The pandemic has made millions stop and reflect on many different things, but for Senior Pastor John Zahrte of Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church, one particular focus stands out.
“It’s that God is still in control,” he said matter-of-factly about what the past year has taught him as a pastor. “That gives us peace, the knowledge that even when our world is unraveling, we’ve still got a God who’s got us in his hands. We’ve learned that and we’ve learned that the church doesn’t end with a pandemic. It adapts.”
His church community is preparing for a second Easter season amidst a world still battling Covid-19 and all the precautions and protocols that come with it. Last year, when things everywhere – church services included – came to a grinding halt across the region, Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church immediately acted, setting up online worship services that computer users could tune into at home. These virtual services continue today and will into the future, Zahrte said. Onsite services have returned to the Royalton Road church and require an attendance reservation due to limited seating capacity requirements.
“People are starting to feel more comfortable in coming back to onsite church services, but not everybody is there yet and that’s OK and we fully understand that,” Zahrte said.
During Holy Week, the days leading up to Easter Sunday, Royal Redeemer will be offering a range of worship services, both onsite and virtually, including drive-up Communion and a 7 p.m. service on Good Friday (April 2) featuring various artists collaborating to create an image of Christ, Zahrte said. More detailed information on scheduled Easter services can be found on the church’s website, royred.org.
Many of the traditional customs performed during Holy Week services at Saint Albert the Great Church will be omitted or altered this year, and all in-person church services (except Tenebrae) require an online attendance reservation made at saint-albert.org. All Holy Week services will also be live-streamed.
Palms will be blessed at all Palm Sunday (March 28) weekend masses, said Pastor Edward Estok via email, and be available for drive-by pick-up at 1 p.m. March 28 at the main entrance of the Wallings Road church. Holy Thursday (April 1) service begins at 7 p.m. There will be no washing of the feet or adoration/vigil after mass, Estok said. The Passion of the Lord (Good Friday, April 2), church service will not include individual physical contact with the wood of the cross this year. This service begins at 3 p.m. The annual Food Blessing/Easter Basket Blessing will take place outdoors at 10 a.m. April 3. Easter Sunday (April 4) masses will be held at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. More detailed information on Holy Week events and church services are listed on Saint Albert’s website, saint-albert.org.
By SARA MACHO HILL
Contributing Writer