The new rules introduced as part of Samoa's COVID-19 Alert Level 2 response and restrictions forced some churches across the country to be creative in how they commemorated the first Sunday of the month for February. 

For some denominations, the first Sunday of every month is when they have the sacrament of holy communion, and the church ministers had to adjust to the orders in place.

Congregations across the country continued to worship under new rules, while some opted to do online services for their members instead of congregating as usual at their place of worship. 

The services were quieter with only 30 people in attendance, and with the absence of children under the age of 12. 

Instead of encouraging people to attend the services on Sunday, some churches arranged deacons, and laid preachers to go out and to the different families in the villages. 

At Safotu in Savai'i, the members of the Catholic faith in the village were asked to remain at home, while the deacon went out to each families for the sacrament. 

Families were busy tidying and cleaning up their houses on Saturday evening to prepare for the arrival of the deacons and priest on Sunday. 

At the Congregational Christian Church Samoa (C.C.C.S.) at Faletagaloa in Safune, only thirty people were allowed during the service with social distancing observed throughout the service. 

The church Minister then arranged for the deacons and laid preacher to go out and conduct the sacrament or holy communion for the rest of the congregations at their home after the service on Sunday. 

The Piula Theological College (P.T.C.) on the other hand, broadcasted their service on live stream for two Sundays in a row for the rest of their students who could not attend the service because of the restrictions. 

People were seen in churches wearing masks and stayed 2 meters apart from other people as part of the rules underlined in Samoa's Alert Level 2's response. 

The Samoan Government will review Samoa's response by the end of this week.