As Manitoba rolls into Phase 2 of the province's reopening plan some church congregations are able to worship together again.
While places of worship have never been forced to close completely, they have fallen under restrictions of 10 people or less in the building at once, making gathering impractical. Most churches have not had in-person gatherings as a result since March of this year.
Last week public gathering restrictions eased in Manitoba with 25 allowed indoors at once and 50 allowed to gather outdoors, so long as physical distancing guidelines are followed.
Pastor Vern Martin and the congregation of Emmanuel Gospel Church in Lowe Farm, Man., decided to host an outdoor service on the lawn of the church on Sunday.
"It was a joy," Martin says for everyone getting to see one another and worship together again. "We really missed one another. Obviously it's been harder to visit with people and minister to one another. So this was a really good morning."
"We kept it simple. We had a worship leader with his guitar, I preached a sermon, we had some prayer time, and then afterwards we had a picnic lunch together." Each household brought their own lunch and they were able to enjoy a time of fellowship after the service.
Unfortunately, there was such a good response they had to actually turn some congregants away. The church asked members to RSVP and Martin says they had no problem filling up all 50 spots.
He says the church will continue to meet outside, weather permitting, until the latest restrictions change. They're also surveying the congregation and considering adding a second service to accommodate more people.
For Martin, the change is a welcome one. He's grown used to recording sermons and loading them to the church's Facebook group, but he says it's much better to be able to gather together as a church body and worship.
Lowe farm is approximately 50 kilometres south of Winnipeg.
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