Houses of worship adjust to life in time of pandemic




As the Conejo Valley’s largest house of worship, Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village usually welcomes around 4,300 congregants over the course of its four weekend services.

Last month, that number fell to 30, said the Rev. Shawn Thornton, senior pastor.

Thornton said Calvary staff sent out over 14,000 emails to notify members that the weekly sermon would be available via livestream following government guidelines to limit large gatherings due to COVID-19. For people in high risk categories, like those over 65, staff contacted them directly to make sure they didn’t show up and become accidentally exposed. It was also an opportunity to ask if they needed prayer, food delivery or other forms of support.

“We’re doing church differently,” Thornton said.

He told the Acorn that Calvary will continue to operate its food pantry, but it will now be on a drive-thru basis. Instead of hosting the overnight homeless shelter, volunteers will distribute sleeping bags and other supplies.

The senior pastor has customized his messages to address the spiritual impact of the pandemic. Recent sermons covered “contagious courage in a world of viral fear” as well as prayer as the antidote to anxiety and the following week, the emphasis was on praying with thanksgiving and gratitude before knowing the end result.

Thornton said the church will increase giving to those in need. Despite a drop in financial donations, he plans to increase the church’s charitable contributions to 20% of its budget.

Houses of worship across the Conejo Valley are doing their services differently in the face of the growing pandemic.

Temple Etz Chaim on Janss Road canceled a March 29 community performance of the Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorale, a 50-person choir. TEC posted a message March 13 that it would be closing its religious school, preschool and infant care center for the coming week. Decisions regarding longer-term closures will be made in the coming days.

“We know that this is all disruptive and can be inconvenient for families, but we are working on being flexible to best meet the needs of our community,” the message said. “We also want to ensure that this week’s new slogan, ‘social distancing,’ does not lead to isolation. Please check in on each other to keep lifting each other’s spirits, as that is what community is about.”

TEC executive director Gideon Manzur told the Acorn that Shabbat services will be livestreamed moving forward. He said the temple is still figuring out the logistics of Passover, which begins the evening of April 8.

Normally the temple hosts a community Seder, but he said TEC leadership is working with the caterer to decide if they will be able to provide meals to congregants via delivery. He said the holiday service might be conducted through a “giant livestream.”

Temple Adat Elohim canceled all programs and events through April 18. Until then, the temple on E. Hillcrest Drive will livestream its weekend services.

“Our community’s well-being during this time of pandemic concerns is our priority,” the message on its website says.

The Islamic Center of the Conejo Valley has canceled all large gatherings including Friday prayers, youth programs and Quran readings until further notice, according to its website.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints canceled all sacrament meetings and public gatherings indefinitely in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Thousand Oaks pastor and City Councilmember Rob McCoy leads Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park. He said his church is limiting gatherings in accordance with government guidelines. But he encouraged Conejo Valley residents to operate from a place of love, not trepidation.

He said he has been encouraged by stories of selflessness, like good Samaritans buying groceries for seniors who are too scared to enter a crowded supermarket. He said Godspeak is taking measures to make sure that members of their Sonshiners ministry for seniors are cared for as they take precautions against exposure.

McCoy said he’s not dismissing the virus, but he warned against letting irrational fear guide decisions.

“There’s a healthy fear and there’s a dangerous fear. It’s a pandemic, but it’s also a ‘panic-demic,’ and that’s why we’re hoarding toilet paper,” he said. “If you fear God, you don’t have to fear anything else. If you operate in the context of care and love, you don’t have to look out only for yourself and hoard.”