IRENE L ROADARMEL belgrade-news.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from belgrade-news.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
In the last 13 months, COVID-19 didnât just turn this county upside down â it also impacted the dozens of various houses of worship in the Gallatin Valley.
In the midst of library closures, government offices only doing business by e-mail, and everything else weâve learned to live with in the past year, whatâs going on worship-wise in the Gallatin Valley?
The Belgrade News called a handful of worship centers and learned that they mostly have traveled the same path â closing down last March, then streaming worship services, and now, finally, slowly opening back up to in-person worship.
Bethel Christian Reform Church in Churchill closed down for a few months last spring, then went to livestreaming services. It just recently went back to regular, in-person worship. It is still using pre-packaged communion, and hopes to be back to its ânormalâ schedule by early summer.
Pastor Debbie Funke and her congregation believe their mission goes beyond sending out thoughts and prayers.
âWe think that as believers, we need to be hands on, not just wishing people well,â she said. âWe think itâs important because as a church and Christian-based organization, part of our call is to demonstrate our love of God to the community.â
To fulfill this call, the Manhattan Presbyterian Church donates toys, clothing, groceries and more to area families in need for the holidays.
This is the 27th year church members and volunteers have prepared gifts and food items for community members, and Funke said the operation has grown greatly since the early days.
- Bob Ross, 1942-1995, iconic American painter/TV personality
Phone lines at the Belgrade News office were busier than usual Monday, when a number of west valley residents called to talk about last weekâs holiday celebrations in Belgrade, Manhattan and Three Forks.
Without exception, the callers asked us to somehow share their appreciation for the efforts of volunteers who organized Saturdayâs Christmas Convoy in Belgrade or one of Christmas Strolls held in Three Forks and Manhattan last Thursday.
Also without exception, those who phoned struggled a bit to explain why they felt compelled to call. Itâs hard to put feelings neatly into words, but we heard their message loud and clear: This yearâs celebrations were especially meaningful because none of us any longer take for granted the ability to gather safely