Keeping Faith Amid Coronavirus: Churches Adapt Ahead Of Easter

ILLINOIS — Easter Sunday will be much different for members of Christian communities across the world this year due to the new coronavirus outbreak. It was declared a pandemic a month ago, and since then, faith leaders in and around Chicago have taken a range of approaches to the challenge.

Some have been forced by social distancing requirements to do less, but others have used it as an opportunity to connect with their congregations in different ways. Meanwhile, police say at least one church near the Chicago area ignored social distancing all together in recent days and deemed themselves "essential" during a service that included dozens of worshipers.

Latest: More Than 16,000 Cases, 500 Deaths Reported In Illinois — Don't miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments and precautions — Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

The Church of Christ, located right across the state line in Hammond, Indiana, held their regular in-person services on Sunday, April 5, which violated Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb's "shelter-in-place" order, according to a police report shared on social media by Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott Jr.

McDermott said police responded to the church and found more than 30 members worshiping in a small, indoor area. When police approached church elders on the issue, police said the elders refused to break up the large group and deemed their worship was "essential."

Hammond police issued the elders a citation for violating Holcomb's order, but the service continued and "more people walked into the church" as police left, McDermott said.

• Blind Faith Meets Coronavirus Science In Potentially Deadly Clash

The Church of Christ hasn't been the only place of worship on the national scale accused of defying government orders regarding social distancing, though. Two weeks ago, The River At Tampa Bay Church in Tampa Bay, Florida is reported to have hosted two in-person services with up to 500 people present at each.

The Rev. Rodney Howard-Browne, the Tampa Bay church pastor, is accused of not only organizing the services but providing buses to transport members to the church.

Howard-Browne was arrested on accusations he violated a ban on large gatherings, but Florida is one of the states that have listed religious services as having some exemptions to their own stay-at-home order. Michigan, New Mexico, Delaware, Ohio, Texas and West Virginia are the others that have granted certain exemptions for religious services, The Hill reports.

The Hammond and Tampa Bay churches seem to be among the minority in going against state directives to avoid large social gatherings as the coronavirus continues to spread. Overall, in the Chicago area, church leaders have been stressing social distancing and finding ways to reach their communities remotely and effectively.

Church leaders at Hope Covenant Church in south suburban Orland Park are trying to find the light in a dark situation. Pastor Jon Fogel says he's been able to share messages of hope amid these chaotic times via the church's 10 a.m. Sunday service, which is now livestreamed, and also by "going live" every day.

"Once you get that down to a science, you have more opportunity," Fogel said. "I've been going live every day to give a word of encouragement to our community, and our co-pastor also goes live a couple times a week to lead an exercise and imitative yoga. We know the needs of our community extend beyond spiritual."

• TV, Livestreams For Good Friday, Easter And Passover In The U.S.

Adapting to change, Pastor Fogel says, is what the church has been doing for centuries.

"There were changes that needed to be brought on during The Plague, World War II ... the church has been doing this forever," Fogel said. "Meeting in person right now would put vulnerable people in the crosshairs. We need to trust God in the midst of all of this and we are going to have to lean in. If that means we have to separate for the time being, we aren't going to sugarcoat that and act like everything is normal."

Many, including Willow Creek Community Church, a mega-church that typically draws thousands of worshipers to weekend services at its main campus in South Barrington, typically livestreams of its church services.

But since the church had to shutdown its expansive South Barrington worship center, as well as its seven other churches across the Chicago area, its been beefing up its online presence and finding some very creative ways to connect over Easter weekend.

For example, the church is offering a 45-minute "online experience" on Good Friday, which can be lead by anyone in their home. The online experience includes guidance, video and written text.

"You can do it alone or experience it with your roommates, family, or friends," according to Willow's website. Those interested in taking part are encouraged to grab their bible, a journal and some items from their home that could substitute for Holy Communion, including bread, crackers, chips, juice, water, soda or "whatever you have."

The full "experience" can be found on Willow's website.

Other Willow locations, including physical churches in Crystal Lake, Huntley, Chicago, the North Shore, Southern Lake County and Wheaton, will livestream Good Friday services and communion. The Willow website has information on how you can "attend."

Willow, which can really flex its resources and extend its reach using technology, has put up an "online small group request form," with the hopes of replacing in-person groups and offering a virtual space for people to connect. The church is also encouraging kids and teens to stay strong in their faith by utilizing its digital content resources. A full list of ways to connect "digitally" can be found on the church's website.

The church also is giving back to those struggling financially or emotionally during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing curbside pickup of groceries at its food pantry and emergency food delivery for those who can't leave their home. The church has "response pastors" available by phone to talk between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Staff can even assist those looking for a job through employment counseling done by video or phone call.

But most churches in the Chicago area do not have the same financial means or expansive technological resources as Willow.

At St. John Fisher Catholic Church in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood, a livestream is above their capability because of their need to limit contact with others for social distancing purposes. They are instead encouraging parishioners to view the weekly mass delivered by Cardinal Blase Cupich on the Archdiocese of Chicago website.

And as the Lenten season wraps up this weekend, culminating with Easter Sunday, Father Ken Budzikowski, the pastor at St. John Fisher, and his associate priest, Father Dan Tomich, will be holding services by themselves in an empty church.

"We are trying," Father Ken Budzikowski said. "It is difficult not having a congregation in front of you. We are trying to keep things afloat and hope to open sooner rather than later, but we'd much rather have people healthy than coming back too soon."

But still, Budzikowski says the church is doing its best to meet the needs of the community.

"We get a lot of phone calls from people who call the rectory and just want to talk, which is fine," he said. "We're also keeping our website active for both the school and the parish."

Other churches have moved online and will livestream Easter services as well as additional services in the future.

Father Tom McCarthy, former president and principal at St. Rita High School on the city's South Side, has been celebrating the Holy Week — the week leading up to Easter — with livestreams from St. Rita of Cascia Catholic Church. He plans to have a livestream of his Easter mass on Sunday morning.

But even as churches adapt, they know some things, including important religious milestones, are going to be hard to replace. This will include the celebration of First Communion, which the Catholic Church typically holds in May.

Despite the many downsides, church leaders have some options, Fogel told Patch. He says there's two ways religious leaders can look at coronavirus pandemic.

"We could say, 'woe is us,' or look at it as it is: as the new normal and new reality."

Easter Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

This Easter will undoubtedly be different for so many celebrating the religious holiday throughout the Chicago area. Help us with our reporting by taking a minute to fill out the form below.

MORE ON PATCH

• Pritzker Suggests Canceling Large Summer Events Over Coronavirus
• IL Coronavirus Peak Likely In Coming Days, New Projection Shows
• Heroes West Creates Easter Carryout 5 Course Family Feast