Local religious leaders are making decisions to close schools, cancel services, and otherwise gird for the coronavirus or COVID-19.

“After consulting with medical professionals and the Standing Committee, for the public good and to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities,” said Right Reverend Kevin D. Nichols, Bishop of the Bethlehem Episcopal Diocese. “I have made the difficult decision to call on all churches in the diocese to cease all operations, including worship, through March 30.”

The Catholic Diocese of Allentown directed that, “Catholic schools in Lehigh and Northampton counties are closed [last] Thursday and [last] Friday out of an abundance of caution while the Diocese monitors the spread of coronavirus.”

Local Catholic schools include Bethlehem Catholic HS in Bethlehem and Our Lady of Perpetual Help elementary school in Bethlehem Township.

During this time officials planned to clean and air the schools.

The Diocese was “hopeful that the schools [would] reopen by Monday.”

Masses would, according to the website posting, continue at parish churches subject to decisions by local pastors.

Riverbend Community Church did not respond to telephone calls, but had posted on its website, “In compliance with state recommendations, Riverbend leadership has decided to cancel all weekend events.”

Mirza Baig, of the Muslim Association of Lehigh Valley in Whitehall Township, responded to Press inquiries: “In response to the threat of COVID-19, Muslim Association of Lehigh Valley has canceled and suspended all non-essential activities including large gatherings of our Friday Prayers. We will continue to monitor the situation and will follow the guidelines of the state. We are open for our regular prayers where mostly we have less than 25 people who attend; however even this service may be suspended if we perceive that virus has spread in Lehigh Valley community.”

Eric Lightman, executive director of The Jewish Community Center of Allentown, provided a statement: “The JCC of the Lehigh Valley will be closed for two weeks effective immediately based on the evolving COVID-19 crisis. This includes all programs, events and services.

“We hoped to continue critical services for longer. However, given new facts and information in the past day, including the governor’s orders closing all K-12 schools in Pennsylvania and childcare facilities in neighboring counties, we have determined that it is in the public interest for the JCC to close to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

“We know that this closure creates a particular hardship for the many families that rely on our childcare services, and we sincerely wish we could provide a different option.

“We will continue to work with our local and national partners to actively assess the future situation and adjust our services accordingly. We ask for your patience and encourage you to check for ongoing updates via e-mail, social media and our website.”

Lightman emphasized that JCC is not a synagogue.

Rhonda Kruse, the Transitional Presbytery Leader of the Presbyterian church, posted this guidance for congregants: “Starting Monday, March 16, the Presbytery office will be closed, and all meetings will take place via Zoom/telephone or be canceled/postponed. This closure will be in effect until at least March 31, at which time we will reevaluate the situation. We strongly encourage Lehigh congregations to take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus, even if this includes canceling worship services for a few Sundays.”

Local churches of the Church of Latter-Day Saints did not respond to efforts to reach them, but a message from its First Presidency in the international headquarters in Salt Lake City was posted on the Emmaus branch website: “Beginning immediately, all public gatherings of Church members are being temporarily suspended worldwide until further notice. This includes: Stake conferences, leadership conferences and other large gatherings, all public worship services, including sacrament meetings and Branch, ward and stake activities. Where possible, leaders should conduct any essential leadership meetings via technology. Specific questions may be referred to local priesthood leaders. Further direction related to other matters will be provided.”

The Community of Christ Church posted guidance on its website: “After considering many factors, the First Presidency advises congregations and mission centers to suspend church gatherings such as worship services, meals, conferences, funerals, and other group activities in response to the projected spread of the COVID-19 virus. The anticipated duration of this recommended suspension of group activities is three weeks.”

Reverend Brandon Heavner of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bethlehem posted this advice on the church’s website: “At this time, Sunday worship and GIFT Hour opportunities at St. Mark’s will continue as scheduled, with some slight changes to accommodate the rising concern for health and safety in public gatherings.

St. Mark’s leadership is making the following recommendations during this period of heightened concern. In addition, we will also be making the following changes to our common worship and gathering practices.”

Some of the changes include “to worship digitally,” and of not passing offering plates, but for congregants to place their offering into the plate at the altar.

St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Bethlehem posted on its website, guidance from the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania: “Provide hand sanitizer … for the faithful. Keep doors open …. so [congregants] will not have to touch the doors. Remind people [to not touch] anything commonly touched in a public place such as pews, service books, door knobs, faucets, railings, cloth towels …” Several other sanitation suggestions were included.

Jeri Zimmerman of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley said, “…all Jewish Federation programs scheduled for the month of March have been postponed. As of now, we are moving forward with plans for our spring programs and our event chairs are hard at work planning and will be at-the-ready to relaunch our calendar quickly.”

“With the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the eastern part of our state,” said Rabbi Michael Singer of Congregation Brith Sholom, “we are faced with how to help curb the serious risk posed by this novel virus.”

The synagogue’s goals: “Preserving the health of our congregation by avoiding the spread of the virus; protecting and assisting our community’s most vulnerable members; and assuring that we are present to support one another including our staff and congregation’s spiritual needs.

“Our relationships are our greatest strength,” Rabbi Singer said, “and there is much we can do to stay present for one another and to remain in community during the coming weeks.

“Acts of love, kindness, and caring for each other are the highest of Jewish values and ideals and we will get creative in ways to connect to one another.”