By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Editor

With the county’s directive for there to be no gatherings whatsoever and the governor’s stay-at-home order, the churches on the mountain have been searching for ways to meet the spiritual needs of their congregants and the community at large.

The pastors of these churches recognize that, in this time of isolation and fear, folks are in need of spiritual uplifting, even if they do not usually attend a church.

Several churches are exploring the technology necessary to live stream their services.

Church of the Woods is airing its 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday services on their website, churchofthewoods.org. Previously delivered sermons can be watched on the website.

Lake Arrowhead Community Presbyterian Church (lakearrowheadchurch.com) is live streaming its 10 a.m. Sunday service through Facebook. The church is exploring other possible platforms and hopes to conduct some Bible study classes through Zoom. Prior church services can be watched on YouTube.

Crestline First Baptist (crestlinefbc.com) also streamed its Sunday service through Facebook Live, as did the Running Springs-based Springs of Life (thespringsoflifechurch.com). Both churches have sermons available on their websites.

Calvary Chapel Running Springs (calvaryrs.org) streamed its Sunday service on Facebook and previous sermons can be watched on YouTube.
Catholics on the mountain who usually worship at Our Lady of the Lake (ollakearrowhead.org), St. Anne in the Mountains (mountaincatholic.org) or St. Frances Cabrini (stfrancesxaviercabrini.com) can watch a live streaming of Mass at ewtn.com.

Several churches have previously delivered sermons available to watch or listen to on their websites: Mt Calvary Lutheran (mclutheran.com), Twin Peaks Community (twinpeakscurch.net), Calvary Chapel Lake Arrowhead (cclaca.org), Rim of the World Community Church (rimchurch.faithlifesites.com).

The services at Sandals (sandalschurch.com) can be watched online.
Lake Gregory Community Church (lakegregorychurch.com) is considering live streaming their service. Meanwhile, they will post a weekly message on Facebook and their website.

St. Richard’s Episcopal Church will be emailing weekly readings. To sign up to receive them, send a message to [email protected].

Shiloh Messianic (shilohmessianic.com) offers its latest teachings online.

A church leader will be at New Life Christian (crestlinenewlifeag.com) on Sundays from 10 to 11 a.m. in case someone is unaware of the closure or is in need of food. They will be calling members of the congregation once a week. They will also post a message on YouTube each week.

“All mountain churches are heeding the call for no gathering from the county and sheltering in place from the governor,” said Pastor Daniel Meers of Woodlands Church in a video message on their website (woodlandscbc.com).

In this time of uncertainty, Pastor Dan says, there are questions to ask: What is God doing with this time in each of us? This, he said, is a time to reconnect with family and with yourself. “Reconnect with God,” he urges.
He also urges everyone to stay informed but stay away from social media. Get your information from reliable sources like the county or the CDC.
“Have church in your home with your family. Get outside in the fresh air,” Pastor Dan said.

Editor’s note: We attempted to get information from all the mountain’s churches but some were unavailable. The information provided here was accurate at press time but is subject to change.