Many places of worship are asking older members of their congregations to stay home from services the next few weeks or have canceled in-person events altogether.

Religious leaders have been contacting congregations throughout the week to announce online services and cancel all social events in an attempt to protect the most vulnerable members of their congregation.

Life Church is one congregation that has shut down in-person events and moved activities to the internet.

Andy Wittwer, communications director for the church, said the church moved all three of its weekend services, which draw a total of about 3,200 people, online after Gov. Jay Inslee instituted Friday a statewide ban on gatherings of more than 250 people.

Wittwer said the church is working to keep members connected when they cannot physically meet and thinking about how it can assist more vulnerable church members.

“All of this is still pretty fresh, and we’re figuring out what accommodations we can make for those who are at risk and need help,” he said.

While smaller congregations aren’t required to cancel services under the governor’s ban, many are doing so anyway.

Gretchen M. Rehberg, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, also asked congregations on Friday to cancel Sunday services and to worship from home. The diocese oversees 32 churches across the Inland Northwest.

Rehberg recommended all church events be canceled until the end of the month, when church leadership will re-evaluate the situation. People can pick up home sermon materials at the Diocesan office.

The church will email its members live-streaming instructions for Sunday morning liturgy and prayer.

Mamdouh Elaarag, a board member of the Spokane Islamic Center, said the center was canceling Sunday School. Anyone that doesn’t have to be at Friday night prayers should not attend, especially those who are elderly.

“The safest thing to do is not come until things are clear,” he said.

Bishop Thomas Daly of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane also announced Friday that Catholics over 60, or those who have traveled recently, are also not obligated to attend Mass for the rest of the month.

“I remind Catholics of any age that you are not obliged to participate in Mass when you are ill,” Daly said in a statement, “Those who care for the sick are also not bound by the precept of Sunday Mass. You do not need the pastor’s permission or dispensation.”

Masses will still be offered throughout the area on Sundays. Mitchell Palmquist, director of communication for the diocese, said most parishes have several Masses and they are not expected to exceed the 250-person threshold. He said canceling other events is up to individual parishes.

Daly encouraged church members who do not attend Mass to pray alone or with their families and to read Scripture.

Spokane Valley United Methodist Church has canceled services, as have other churches in the Spokane area.

Tamar Malino, rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom in Spokane, said the temple will hold services Saturday , but services will likely be live-streamed for the following two weeks.

She said other educational and social events at the synagogue are canceled.

“The elderly are the most vulnerable, and it makes sense to not get everybody in the same room together,” she said.

Malino said she and other Temple Beth Shalom leaders plan to call and check in on members of the synagogue who might need comfort in a time of stress. She encouraged others to do the same.

“Times of crisis can show us at our worst or our best,” she said. “Even while we practice social distancing, it’s important to care for each other.”