Longboat Key churches reopen slowly but surely

On Longboat Key, in-person worship is starting slowly, surely and safely. 

It started with St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church reopening in May. Now, All Angels Episcopal Church and St. Armands Key Lutheran Church (SAKLC) are gearing up to welcome worshippers back with opening dates of June 21 and 14, respectively. 

“We are excited about entering this new phase of church life,” The Rev. Dave Marshall of All Angels wrote in an email. 

All Angels Episcopal Church has been bringing its congregants together via video livestreams and radio livestreams broadcast from the church, so people could drive to the church, tune their radios or sit in the garden to listen.

It’s been a hit, allowing members to still “attend” church safely. On June 3, Marshall hosted a semi-impromptu prayer vigil for peace after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.

The bells at the church tolled for eight minutes, and several cars drove in to hear Marshall, while others braved the damp garden to listen to the vigil. 

“I see a responsibility to do something. Everyone does what they can,” Marshall said. “We can offer prayer. I feel much more at peace after praying.” 

The church will reopen to 25% capacity, allowing no more than 35 people in the church at a time. At All Angels and SAKLC, worshippers will be seated six feet from each other and must wear masks during service — like Disney World, Marshall said. SAKLC said masks are to protect churchgoers as well as allow congregants to sing without expelling more breath and potentially upping the risk. Both churches will require reservations and tickets to attend one of their services, which are available on their websites. 

With these reopenings, three churches in the Longboat Key area are now open, including St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church. The island’s other three centers of worship, Temple Beth Israel, Longboat Island Chapel and Christ Church of Longboat Key remain closed for in-person services and have not set a date to reopen.