GREATER WESTFIELD-While area residents attending church services during this holiday season will find some changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, church leaders are vowing that the spirit of the reason for the season will be on full display.
“We’re planning a beautiful Christmas season this year, capped by our joyful, heartfelt Christmas Eve candlelight services,” said Pastor Jeffrey King of Christ Lutheran Church in Southwick.
King noted the church will also offer a children’s service at 5 p.m. and candlelight services at 7, 8:30 and 10 p.m.
“On top of that, we’ll offer a virtual Christmas Eve service on Facebook, YouTube, and www.clcsouthwick.org,” said King. “So you see we’re rising to the occasion with our usual enthusiasm and positive energy.”
King added that attendees will find changes including social distancing, face masks, restructured seating and contact-free worship.
“We want all attenders to feel safe, comfortable, and cared for,” said King, adding, “attenders will also be treated to an amazing experience, complete with a live band and a gentle snowfall, as strategically placed snow machines give attenders a ‘white Christmas.’”
While King said that 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone, he adds, “We’ve seen God bring many good things out of the experience.”
King noted that the church is now reaching more people on a weekly basis through the online “Christ Virtual Church” community.
Maintaining state COVID-19 protocols is always on the minds of all church leaders and Pastor David Young of the Westfield Evangelical Free Church in Westfield said he has reduced the Christmas schedule to two Christmas Eve services – at 6 and 7:30 p.m. – to maintain the state guidelines.
“We ask that masks be worn and social distancing maintained for all services including our regular Sunday worship service both on Dec. 20 and 27 at 10 a.m.,” said Young, adding, that all services can be seen live online through the website – www.westfieldefc.com.
“Obviously, the pandemic has changed life for all of us, and forced us to function in many uncomfortable ways that we are not normally accustomed,” said Young. “However, it is amazing how many opportunities we have had to share the love of Christ with others during this time.”
Young noted that the “Good News” that God sent His Son “to be our Savior and die for our sins is just as joyful today as it was when the angels first told the shepherds. We can appreciate it all the more and refuse to allow the pandemic to rob us of the hope we have in Him.”
Expressing joy will be a theme for many church leaders this month, especially by The Rev. Nancy Webb Stroud of the Episcopal Church of the Atonement in Westfield.
“This holiday season, I have been focusing on joy,” said Webb Stroud. “There is much to worry about, of course. I am especially concerned about those who are grieving lost loved ones, and those who do not have enough food to eat or enough money to pay the rent. But, there is joy in knowing that Christmas is God’s promise to us that we will never be alone.”
Webb Stroud added that even in sorrow and pain, “there is the solid joy of knowing that God desires us enough to become one of us, to dwell with us here on earth.”
Webb Stroud noted that on Christmas Eve at 4 p.m., she will livestream a Virtual Festival Service of Holy Eucharist.
“Our virtual choir will offer carols beginning at 3:45, so that you do not have to wait in silence,” she said, adding the service will be available on the church YouTube channel throughout the holidays.
“Our families are busily rehearsing scenes from the Christmas Story, which will become a video Christmas Pageant, to be published at 6 a.m. on Christmas morning,” said Webb Stroud.
On Dec. 27, Webb Stroud said she is “delighted” to join with Episcopal churches throughout Hampden County in “Christmas Lessons and Carols” from Christ Church Cathedral, published on Facebook beginning at 10 a.m.
“Bishop Doug Fisher will be offering remarks and the choirs, readers, and clergy from our churches offer prayer, scripture, and music for the season,” said Webb Stroud. “Christmas is different in the details this year, for sure. But God’s promise to be with us and to transform us is as strong as it was on that night when shepherds were abiding in their fields, and suddenly there was the light of God.”
The Rev. David Riley of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Westfield shared a similar sentiment.
“We Christians will not allow Satan to take away our joy at celebrating the birth of the Son of God at Christmas during this time of the pandemic,” said Riley. “I have noticed this year that there is a more concerted effort within our congregation and within our community to remember the reason for the season.”
Special services at St. John’s include Christmas Eve candlelight at 7 and 11 p.m., a Christmas Day Communion worship at 10 a.m., and a New Year’s Eve Communion worship at 7 p.m.
At the Second Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Westfield, Rev. Barbara Hesse noted a Blue Christmas online service will be available beginning Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.
“The holidays can be difficult – the stress, strain and commercialization take their toll on everyone,” said Hesse. “This year, with the pandemic, the holidays can be even more challenging.”
Hesse said that in lieu of the “usual urgency to be festive,” this service will offer a time of worship which is meant to embrace us wherever we are in life.
