People can’t gather in churches for Holy Week services this year because of the coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic.
Locally, churches have come up with creative ways to still celebrate Easter.
From 8 to 9 a.m. Sunday, St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church is hosting a service at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Brownstown. Attendees must stay in their vehicles, face them toward the Rev. Jeremy Yeadon where the carnival rides are set up during the fair and tune into 92.7 FM.
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Deaconess Amanda Hahn said Yeadon came up with the idea for the service.
“It’s something that has been done in the past, drive-in-type church,” she said. “What better alternative, especially since it is Easter weekend, to do it this way?”
The service is open to the public. There will be no communion service.
“The best place to be at any time is worshiping our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ,” Hahn said. “What better place during this time than at church, even though it isn’t in the conventional sense. Come join us.”
First Baptist Church of Crothersville also is having an outdoor Easter service. Families can pull their vehicle into the parking lot, leave one parking space between others, stay in their vehicle and tune their radio to 87.7 FM. The service will start at 10:45 a.m.
Redeemer Lutheran Church in Seymour is having three services streamed on Facebook Live: Maundy Thursday at 1 p.m. Thursday, Good Friday at noon Friday and Easter Sunday sunrise service at 7 a.m. Sunday.
Sunday’s service also can be heard on 1390 AM at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Those who can’t watch the services live on Facebook will find them posted on facebook.com/redeemerseymour1 and redeemerseymour.org.
Seymour Christian Church also will have its Easter services online and on the radio. They will be aired on 96.3 FM at 9 a.m. Sunday and on Facebook at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. and at seymourchristian.com.
Immanuel Lutheran Church in Seymour will have its Maundy Thursday service aired on 1390 AM and 99.3 FM at 7 p.m. Thursday and viewed live or watched later at immanuelseymour.com or the Immanuel Lutheran Seymour YouTube channel. The Good Friday noon-time reflection at 12:15 p.m. can be viewed online, too.
At 4:30 p.m. Friday, “The Way of the Cross” scriptural, visual and interactive service for families and children will be live on the website and YouTube channel. Families can pick up a hard copy of the special bulletin at the church to enjoy and color together or find it on the church’s website. It contains art by Patti Miller along with Scripture readings, hymns and prayers.
The final activity Friday will be a Tenebrae service at 7:30 p.m., again available on the radio, website and YouTube channel.
Another way Immanuel is celebrating Holy Week is encouraging people to gather greenery from their yard, hang it on their door, take a picture and post it on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #palmbranchchallenge. Make sure it’s a public post so it can be included in the Palm Sunday gallery.
The Tabernacle in Seymour is accepting donations this week for Easter goody bags for the van ministry children. Members plan to make 60 bags, which will be distributed to 25 families.
Donations, including Easter candy, breakfast items, snacks, fruit, juice boxes and small party toys or gifts, may be dropped off at the church by Friday. Those without a key may drop off donations between 3 and 4 p.m. today.
Brownstown Christian Church is offering a window Easter egg hunt. An egg outline is in the comments on the post on the church’s Facebook page, and people can cut it out, decorate it and hang it in a window at their home that’s visible from the street. They also can draw or trace their own egg.
The paper eggs should be placed on a window from Thursday to Sunday so families can go for a walk or drive and keep track of how many they spot around town.
People are encouraged to post pictures of their eggs in the comments on the Facebook post.
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Local churches announce Easter services
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brownstown: 8 to 9 a.m. Sunday at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Brownstown. Attendees must stay in their vehicles and tune into 92.7 FM. Open to the public.
First Baptist Church of Crothersville: 10:45 a.m. Sunday in the church parking lot. Leave one parking space between others, stay in your vehicle and tune your radio to 87.7 FM.
Redeemer Lutheran Church in Seymour: Maundy Thursday at 1 p.m. Thursday, Good Friday at noon Friday and Easter Sunday sunrise service at 7 a.m. Sunday streamed live on facebook.com/redeemerseymour1. Sunday’s service also can be heard on 1390 AM at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Seymour Christian Church in Seymour: 9 a.m. Sunday on 96.3 FM and 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday on facebook.com/seymourchristianchurch and seymourchristian.com.
Immanuel Lutheran Church in Seymour: Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m. Thursday on 1390 AM, 99.3 FM, immanuelseymour.com or the Immanuel Lutheran Seymour YouTube channel. The Good Friday noon-time reflection at 12:15 p.m. Friday and "The Way of the Cross" scriptural, visual and interactive service for families and children at 4:30 p.m. Friday on the website and YouTube channel. Tenebrae service at 7:30 p.m. Friday on the radio, website and YouTube channel.
Find out other churches’ Easter plans on their Facebook pages or websites.
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