Area church to donate meals Sunday; some local churches to show services online

SIKESTON — As churches are facing a decision of what to do with their services, one Sikeston church is using it as an opportunity to help the community.

Instead of holding a Sunday service, Fellowship Baptist Church in Sikeston will be offering a free meal Sunday to help area senior adults and families by providing meals for those who would like to receive one.

“During difficult times, the church wanted to step up and show God’s love and help where we can by providing a meal for those we can,” said Bob Houchins, pastor of Fellowship Baptist. “Jesus said in Matthew 25 when we do that for others, we do that for Him and we wanted to find ways to bring hope, not fear, to our community in these troubled times.”

Beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday, those who can come and pick up meals can do so by drive-thru at the church, located at 1801 Ables Road.

“We will provide up to four meals per vehicle to attempt to share meals with as many as we can that day,” Houchins said.

Those 65-and-up or disabled and unable to drive can call the church office at 573-471-2778 between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to sign up for delivery on Sunday. Those who reach the voice mail are asked to leave their name, address, phone number and number of meals they would like delivered.

“We will return the call to confirm with you the information and get you scheduled,” Houchins said.

Other churches are having to make decisions about their services.

On Tuesday, the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau announced the suspension of all public Masses until further notice.

“It is with a heavy heart, yet with confidence that this is the correct decision, that I decree that effective at 6 p.m. March 17, 2020, and until further notice, all public celebrations of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, including daily Mass, in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau are suspended,” said Bishop Edward M. Rice Tuesday in a letter to clergy and members of the Diocese.

The general dispensation to attend Sunday Mass remains in force until further notice, he said.

Rice said he will be celebrating Mass in Springfield “live” via the diocesan Facebook page at 9 a.m. Sunday. He encouraged parishioners that if they haven’t already done so, to ‘like’ the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau on Facebook as well as follow the local parish or mission on social media for the most recent information available.

“I make the decision to suspend public Masses out of an overabundance of concern for the long-term health and wellbeing of the people of God of the diocese,” Rice said. “In addition, I must be concerned for the health and wellbeing of the priests entrusted to my care.”

Several local churches are using social media and YouTube to hold online services as well.

The First Baptist Church in Sikeston will hold their worship service online at 10:30 a.m. Sunday while Cape First moved all gathering meetings online with worship services online at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Many other churches will be showing their worship services online as well.

Miner Baptist Church will have online services only Sunday at 9 a.m. The service will be broadcast on the church’s Facebook page.

The First United Methodist Church in Sikeston will also not be having in-person worship but will instead air their worship service online. Their 9 a.m. Traditions service along with the 10:15 a.m. First Kids and 11 a.m. Journey services can be seen live on their Facebook page. Their worship service can also be heard on the radio at 11:30 a.m. at 101.7 FM and 1400 AM.

Besides worship services, other church events have been canceled or postponed.

The Feed My Starving Children event has been rescheduled for Oct. 23-25 and the Christian Women’s Fellowship meeting scheduled for April 6 at First Baptist Church in Sikeston has been canceled. There will be no meetings until further notice.