Protests during Palm Sunday celebration defying COVID-19 restrictions during pandemic

local church defies orders and opens doors during pandemic

One Newbury Park church defied orders for people to stay at home and opened its doors for Palm Sunday. The pastor angered many but he says communion is an essential service. And he did it safely.

NEWBURY PARK, Calif. - People line up, a few feet apart, at Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park, where communion was offered under the watchful eye of sheriff deputies and the loud car honking protests of area residents saying this was a danger to their community on Palm Sunday.

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Once inside, only a handful was allowed at the same time. One person would approach the altar and take a piece of bread with a small cup of wine. They would sit down to take communion and walk outside, so the next person would come in.

No other church that we are aware of offered communion. The Catholic Archdiocese and parish churches offered live services online. The Armenian Orthodox church did the same and handed out palm crosses to drive-up parishioners in Burbank.

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As one person put it, "The church is not the temple, it’s the people who are the church…" still, it’s an eerie sight, physically empty churches where hundreds, even thousands of people would have gathered today.

It’s a good practice for next Sunday, arguably the biggest of Christian holidays: Easter Sunday.