A service at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church on Pine Island.

pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

After closing the church doors due to the pandemic, Pastor Bob Gordon at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church says they got back to worshipping again as soon as possible.

“Everybody is spaced out,” said Gordon, “only two couples to a pew — one on each end. We’re doing communion with a sealed cup that comes pre-packaged with the wafer inside of it.”

He said with the congregation utilizing facemasks and worshippers keeping their distance, everyone is doing fine. Before reopening in May, the church hired carpet cleaners to steam clean as well as sanitize the whole building.

Although COVID-19 caused the church to close for two months, since the reopening the numbers haven’t really changed, Gordon said.

“We’re doing pretty well, in light of it all,” he said. “We have some members who’ve chosen not to go to their home up north for the summer, but they’re not coming to church either. There are homebound members who can’t get out and do things.”

More than anything, Gordon said, Fishers of Men Church is about community outreach. The fellowship hall is available for any group who may need to use it, as the church is very service-oriented.

“Fishers of Men has partnered with the Beacon of Hope on Pine Island for many years,” Gordon said. “A portion of our benevolence offerings goes to them. We also help our neighbors on the island by giving food to the Beacon of Hope food pantry. But we are going to try something different. We are going to start collecting a different kind of food each week. The first Sunday of the month we will collect canned fruits and veggies. The second Sunday will be designated Mac & Cheese Sunday. The third Sunday will be Spam and Ham Sunday, and the fourth Sunday will be spaghetti/ravioli Sunday. We are open and ready to worship safely.”

Fishers of Men Lutheran Church is at 10360 Stringfellow Rd, St James City, FL 33956. For additional information about the church or worship times, please call 239-283-1170.