Journeying Through

Easter Sunday is generally a day of light for Christian churches. We sing songs of joy, exclaim that “he is risen” and celebrate the risen Jesus that brings us all together.

Often, Easter Sunday is one of the highest attended Sundays. Many churches find their pews/chairs full of congregants –– most do not take vacation on Easter. For some, this Sunday will be the first Easter that they’ve not worshiped physically with a faith community in their entire lives, for some it’s the first Sunday you’ll not gather in a specific space of worship on Easter.

This year, due to the continued spread of COVID-19, we are not gathering physically so that our communities might stay well and healthy. Sure, we will tune in on our devices, joined together across the waves of the internet, but knowing that it is still not the same.

Before we all get to Sunday, I think we need to stop and mourn the loss that we’re all going to experience this week. While gathered in other ways, we will not be in the spaces of worship that we thought we’d be in. We’ll not see the faces of people that we always look forward to seeing at Easter. We will not be able to gather with our friends and family for lunch or shake hands as we smile in proclamation that the tomb is empty.

Pastors every where are doing our best work to still give opportunities to worship, but it will not be the same. Give yourself time to mourn this fact, to recognize all that you miss, and to prepare your heart for the unusual sadness that will come with Easter this year.

It’s ok to mourn the loss you’re experiencing. It’s OK to long to be with the community that you love. It’s ok to feel pangs of sadness as you celebrate the empty tomb. Give yourself permission to mourn and know that God understands.

You are not alone.