Doriena Lee considers Calvary Baptist Church to be her home away from home. Nevertheless, after two months of self-imposed exile, the 71-year-old has finally cracked the technological puzzle.

How keen is the Murray resident to return to the pews, given that he is one of many over-65s who are at high risk for severe disease as a result of COVID-19?

"A part of me is eager to get back, and the other half feels sluggish. "Because of current technologies, I've grown accustomed to working from home," Lee explained. In all honesty, the fellowship, seeing one another, eating lunch and conversing with them is something I miss. "Physical contact is quite crucial."

She is hardly the only senior citizen experiencing conflicting emotions.

The reopening of churches of various faiths across Utah has piqued the interest of certain congregations with senior members, while others are glad to remain at home for a bit longer.

Orion and Marge Sherwood are members of Centenary United Methodist Church, where they are 89 and 90 years old, respectively. Orion suffered a small heart attack while on vacation in Mesquite, Nevada, during the winter months. In the meantime, he was recovering and the coronavirus was spreading, so the couple chose to remain out of state but participate in church services via Zoom and Facebook. They are looking forward to going to church once more.

For Orion Sherwood, a longtime Methodist, "as far as I'm concerned, if the churches are able to separate the sitting and people wear masks, that should be sufficient." "Of sure, we intend to return."

Sylvia Allred, who recently celebrated her 81st birthday, can't wait to get back to Calvary Salt Lake. So far as the church is concerned, Pastor Jim Harris has stated that it intends to perform its inaugural Sunday worship service on June 7.

This one, according to Allred, is eager to get back to the church. My attendance is confirmed because I've been missing it terribly. I miss being able to spend time with my friends and other excellent individuals that I have there. Even though I'm watching the service on my computer, it's not quite the same as being there in person because it's not as immersive. I have no reason to be concerned. I'm in good health and only take one prescription medication. After all is said and done, I am genuinely looking forward to returning to church."

Kenneth Alvey, who is approaching the age of 87, is a member of the Calvary Salt Lake congregation who is pleased to see churches reopening again. He misses his church family, but he intends to take a more conservative stance at his new congregation.

"I believe I'll skip the first one and see how it goes," he said. "I think I'll skip the first one and see how it goes."

Lee seemed to hold the same point of view.

Despite her reservations about going out, she stated that "when it's actually safe, we'll be out in full force."

Earlier this week, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans to resume Sunday meetings and activities in the coming months. Pete and Linda Strickland, 77 and 78, respectively, of Syracuse, have done well for themselves at home during their self-imposed exile.

They have appreciated neighbors dropping by with treats to see how they are doing, and using technology hasn't been a problem for them so far. Because of ongoing health problems, the Stricklands are looking forward to meeting with ward members and receiving the "required weekly uplift" that Sunday meetings provide. However, they will "exercise good discretion and err on the side of caution," as Linda Strickland put it in a statement.

'We don't want to live in fear or isolation, so we're going to proceed with caution,' she said.

One advantage of seniors being at home is the ability to use digital tools to help them stay connected with their church. Faith leaders claim that, for the most part, their senior members are figuring things out.

While everyone at First Presbyterian Church has been on a learning curve, interim senior pastor Steve Aeschbacher says he's been astonished by how successfully seniors have accepted technological advances. Everyone, including those who were first skeptical, decided to give it a shot and succeeded. Many people wish to see online worship continue after the restoration of the site.

"It's been encouraging," the pastor expressed his gratitude. "A lot of people want to make certain that we continue even after we get back together." Our mission has grown unexpectedly, and it was not something that we had anticipated."

Others, on the other hand, are still battling it out. Lee shared the story of an 83-year-old friend who can only make phone calls if the number is programmed into her phone, according to Lee.

"She is unable to dial out," Lee explained. "There are still folks like that who aren't ready to undertake any of the virtual things," says the author.

So, how do religious leaders feel about their older members returning to their congregations?

Calvary Salt Lake, according to Pastor Harris, is being cleaned and prepared to welcome everyone back on Friday, June 7.

"What we're hearing is that they're anxious to get back to church," he said. In our research, we've discovered that a significant number of them are technologically challenged and desire to return to traditional church practices. We're taking all of the required steps to get this done. We want to be cautious and safe, but the overwhelming consensus is that they want to come back again. Once we arrive here, it may be a very different experience, but you're still a part of the body, you're here, and it's your home."

Calvary Baptist and First Presbyterian churches have both distributed surveys to their congregations in order to determine how people are feeling about the situation. At this time, according to the Rev. Oscar T. Moses, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, the response has been mixed. His own mother, who is 82 years old, has no intention of returning to the general public.

"They want to go to church but don't want to put themselves in danger," he explained. "We make it a point to contact them by telephone. They are on the verge of tears because they are overjoyed that someone from the church is thinking about them."

Pastor Aeschbacher hasn't heard a lot of clamoring from the elder generation to return, but he's heard a lot of it from the younger generation. However, First Presbyterian is not in a hurry, according to him.

In light of how we worship and the kinds of guidelines the governor has established, he believes that waiting a little longer makes more sense for his congregation. "That's why our leaders haven't moved as quickly as they should have." "I believe there are valid concerns about how to go about it in a safe manner."

Rabbi Samuel L. Spector, of Congregation Kol Ami, concurs with this assessment.

"There have been some folks who have asked if we can come back, but the vast majority of senior residents have expressed gratitude for our efforts to keep them safe," the rabbi wrote in an email to the congregation. "In the same way, we will not resume services until it is safe for everyone to do so."