Worship in the time of solitude

Pastors’ guidance from 1918

When the flu pandemic hit Dallas in the fall of 1918 (see page 38), almost every person living in Dallas was a churchgoer.

Closing churches caused people’s social and spiritual lives to go cold, and on Sunday, Oct. 20, 1918, when the City’s churches and schools had been closed for one week, Oak Cliff pastors sent this message to our neighborhood.

Worship

Baptist

CLIFF TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH / 125 Sunset Ave. / 214.942.8601

Serving Oak Cliff since 1898 / CliffTemple.org / English and Spanish

9 am Contemporary Worship / 10 am Sunday School / 11 am Traditional

GRACE TEMPLE BAPTIST Come to a Place of Grace!

Sunday Worship: English Service 9:30am / Spanish Service 11:00am 831 W. Tenth St. / 214.948.7587 / gracetempledallas.org

Disciples Of Christ

EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

Sunday School 9:30 am / Worship 8:30 am - Chapel

10:50 am - Sanctuary / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org

It was published in the Dallas Morning News and signed by Wallace Bassett, G.M. Gibson, L.D. Haskins, C.C. Young and Glenn L. Sneed.

“First, we wish to say that we are in thorough sympathy with the health authorities and the mayor in their efforts to combat the influenza epidemic and will lend them all the assistance possible.

“While there may be some services held on the church lawns today, yet for the benefit of those who remain in their homes, we suggest the following program: 11 a.m., observe the siren call to prayer and read the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapters 5-7, inclusive. For sunset vesper, read Psalms 1, 8, 23; silent prayer.

“While we may not be permitted to assemble in our accustomed places of worship, let us remember that in our homes or anywhere people lift up their hearts in reverence and devotion, that God hears and honors that prayer.

“Let us pray for the allied cause and for the freedom of humanity, for our boys in the homeland and those ‘over there,’ for the early passing of the influenza epidemic, for the dying, sorrowing and suffering ones of the earth; for the individual, state and national cleansing from sin and for divine inspiration, and guidance in the hour of the world’s supreme trial.”

The Worship section is underwritten by Advocate Publishing and the neighborhood businesses and churches listed here. For information about helping support the Worship section, call 214.560.4202.

Episcopal

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH / ChristChurchDallas.org

Sunday School: 11:15am /Mass: 9am & 10am English, 12:30pm Español

Wednesday Mass: 6pm English, 8pm Español / 534 W. Tenth Street

Methodist

KESSLER PARK UMC / 1215 Turner Ave./ 214.942.0098 I kpumc.org

10:30am Sunday School/11:00 Worship /All welcome regardless of r eed, creed, color, culture, gender or sexual identity.

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

KESSLER COMMUNITY CHURCH / 2100 Leander Dr. at Hampton Rd.

“Your Hometown Church Near the Heart of the City.”

10:30 am Contemporary Service / kesslercommunitychurch.com

TRINITY CHURCH OAK CLIFF / Love God. Love Others. Make Disciples.

Sundays 10:00 am / Worship & children’s Sunday School 1139 Turner Ave. / trinitychurchoakcliff.org

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