New Hope Church restarts in-person services

RITZVILLE - New Hope Church conducted its first in-house service Pentecostal Sunday, May 31, since the governor quarantined the state due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pastor Richard Lee said the service was "very good."

"We're almost back to normal, with lots of sanitizing," Lee said Sunday afternoon. "I have masks and sanitizer there, and we're going to play it safe and gradually getting back to routine."

The church had been doing parking-lot services with attendees remaining in their vehicles for three weeks prior to the county moving into Phase 2.

Its first drive-in service, May 10, was attended by about 25 people.

"We have to follow the restrictions the governor has set forth," Lee said following the service. "Although we think that some of the restrictions are too restrictive, we still have to follow the law to maintain health and safety."

Lee, the pastor of New Hope the past 13 years, televises his services through Facebook and YouTube under Evangel Outreach Ministries.

Lee said he was following federal lawsuits against Inslee and other lawsuits around the country regarding restriction of religious services.

In the meantime, the church is following the governor's orders, including requiring masks, physical distancing and eliminating the choir.

"No choirs shall perform during the service. Singing is permitted, but individuals must not remove their face coverings to sing – it must stay on for the duration of the service," under the governor's orders.