“This night is an invitation into a moment of respite, of quiet and solemn prayer, of gentle song and intentional silence, seeking to find God in the midst of it all,” she said.
The online service can be accessed by visiting www.SecondChurchWestfield.org.
“The Christmas Eve service will be pre-recorded and available at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 and after,” said Hesse.
Rev. Kathleen O’Goley of Central Baptist Church in Westfield said she has “challenged” church members to use Advent as a simple time of heartfelt communication with God and each other.
“All that means is, we must approach each Advent season with fresh eyes, asking the Lord to help us relate His timeless Advent truths in powerful new ways no matter what is happening around us,” said O’Goley.
Church members are meeting in person for worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Masks are mandatory and people are seated six feet apart.
“Our Candlelight Service is on Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m.,” said O’Goley, adding that reservations are required for this service. For persons wishing to make a reservation, call the church office at (413) 568-0429.
“All services are also taped and can be viewed on YouTube under the search for Central Baptist Church Westfield MA,” said O’Goley.
O’Goley added that this Christmas season will be different for church members in many ways.
“However, the story of Advent does not change from year to year,” she said. “God has been placing the simplicity of the season upon my heart. Throughout this Advent season, I have been preaching a series entitled ‘Simply Christmas.’ Each week has a simple symbol associated with the birth of our Savior as the theme of the sermon – star, tree, angel and manger. At our candlelight service we will look at the symbol of the gift.”
Rev. Julie Olmsted of First Congregational Church in Westfield notes that “faith, flexibility, forgiveness, humor, creativity and commitment” have helped church members through this very trying time.
“The church is still determined to be a blessing to the community and to the world,” said Olmsted. “The church still believes in a loving God who reveals God’s character through the people that serve and love in God’s name, especially His Son, whose life and birth we celebrate this month, with our whole hearts.”
Olmsted said during this season to pledge to keep loving and to keep serving.
“It’s our pledge to Westfield, our nation, and the world, but mostly to the Most High God, who sustains us in every circumstance,” she said, adding, “May peace prevail on earth!”
Virtual Christmas services include a Christmas Eve Pageant and Candlelight Service, as well as a Love & Remembrance Luminaria on Christmas Eve from 5 – 8 p.m.
Rev. Bruce Arbour of First United Methodist Church in Westfield and Interfaith Protestant Chaplain at Westfield State University, said we also have to celebrate hope this holiday season.
“This has been a very difficult year in so many ways,” said Arbour. “This Christmas perhaps more than others in recent years, is a time to celebrate hope.”
Arbour said to keep church members safe, a Christmas Eve service will be conducted at 6 p.m. on the front lawn of the church.
“By being outside we can sing (with masks on) and gather safely,” he said. “The service will be shorter than usual and will include reading of the Christmas Story, Christmas carols, and candlelight. We will also share this service on Facebook Live.”
The Rev. Joseph Soltysiak of St. Joseph’s National Catholic Church in Westfield also understands the apprehension parishioners have about being inside a church at this time.
“There are families who have chosen to stay home from church, especially those with children,” said Soltysiak. “This is understandable. Rather than expecting them to come, the Church now needs to reach out to them.”
Soltysiak said this concern of being inside a church by parishioners is felt nationwide.
“We are prayerfully hopeful that with the advent of the COVID-19 vaccine, 2021 will be a year people can restart their lives more freely again,” he said. “We make it a point at St. Joseph’s to alert people that in this time of uncertainty, we pray together that God be with us to help us all understand His ever unfolding will.”
Soltysiak said a Mass is planned on Christmas Eve at 4 p.m. as well as on Christmas Day at 9 a.m.
“We will not be celebrating our usual 11 p.m. Shepherds Mass due to the 9:30 p.m. state curfew,” he added.
Since there are limitations in occupancy at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Southwick, Rev. Matthew Guidi is asking parishioners to call the office and reserve a seat for Christmas Masses.
“Our Christmas Mass schedule will be Christmas Eve at 4 p.m. and at midnight,” said Guidi, adding, “There will be one Mass on Christmas Day at 10 a.m.”
Guidi said church leaders anticipate the vigil Mass at 4 p.m. will “most likely” be the highest requested and attended Mass.
“I trust in the Lord and believe we are doing everything in our power to keep all who worship with us safe,” said Guidi. “The power of prayer has helped many to cope and heal through this difficult time and we will continue our efforts to be there for all, spiritually.”
Rev. John Salatino of St. Mary’s Church in Westfield is also taking every measure to keep parishioners safe who wish to attend Christmas Masses.
“I can’t wait for the pandemic to be over,” said Salatino. “Regardless of what is happening in the world, we need to celebrate Christmas.”
