Santa Maria’s First Christian Church prepares to reopen Sunday

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Churches are getting ready to reopen for in-person Sunday services. Santa Maria's First Christian Church has been busy working all week to reopen.

They are making several modifications for safe services.

Churches are only allowed to be at 25 percent capacity, or 100 people indoors. Everyone inside must wear a face mask.

First Christian Church has a congregation of 1,500. They are using three separate indoor spaces and two outdoor spaces to accommodate all who want to worship.

Instead of printing bulletins or using hymnals, they will be putting words up on large TV screens.

Santa Maria pastors said that whether the church is open or not, it's important to keep the faith.

"I celebrate all churches, those churches that are waiting - I celebrate them. Those churches that are starting and following the county - I celebrate them," said Jim Larrabee, lead pastor of First Christian Church "We're just all following our path and our road to encounter Christ again."

"I think the consensus with pastors across the board whether they're opening right now or not, is that everyone wants to be on mission, which is bringing help and hope to the Santa Maria Valley," said Tim Mossholder, president of the Pastor's Network in the Santa Maria Valley.

Mossholder knows of at least two Santa Maria churches that plan on opening their doors this weekend.

First Christian Church is also changing up other aspects of the service. There will not be a coffee hour or childcare. They will not be serving communion or shaking hands.

The church does plan to continue singing familiar hymns, but everyone singing must wear face masks.