Willow Creek Cancels Services, 'Goes Online'

SOUTH BARRINGTON, IL — Telling his parishioners that "we will gather online," the senior pastor of one of the nation's largest mega-church's announced Friday that future services will be cancelled at all Willow Creek churches. In addition, all gatherings of more than 250 people at the church will be canceled, acting senior pastor Steve Gillen wrote in an e-mail to church members Friday morning.

"While saddened that we will not be able to gather physically at any of our locations, we believe the health and safety of our community is a top priority," Gillen wrote.

The South Barrington services will be broadcast via livestream at WillowCreek.TV and the live-streams will also be available for attendees at other Willow locations. There are seven Willow Creek churches in the Chicago area, including locations in Chicago, Crystal Lake, Huntley, Glenview and Lincolnshire.

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In addition, the Willow Creek Care Center, which includes a grocery store-style food pantry, will begin offering pre-packed groceries all ready for pickup on Saturday. Volunteers will bring the groceries out to people and the food pantry will be closed to visitors.

All other services offered at the Care Center, including car repair services, the clothing store and tax preparation, will not be offered through the foreseeable future, according to an e-mail from Willow Creek.

Food pickup will be available from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday and from 8 to 10 a.m. on Saturday.

More via the Willow Creek Care Center Facebook page and the Willow Creek website