This Easter will be decidedly different

A virtual 'Message of hope'

Today is Good Friday.

Sunday is Easter.

What about Saturday?

Geoffrey Winkler has a plan for that, too.

The pastor at New Life Community Church is calling for people to join him for a prayer walk starting at 9 a.m. at McEuen Park.

“I’m just letting people know what I’m doing,” he said Thursday.

In a Facebook post, he said everyone should stay 6 feet apart while praying for the city, the community and families.

The gathering will last about an hour.

“I would love if you would join me at a safe, social distance,” he said. “Hope to see you there.”

While Easter Sunday is generally a time of sunrise services with special music, messages and decorations to mark the day that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it will be a bit more distant this year due to the coronavirus stay-home order.

Still, churches are planning to connect with congregations via the internet.

Paul Van Noy, president of the Coeur d’Alene Ministerial Association and pastor of Candlelight Christian Fellowship, said he is looking forward to “a great celebration of the resurrection of Christ, the resurrection of our community and the resurrection of hope.”

He said while he is disappointed people can’t come together for Easter Sunday, the online services will keep them united in their faith.

“We’re all wanting very much to come together. People by this time are excited about getting back to normal,” he said. “But at same time, we are very interested in the safety of our community.”

Van Noy said this has been a busy time for pastors as many people are having difficulty dealing with the stay-home order. It has led to a loss of jobs, business closures, and put stress on families and relationships that have led to bouts of depression.

He recently counseled a woman who called in tears.

“We’re working harder than we’ve ever worked to minster to families,” he said.

The Rev. Dr. David T. Gortner with St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Coeur d’Alene said the congregation there is close and “holding together pretty well.”

Via an “old-fashion telephone tree,” the church is checking in with people each week.

“And folks are appreciating the connection,” he said.

During this Holy Week, church members have been having dinners together online, similar to how Jesus and the disciples gathered for the Last Supper in the upper room of a home in Jerusalem.

“That’s the way we’re gathering via Zoom,” Gortner said.

He said this Easter Sunday may be more like the first Easter when Christ rose from the dead. He didn’t appear to a big crowd, with a lot of hoopla and bands playing.

“It was quiet,” Gortner said.

Word of Christ appearing here and there spread person-by-person.

Gortner said the situation then, with many people afraid to go out under the tyranny of the Roman Empire, was similar in ways to today when people are staying home and fearing the coronavirus.

Christ, Gortner said, told his followers to fear not, but to rejoice.

“And that’s what we’re called to do, even in a time like this,” he said. “Keep offering the message of hope.”

The Salvation Army Kroc Center is offering several virtual Easter church services.

Today, Good Friday, people are invited to “Pray Your Way to the Cross” via a churchwide day of prayer led by youth ministry coordinator Wade Isley.

To participate, go to www.kroccda.org/worship.

At 10 a.m. Sunday, an online Easter celebration, “He is Risen! We can start over again,” will be led by Majors Don and Ronda Gilger on the Kroc Church Coeur d’Alene Facebook page, www.facebook.com/krocchurchcda.

Pastor Mike Rima of Lake City Community Church said today’s social-distancing guidelines are “representing a real wrinkle in what would normally be our great celebration.

“So we’re taking it online and trying to just again celebrate this amazing day, but doing it at a distance is obviously a challenge. It’s caused us to have to come up with some creative ways to connect with people,” he said.

One of the benefits of the internet and holding services online is the ease of special guests joining from afar.

Rima invited Natalie Grant, Christian singer and songwriter, and her husband, Bernie Herms, also a singer and songwriter, to join Lake City’s Easter service, and they accepted.

“That’s kind of a fun thing,” he said.

Still, Rima said he is disappointed churches can’t hold Easter services.

“I have experienced a little bit of grieving,” he said. “I’ve grieved the loss of being able to gather together with the congregation.”

And he is sure he’s not alone.

What has happened in recent weeks has been tough on nearly everyone. People have suffered losses, physically, mentally and spiritually.

“I think people are grieving and they don’t even know it,” Rima said.

So, Easter Sunday comes at a time when people will be reminded to remember what’s important, and to keep the faith, pastors said.

“My hope is we will celebrate a fabulous Easter Sunday service, whenever that is,” Van Noy said.