CLINTONVILLE, WI – Many people are looking for a way to worship this Easter weekend, but health officials say it still needs to be done safely.
Vicki Dantoin, Shawano-Menominee County Health Officer told Jay VanStiphout’s WTCH Midday Show that the order is in place to limit group interaction, which commonly happens during religious worship.
“There have been outbreaks linked to religious services, choir rehearsals, weddings, funerals and in those types of situations, serious illness or death can occur within those families or within those communities.
Churches in Clintonville are encouraging residents to Celebrate the Resurrection with social distancing.
Governor Tony Evers will allow Wisconsin churches to offer drive-up Good Friday and Easter Sunday services.
Evers released clarifications on options for religious gatherings and services under the safer-at-home order.
He said churches can hold services in parking lots with congregants staying in cars to avoid person-to-person contact, streaming online and gathering of fewer than ten people in each room.
“The goal of the order is to save lives,” Dantoin said.
Other churches in the area are finding more creative ways to celebrate the Easter message.
At Noon on Easter Sunday, Christ Congregational, Christus, and United Methodist Church will join together safely with a church bell ringing, the Lord’s Prayer and the singing of Amazing Grace.
The churches are encouraging car participation, mask-wearing, and social distancing.
Participants can open their house windows, stand in their yards or even join in on Facebook Live. Dantoin says all of these things are great because people are still staying far enough apart.
“There are options to do faith at home through meditation or prayer and there are also digital options for us these days with television, radio, and Facebook.”
It was originally mentioned by health officials that churches were not considered essential, but Governor Tony Evers changed that this past week.
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