy Week, at https://www.facebook.com/StonyPointChristianChurch/.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Kansas, will not hold in-person services during Holy Week. However, the parish will livestream its services on Facebook. See stpaulskck.org. A Maundy Thursday service will be linked with the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., at 6 p.m. April 9; Good Friday services will be linked with Grace Cathedral, Topeka, at noon and 7 p.m. April 10; and Easter Sunday services will be livestreamed from St. Paul’s at 10 a.m. April 12.

Easter worship for Wyandotte United Methodist Church can be viewed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Wyandotteumc/ or on the website at www.wyandotteumc.com .

Information about other church services in Wyandotte County may be available from the church’s social media page.
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