SHELBY — Few holidays are more important in the Christian faith than Easter Sunday.
It’s a time to celebrate renewal and redemption, typically honored by attending church services and sharing food and fellowship with family and friends. This year, many of those traditions have been paused due to social distancing guidelines in place during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
However, local faith leaders haven’t let the pandemic stop them from connecting with their congregations. In fact, they argue that now more than ever is a time to draw closer together – just not physically.
“Easter is our Superbowl, and I don’t think it’s any accident we’re having this COVID-19 pandemic during this season,” said Pastor Dave Vance, lead pastor at Crossroads Community Church. “The message we proclaim is more appropriate now than ever.
“When people are afraid and anxiety-filled, we need to preach the message that Jesus is alive. The beauty of Easter this season is while we’re all scattered and worried and fearful, the message of Easter is more alive in this moment.”
Federal and state guidelines prohibiting large gatherings have forced local churches to get creative to celebrate Easter this year. Almost all have moved their services online in some form of a live-stream broadcast.
Grace Fellowship Church in Mansfield conducted Easter service for congregants in the parking lot sitting in their cars, tuned into the same local radio live broadcast. Freedom Ridge Church in Ontario posted via Instagram and Facebook a crafting Easter challenge, inviting people to use their creative talents to mark Easter in a special way.
In Shelby, Pastor James Robinson at First Presbyterian Church offered something he’s never done before: Curbside communion.
“Folks are struggling with feeling connected to the church right now,” Robinson said. “There’s only so much we can do live streaming through Facebook, people wanted to feel some kind of physical connection. So we thought we’d do drive-thru communion.”
From 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Robinson stood outside of First Presbyterian Church while vehicles lined up to drive through the communion station. Robinson wore gloves and a mask while he handed out pre-packaged and sealed juice and bread to each vehicle, and said a blessing while those inside the vehicle took the elements.
Robinson has been leading worship from his home with an iPhone connected to the church’s Facebook page, but on Sunday he led worship services in the sanctuary for the first time in weeks. The only ones in attendance were Robinson, a worship leader doing readings, and a musician.
“It was the smallest attendance in the building on Easter we’ve ever had,” Robinson said with a laugh. “People like to complain about technology, but in this case it’s been a huge blessing.”
At Crossroads, Vance said the church has held services online and small Bible study groups have continued to meet virtually. In more than 20 years of ministry, this is a challenge he has never experienced.
“They didn’t teach me this at seminary,” Vance said, chuckling.
“I lived in Washington, D.C. during the Sept. 11 attacks, and the church didn’t shut down in that moment, it actually opened up more,” he continued. “Church was a place people wanted to go. Now, not only are people not allowed to be together, we have to figure out how to serve and minister people when you can’t actually be with them. That’s unprecedented.”
But in times of trial, believers already know where they can turn.
“I believe people of faith in situations like this can do one of two things – they can become fearful and look at it from the negative side, or they can place their trust in God and take literally the versus that tell us not to be afraid, and do our best to find ways to still be together,” Robinson said.
“The church isn’t the building, and not even the gatherings we have on Sundays. It’s neighbors helping neighbors.”
