At one church, Sunday is the day the choir will once again sing live.
At another, it’s a day worship will be in person after months of virtual services.
At still another, it’s a day that the traditional Easter breakfast comes back.
For many Christians in Hancock County, there was no breakfast, no choir and no service to go to on Easter 2020. Amid the coronavirus quarantine, all but a very few of the tiniest congregations saw their buildings closed to an in-person service.
On April 12, 2020, many huddled around screens to watch an Easter service — in some cases pre-recorded — led by their pastor and perhaps a couple of socially distanced musicians.
Plans for Easter 2021 come closer to Easter 2019 and the Resurrection celebrations that preceded it.
“Our 2021 Easter plans are more like prior Easters,” the Rev. Kerry O’Brien of Mohawk United Methodist Church wrote in an email. “Since it is already the highest Christian holy day of the year, we will continue to celebrate it as best we can … wherever we are.”
O’Brien points out that Mohawk’s service will still be viewable online. That’s true at many other churches as well and is good news for those still not able to or comfortable with venturing out.
That churches can come together in some fashion this year as they celebrate Jesus’ resurrection does not mean they are abandoning the protocols they’ve observed since resuming services.
Indeed, some churches are adding an extra service to help make room for worshipers to gather with more spacing. Some are opting for an outdoor service and hoping the weather is favorable.
Some are asking worshipers to reserve seats online ahead of time so church leaders can better plan to safely accommodate all who come. If you have plans to attend a certain church on Sunday and haven’t been there before, or in a while, it might be helpful to check that church’s website or Facebook page today.
“With the continued increasing availability of vaccines, I am hoping that Easter Sunday might become a day in which many of those who haven’t re-engaged in in-person worship might join us,” the Rev. Anthony Stone, lead pastor of New Palestine United Methodist Church, wrote in an email. “We continue to welcome our virtual worshiping community, but we also recognize that there is something special about having people physically present for worship.”
For those planning to be physically present, here’s a peek at what’s going on this Easter weekend at local churches.
Egg hunts
10 a.m. April 3: Bradley United Methodist Church will offer a drive-thru Easter event at J.B. Stephens Elementary. It lasts until noon or until supplies run out.
10:30 a.m. April 3: egg hunt at Brown’s Chapel Wesleyan Church (fifth grade and younger)
April 4: Nameless Creek Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) egg hunt on the lawn after the 9:30 a.m. service Sunday, weather permitting
9:30 a.m. April 4: egg hunt at New Life Christian Fellowship in Fortville, where the children’s hour will conclude with a special Easter lesson
April 4: egg hunt after the 9:30 a.m. service at Eden United Methodist Church
April 4: community egg hunt after 10 a.m. service at Gateway Community Church in Fortville
April 4: egg hunt after the 10:30 a.m. service at Greenfield First Church of the Nazarene
Holy Saturday
7 to 10 a.m.: breakfast at Eden United Methodist Church with a photo opportunity with a live bunny
5 p.m.: service at Park Chapel Christian Church
5:15 p.m.: service at Park Chapel Christian Church (different space from 5 p.m. service)
8:30 p.m.: Easter Vigil Mass at St. Michael Catholic Church
8:45 p.m.: Easter candlelight vigil and Communion at Faith Lutheran Church
Sunrise services and breakfasts Sunday
7 a.m.: service by youth at Mohawk United Methodist Church
7:30 a.m.: service at Calvary Baptist Church in Greenfield
7:30 a.m.: Cross of Grace Lutheran Church service around fire pit outdoors
8 a.m.: continental breakfast at Mohawk United Methodist Church
8:30 a.m.: service at Nameless Creek Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), followed by breakfast at 8:45 a.m.
9 a.m.: breakfast at Brown’s Chapel Wesleyan Church
9 a.m.: breakfast at at Greenfield First Church of the Nazarene
Schedule changes
Amity United Methodist Church will have one service at 10 a.m. Sunday.
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Brandywine Community Church‘s services are at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. this Sunday. RSVP online at brandywinechurch.org.
Brookville Road Community Church in New Palestine will add an 8 a.m. service this Sunday to its regular 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. services.
Cross of Grace Lutheran Church in New Palestine will add an 11 a.m. service outdoors.
McCordsville United Methodist Church will have an 8 a.m. service in addition to its 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. Make a reservation online at mccordsvilleumc.org.
Mercy Road Church Northeast in Fortville will have services at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. this week. RSVP online at www.mercyroad.cc/easter. Services are viewable online at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Outlook Christian Church will have services at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. this Sunday. To promote distancing, reserve seats online at https://www.outlookchurch.org/seating.
St. Michael Catholic Church will have Masses at 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday.
Trinity Park United Methodist Church will have services at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. The 10 a.m. service will also be viewable via livestream.
Wilkinson Church of Christ will have services are at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday.
Zion Lutheran Church will have traditional services indoors at 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., plus contemporary services outdoors at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. There will also be livestreaming on Facebook and YouTube.