Salatino said Christmas will be celebrated “with great care and social distancing.”
“At St. Mary’s we have upstairs and downstairs sanctuaries,” he said. “We also have two priests. If we do not have many people this year we will use just the upstairs church. If there is a big crowd, we will close the upstairs when it reaches capacity, and open the downstairs church for Mass to be celebrated there too.”
Salatino said the holiday schedule includes a vigil Mass of Christmas on Christmas Eve at 4 p.m. in the upper and lower church; Spanish Christmas Masses on Christmas Eve at 6 and 9 p.m., and a Mass of Christmas Day at 8:30 and 10 a.m. in the upper church.
All Masses will also be live streamed on the church webpage and on YouTube – @St Mary of Westfield MA Church – for those who wish to remain in the safety of their homes, noted Salatino.
“To Christians, Christmas means that God has come and visited His people, indeed He is still with us,” said Salatino. “Especially in troubled times, we need to give thanks to Emmanuel, that is, God who is with us!”
At the Southwick Congregational Church, the holiday schedule is “light” this year due to the pandemic, according to moderator Terry Putnam.
The altar at Southwick Congregational Church includes a Remembrance Tree and a nativity made and donated by a church member. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
“Our Christmas Eve service will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will feature the meaningful traditions that we love with modifications to keep the congregation safe,” said Putnam. “The scripture readings heralding the birth of Jesus, as well as the beautiful choral and bell pieces, remain central to the service.”
Putnam added that music will be provided by instrumentalists, soloists, and duets instead of the full voice and bell choirs in keeping with pandemic guidelines.
“The candle lighting that culminates the evening will be done with tea lights instead of candles to ensure proper social distancing between our members,” said Putnam.
Putnam noted that a Remembrance Tree also graces the altar at this time of year.
“Our Remembrance Tree is sponsored each year by the Thompson family in memory of their son/brother and of the other ‘young hearts’ in our community who died at less than 30 years old,” said Putnam. “This December marks the 31st year that the Remembrance Tree has been on our altar.”
Putnam added that the ceramic nativity scene also on the altar was made and donated by “one of our beloved members – Ruth Garberg.”
The Rev. Rene Parent, M.S. at Holy Trinity Church in Westfield has noted that Christmas Eve Masses are slated at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and a 11:30 p.m. Polish and English Carol Concert in the church is planned. A bilingual Midnight Mass is also set. On Christmas Day, a 9 a.m. Mass in Polish is set, as well as a 10:30 a.m. Mass in English. Reservations are required for all Masses. For more information on attending a Mass, call (413) 568-1506.
For Rev. William H. Wallis at St. Peter and St. Casimir Church in Westfield, he will conduct a Christmas Eve Mass at 4 p.m., and Christmas Day Masses at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.
“We have a reservation system to ensure we do not exceed our capacity for each Mass,” said Wallis. “My overall message to the people who come to church will be to hold fast to this special time that Jesus Christ is coming among us and being born into the world to redeem all of humanity.”
At Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Westfield, the Rev. Daniel Pacholec said nine Masses will be celebrated between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church has gone through a transformation for the holiday season and decorators have included John Moran, Mary Jane Rockwal, Tim Moran, Tom Rockwal, Christine Moran and in front, Abby Moran. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
“We don’t know how many people who do not attend regularly will come – that is the unknown factor, but we want to be prepared even if some of the Masses end up being small in number of attendees,” said Pacholec. “Our goal in planning is to have everyone who wants to come to Mass and receive the Eucharist, to feel comfortable and safe in doing so.”
Pacholec said on Christmas Eve there will be two 3 p.m. Masses (Hall and Church) and two 4 p.m. Masses (Hall and Church), as well as at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. On Christmas Day, there will be two 8:30 a.m. Masses (Hall and Church) and a 10 a.m. Mass in the church.
“Christmas and celebrating the birth of Christ, is something we hope people will not feel fearful about coming to celebrate,” said Pacholec. “We sing In Advent – O Come, O Come Emmanuel (the name means ‘God Is With Us’). Is there any message we need to hear more than that in these days?”
Pacholec added that air purifiers have been purchased for the church and hall.
“We have a good HVAC system in our church with complete air exchange, but the air purifiers add another level of safety and confidence for people,” said Pacholec.
Pacholec noted that to ensure that capacity limits are not exceeded at each Mass, a “reservation system” for Masses for registered parishioners is in place, and a phone number to call for others outside the parish if they wish to attend a Mass as well.
“It is in these ways that we hope to have a very peaceful, safe, and blessed Christmas as we welcome the Savior into the world once again this year,” said Pacholec.
