Pastors in Imperial adjusting for Holy Week, Easter services

Holy Week and Easter, minus traditional church services, is a new reality many Christians are coping with.

Yet, for many Christians, their faith remains strong, according to an online poll.

The proverbial saying “Necessity is the mother of invention” applies quite aptly in the current circumstances with churches this week.

Creativity is key in observing the Easter holiday with the COVID-19 pandemic going on right now.

Churches in Imperial are creating their own way of celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Local pastors share thoughts

Many churches are having services via Facebook Live, YouTube or Zoom.

Others are emailing scriptures and Holy Week activities to parishioners, while drive-in services are also seeing success.

“This is a profound moment in history. For the first time since Christ, all regular service meetings have been suspended in the world,” said Pastor Kent Griffen of the First United Methodist Church (UMC).

However, it can bring people back to the idea that church is a community of citizens, not just a building, Pastor Griffen said.

“The presence of the risen Christ in our hearts, and our lives can be enriched and refreshed when this is all over,” he said.

UMC will not be observing a Thursday service during Holy Week this year, but Good Friday and Easter Sunday will be streamed live on their Facebook page.

The UMC online service started with Palm Sunday and will continue for as long as necessary, said Griffen.

Pastor Melody Newman of UMC said the Good Friday service will be streamed at 7 p.m. with Easter service starting at 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

There will also be a children’s message posted during the week, she added.

All church services will be posted again for later viewing at umcimperial.org, she said.

“We just need to remember that Easter and the risen Christ should be celebrated in our homes and our hearts even if we can’t celebrate together,” Pastor Newman said.

Pastor Matt Maxwell of the Imperial Berean Church said they will also be streaming the Easter service Sunday at 10 a.m. on Facebook Live.

He has made a script and posted it on their Facebook page for people to use on their own. 

These scripts are for a Good Friday service and a Sunday sunrise service, he said.

Pastor Maxwell said he misses his church family, and feels sad having Easter service separately.

“This is like nothing any of us has experienced. But I know God is using this time to maybe reach people (online) who don’t normally go to church,” he said. “God is just as good this year as any other year.”

God has not changed and neither has the reason to worship Him, he said.

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