Easter - closed churches and open faith

Easter Day - and the churches are empty across the nation, across chunks of the world even.

Some bemoan this, that on our holy day our buildings are closed, claiming it sends out a message that our faith is irrelevant and has nothing to offer in these virus days.

I beg to differ - the church has been forced into new ways and patterns, we seem to be engaging more, with each other and with the community.

On a normal Holy Week and Easter I would be leading services hidden away in church buildings, a brief open air on Good Friday led by an ecumenical colleague, to church folk in one village and maybe 1 or 2 passers by who hurry past.

This year I have led no church services, I have sent out worship material in advance, I have invited people to place palm crosses in windows and redecorate for today - Easter Day.  This year I have posted in community facebook groups explaining that they may see some crosses amid the rainbows and why, wishing all Easter greetings.  This year I have had 58 positive responses to that post in one community alone, almost all not church attenders, and it continues with today's Easter post.

This year when we could not meet inside the church I made a point of telling the story outside the building (at church near manse).   Visible to those out on their walks, emailed to contacts across my churches, used in my community facebook posts.

This year I worried about those who didn't have internet access or resources - posting and phoning - and have challenged myself about not including those unable to attend in previous years. Just because there are more I have been stirred to act. I have worried about zoom worship and video clips because it excludes some, yet I have in the busyness of regular church services been less alert to how those not able to come any year can be a part of our worship.

This year I have thought of how the excluded can worship, for too long we have thought of those less able to get to our buildings as in need of visits, calls, but not resources to worship with us.

This year I have heard of church people choosing to engage with worship from various sources, and have spoken about how they used the reflections I circulated, I have seen their crosses in windows and front gardens when walking and photos emailed.

This year it feels that our Easter journeys have been more public, have been wider for many, and have challenged me deeply about our patterns of  inclusion.  Lessons I need to process and apply in life beyond Coronavirus.

The first Easter the followers of Jesus were scattered in different places, some - a group of women, or just Mary of Magdala depending which gospel - head for the tomb, the message is sent back to others, still more are hiding in locked rooms or heading home to Emmaus. Maybe this year we are closer to the dispersed, confused, still mourning first followers of the risen Christ.