Artwork by Yongsung Kim – For This Purpose

Easter During Pandemic: We Can Still Enjoy this Holiday Despite the Chaos

“Easter has not been cancelled. And hope has not been cancelled either,” Junius Dotson, CEO of Discipleship Ministries, told CNN on Thursday. Dotson, like many Christians around the world, was disappointed when he realized that the current coronavirus pandemic would overshadow the spring holiday season. But he was determined not to let the chaos take away from the meaning and hope that can be found during Easter.

So Dotson and his team formed a virtual choir of over 400 singers to give praise to the one whose holiday this is. Christians from around the world combined their voices through phones, laptops, and iPads, proving that even though we’re physically distant right now, we can still unite to share hope and praise God.

In fact, this pandemic seems to have brought people closer together than ever. While we are stuck at home, there are many ways we can still celebrate Easter together.

First of all, we can still worship. Many churches will be live-streaming or recording video of worship services. You can also join the hundreds of thousands of Christians participating in a worldwide day of prayer and fasting on Good Friday (April 10). The purpose is to pray for the pandemic to be controlled and peace to come to those affected, and also to unite the world in remembering Jesus Christ and His role in our lives. 

Though your worship service of choice might not include a choir, you can still enjoy good music this Easter as well. Check out the Discipleship Ministeries’ virtual choir on their website or search your favorite gospel music on YouTube. The world-famous Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square will even be streaming their 2018 Handel’s “Messiah” concert on Friday, after which it will be available online. On their website they’ve included a link to download a free score so viewers can sing along.

Of course, we can’t forget Easter eggs. Though we won’t be able to gather with friends and family like usual, we can still enjoy some traditions with a twist. The possibilities are endless, from online egg painting contests to virtual egg hunts. There are even neighborhoods organizing “socially distant” egg hunts, where neighbors put pictures of colored eggs in their windows for passersby to spot. It may be different from what we’re used to, but starting a new tradition can also be exciting and memorable. Even if eggs aren’t your thing, there are plenty of Easter craft ideas online to help you celebrate Easter from the safety of your home.

There will be noticable differences during Easter this year, but one thing that will never change is Christ’s sacrifice for all of us. Now more than ever, we can benefit from the hope and healing that comes from Easter and the time we take to remember our Savior and what he did for us. No matter what this pandemic brings, Jesus is with us every step of the way.