Fear, turmoil, pain and death might be inescapable aspects of life — especially over the past year — yet for Christians and other people of faith, these things do not define life.
As Pope John Paul II said in 1986: “We (Christians) are an Easter people and `Alleluia’ is our song!”
For local Christians, this Easter seemed special.
After last year’s stay-at-home order prevented people from going to church, those at this weekend’s Holy Week and Easter services were grateful and joyful to celebrate in-person again.
Kari Smith, who attends the First Baptist Church of Idaho Springs, said: “(This Easter) feels like the spring and the hope after a really long, long winter — literally and figuratively.”
The gradual return
While communal worship was challenging last year, locals found a few positives.
Even after returning to in-person services, First Baptist, the United Church of Idaho Springs and the county’s Catholic parishes have reached more people through virtual services and Bible studies.
Members at all three churches said providing an online option allowed people to attend who might not have otherwise because of illness or travel.
In-person fellowship opportunities are just now returning as both United Church and the Catholic parishes have resumed coffee and donuts after services again with restrictions.
Meanwhile, many in-person ministries — such as United Church’s weekly Taste & See dinners and the Catholic parishes’ jail outreach — remain shut down.
Even so, Susan McOllough, a 17-year member of United Church, said she feels she’s grown closer to God over the past year, saying she’s spent more time reading the Bible and listening to sermons online.
“In some ways, (the past year) has made the spiritual life more fulfilling,” she said. “ … God can take anything and turn it around and make it good.”
Smith felt similarly, saying, “It was a year of faith and more dependence on God than ever.”
For new First Baptist member Kandi Hedges, who moved to the Highway 103 area in October, attending services and Bible study was a critical outlet for her. On Friday, as she and her friends finished a six-week study about the events of Holy Week, Hedges described how it allowed her to meet people and deepen her faith.
“Without Jesus, I don’t know how anybody would make it through COVID, or anything really,” Hedges said.
`That joy doesn’t go away’
Because membership at all three churches tends to be mostly seniors, some have been reluctant to return to in-person services.
Maureen Roderick, a parishioner at St. Paul Catholic Church, said Friday she’s been praying that Easter would be the event that helps them feel comfortable enough to return to the pews.
“I hope they’ll be able to re-enter into their community spirituality, because they’ve been on their own for the last year,” she said.
Ron Roderick, her husband and a deacon at the local Catholic parishes, pointed out how sections of Europe have gone under another stay-at-home order, and Christians there couldn’t attend in-person services for a second consecutive year.
“I feel really privileged that we’re able to celebrate it,” he said.
Despite recent events, McOllough said the meaning of Easter hadn’t changed for her, adding, “It’s just the pure joy we have because of Jesus. That’s true in good times and in bad times. That joy doesn’t go away.”
For Hedges, the idea of the resurrection touches her heart a little differently now after a year full of fear, turmoil, pain and death.
“We rise above the circumstance we’ve been living in because (Jesus) did,” she said. “He led the way.”