Churches Prepare For Easter Weekend Services Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Churches are preparing for Good Friday and Easter services.

Religious leaders are looking forward to more people attending in person this year. Some congregations are starting Easter events Friday evening. While many churches are offering in-person services, some are only holding them online. 

Easter 2020 is a day Fr. Gary Kastl will never forget. 

“Having the church decorated with beautiful flowers and all the candles burning with just very few people in the pews. And just also seeing the heartache in their face," said Fr. Kastl.

He said the downtown cathedral is gradually seeing more people attending church in-person and he hopes to see the pews full on Easter Sunday. 

“This year you can just sense a giddiness among the faithful as they are able to be back in church as more and more of our people are receiving the vaccine. They’re feeling more comfortable being in crowds," said Fr. Kastl.

All Souls Unitarian Church across town, is only offering online church.

“Anyone who comes to church this Sunday at All Souls I know will feel lifted up by the spirit of inspiration and hope which we need right now during these times things have been so difficult," said Reverend Marlin Lavanhar.

Reverend Lavanhar is the senior minister and said offering online services has allowed them to reach people they were not reaching before. 

“People have been coming in from all over the country who never could have made it to our classes, to our worship, and even from other counties. So we’ve made connections that we never would have made if it weren’t for being online," said Reverend Lavanhar.

Regardless of how you worship, Reverend Lavanhar and Fr. Kastl said this Easter Sunday will be a special day. 

“I think the idea of resurrection probably is going to be even sweeter this year we we’re seeing life return to a bit more of a normal way of living," said Fr. Kastl.