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IN NATIONAL EMERGENCY,

Some Churches Close;

At Others, Cautionary

Measures Put In Place

In Cooperstown, two neighboring churches have responded differently to the coronavirus scare. St. Mary's, foreground, is holding Mass as usual. Cooperstown Baptist has suspended services for the time being. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)

By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

Scharfenberger
Macholz

The first Sunday after the National Emergency on coronavirus declared by President Trump Friday afternoon, Otsego County churches have made a variety of decisions on how to go forward, or not to go forward, guided by concern of congregants' health, particularly elderly one.

CDC images of coronavurus

The variety is such that congregants should check with their churches in advance of Sunday services.

At one end is the Lutheran Church, where Lutheran Bishop John Macholz of the Upstate New York Synod announced a "cessation of 'in person' worship" from tomorrow through March 31, when the issue will be reassessed. That affects the Church of the Atonement, Oneonta; Evangelical Lutheran, Hartwick Seminary, and St. Matthew's, Laurens.

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