Vestal pastor encourages communion at home during Holy Week
VESTAL (WBNG) – Joe Coudriet, founding pastor at Family Life Church, is preparing for the churches’ busiest time of year: Easter. “This week, our primary responsibility is to make sure that we minister to the flock, look out for those that are here in the church congregation and church family that are in need,” said Coudriet. Coudriet says no matter how you celebrate during this difficult time religion is there to lean on. With Holy Week underway, Coudriet is keeping his churchgoers active in the comfort of their own homes. “We’re so thankful for our church family, they continue to make opportunities like this possible through their faithfulness,” he says. The pastor says it doesn’t matter where you receive or who you do it with. 
Coudriet and the rest of church staff have begun to encourage communion at home to ensure their congreagtion gets the full experience of Holy Week. “Like” Jacob Seus on Facebook and “Follow” him on Twitter. “You don’t have to be in a holy place, you don’t have to be in a church sanctuary, what you need to do is have a relationship with God,” he says. “All Christ followers are encouraged to partake in the Lord’s table in commemoration of what he did and you can do it as often as you’d like,” Coudriet says.
“I just think that this is a time that everyone needs to be patriotic and understand that during this time with all this craziness going on, you still have to respect the flag,” he said. The ceremony began by recognizing the importance of Old Glory and ended with a prayer. BINGHAMTON (WBNG) — With Flag Day just a day away, the American Legion Post 80 on Main Street in Binghamton members set aside some time to respectfully retire some flags. The ceremony takes place every year and involves respectfully burning U.S. flags that are worn out and no longer fit to be flown. Post 80 Commander Mose Perry told 12 News that for him, the ceremony felt even more important this year. Members say they hope to re-open Post 80 on June 22. While the post is currently closed, if you have a worn out American flag you are looking to dispose of you can drop it off at American Legion Post 80 where it too will be disposed of respectfully. 