Places of worship still hold social distancing services

Places of worship still hold social distancing services

Governor Cuomo announced Thursday churches can now re-open with gatherings of ten or less people.

But the Evengel Assembly of God in Lockport is sticking to larger gatherings, but from their car.

Those in the Muslim Community also celebrated Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, from their cars as well.

ALI TOUHEY.IT'S THE FIRST SUNDAYSINCE GOVERNORCUOMO ANNOUNCEDTHAT CHURCHGATHERINGS COULDRESUME... WITH SOMERESTRICTIONS.SEVEN EYEWITNESSNEWS REPORTERTAYLOR EPPS HASMORE ON A COUPLEOF TODAY'S UNIQUESERVICES... DESIGNEDTO HELP THE FAITHFULTRY AND MANAGE THEPRESSURE OF THISONGOING PANDEMIC.DOZENS OF MEMBERSOF THE EVANGELASSEMBLY OF GODDROVE OUT TOLOCKPORT FORSUNDAY SERVICE.PASTOR HILKEY "WE'REA VERY FRIENDLYCHURCH, WE'RE ATOUCHY CHURCH, WEALL HUG EACH OTHER,SHAKE HANDS ANDNOW YOU CAN'T DOANY OF THAT.FOR THE PAST TWOWEEKS, HE'S BEENPREACHING FROM THEROOF OF THE TRANSITDRIVE-IN AS HE WAITSTO RE-OPEN HISCHURCH...PASTOR HILKEY"CHURCHES ARE INPHASE 4, WHICH IS ALITTLE BITDISAPPOINTING.

I WASHOPING TO BE INPHASE 2 OR 3."AS GOVERNORANDREW CUOMOANNOUNCEDTHURSDAY,CHURCHES CAN NOWRE-OPEN WITHGATHERINGS TEN ORLESS.HILKEY "WELL, I'D HAVETO DO 50 SERVICES TOHAVE 10 PEOPLE INCHURCH, SO THATWOULDN'T WORK FORUS."HE HOPES TO RE-OPEN BY MID-JULY,UNTIL THEN, HE'LL BEHERE AT THE DRIVE IN."IT IS WHAT IT IS, IKNOW THEY CAREABOUT TRYING TOKEEP PEOPLE SAFEAND NOT TRYING TOSPREAD THE VIRUS, SOWE'RE TRYING TOFOLLOW ALONG.""AND OF COURSE, THISAPPLIES TO ALL FAITHSAND RELIGIONS..SOWHILE THE PEOPLE OFWNY WAIT FOR THEBUILDINGS TO RE-OPEN, IT SEEMS THECOMMON THEME ISWORSHIPPING FROMYOUR CAR."KHALID "MUSLIMSCOMPLETED THEMONTH OF FASTINGLAST NIGHT.

THISGENERALLY IS A VERYBIG CELEBRATION."THIS HOLIDAY MARKSTHE END OF RAMADANAND TO CELEBRATE,HUNDREDS OF CARSPARADED THROUGHWNY.KHALID "THE WHOLECOMMUNITY HAS BEENCOOPED UP SO LONG,WE THOUGHT THISMIGHT BE A WAY TOGIVE THEM ANOPPORTUNITY TO BLL RE-OPEN, BUT THEY'REWORKING ON A PLAN.INTERMS OF 10 COMINGTO THE MOSQUT."BOTH RELIGIOUSLEADERS SAY ITECIALLY CHURCES,WE REALLY WANT TOATFUTURE WE'R GONNATAYLOR E