Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

COVID-19

Easter celebrations to move online amid COVID-19 pandemic

Apr 7, 2020 | 4:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — For the past few weeks Kamloops churches have been live streaming their services online.

“Our reach on a weekend now is global,” said Chris Throness, lead pastor at Kamloops Alliance Church. “We have people tuning in from all over the world and our best guess is that we’re reaching between 1,200 to 1,500 on a weekend which is about 200 to 500 more people than we would physically (see) being here right now.”

Kamloops Alliance Church is among many churches across the city that closed their doors as the province ordered limits on gatherings.

This week Throness is preparing his sermon for Easter Sunday.

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“The death and resurrection of Jesus is the place where we put our hope and I think right now we need hope, we need a place where we can be grounded in the midst of uncertainty in the future,” he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic will prevent churches from hosting the types of Easter services they normally would, knowing it’s not safe to do so.

Bible Truth Church Pastor Jonny Strutt is the co-lead of the Kamloops Ministerial, a group of local pastors who meet together regularly.

He says many churches felt it necessary to move their services online.

“Our church and many churches here in Kamloops have all kinds of medical professionals and other frontline workers and we care about them,” Strutt said. “We’re not trying to make things more difficult for them. We’re trying to do everything we can to help.”

In addition to hosting Good Friday and Easter services online, Bible Truth Church is preparing a safe activity for families.

“We are doing an Easter egg drive thru,” said Creative Pastor Bryar Strutt, “so people are going to drive onto the property and we’ll have people safely distributing with the provincial guidelines bags for each kid with Easter activities and Easter eggs in it and just something fun to get out, go for a little drive and celebrate Easter that way.”

Easter is one of the most significant holidays for Christians, and while the celebration will look different this year, many local churches believe keeping their doors closed is the best practice.

“It’s a whole community, really, looking after each other during this time,” Jonny Strutt said. “I think we’re getting more creative and I think that’s a good thing.

“In the middle of a challenging time, it’s a silver lining.”

Churches hosting online Good Friday and Easter services this weekend:

• Bible Truth Church: April 10 at 6:30pm & April 12 10:00am
• Free Methodist Centennial Chapel: pre-recorded messages
• Gateway City Church: April 10 at 10am and April 12 at 10am
• Kamloops Alliance Church: April 10 at 9am and 11am, April 11 at 6:30pm and April 12 at 9am and 11am
• Kamloops Full Gospel: April 10 at 12am
• Kamloops Salvation Army: April 10 at 10:30 am & April 12 at 10:30am
• Lighthouse Christian Fellowship: April 12 at 10:30am
• North Shore Calvary: April 12 at 10am
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Kamloops: April 10 at 3pm and April 12 at 11am
• Sahali Fellowship: April 12 at 9:45am
• Southwest Community Church: April 12 TBD
• St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church: April 12 at 10:30am
• St. Andrew’s Presbyterian: April 12 at 10am
• Summit Drive Baptist Church: April 12 at 9am, 11am, and 6pm
• Valleyview Bible Church: April 12 at 10:30am
• Westsyde Fellowship Baptist Church: April 12 at 10am