A local church shares that even people's furriest family members were able to participate in Sunday worship.

This Sunday, Winnipeggers turned to online streaming services to take part in their churches due to COVID-19 concerns. Riverwood Church is sharing that its members and even their pets were able to successfully worship together from their own homes. 

"There were a couple of times where I got choked up, even on camera," Todd Petkau, Riverwood's lead pastor, says about the church's decision to ask people to worship in their homes.

Riverwood's lead pastor says that many of their members were able to take part in the church's service by texting in questions and comments. He adds that people shared with them during the service that they were singing along in their homes.

"We were very aware of the fact that that we were reaching right into people's homes," Petkau says. "It created a very interesting dichotomy between the empty room and knowing that what we are doing is actually impacting people's lives."

This week's service fits in well with the current health situation for Petkau. He says that his pastors were following the church's plan and coincidently preached Exodus 14.

"It just happened that Exodus 14:13 is where the people are panicking," Petkau says. "Moses says 'do not be afraid. Stand firm."

Riverwood Church called the service Flattening the Curve of Fear.

Their team of 14 people, including camera people and worship team, delivered their message to over 400 households on Sunday.