Celebrating His Return | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Churches keep safety in mind as congregants return for Easter services

Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church in Palatka
Trinity Episcopal Church in Melrose displays a cross Friday in honor of Easter Sunday.
Positively Putnam FL

Easter Sunday looks different than last year for some Putnam County churches as coronavirus restrictions have loosened since Spring 2020.

Many church leaders closed their doors a year ago and turned virtual because gatherings were recommended to be limited during the pandemic.

Associate Pastor Emily Thomas, who preaches at Bethel Assembly of God in Interlachen, said the church hosted a drive-in service outside and online for Easter last year.

“This year, we’re doing one drive-in service and the second service inside,” she said.

Limited social gatherings meant the church could not host their Easter Egg Hunt in 2020 but will bring it back 2 p.m. today for children 12 or younger, Thomas said.

The church built a deck outside for attendees to sit and worship while still practicing social distancing, but Thomas said she is eager to see more people worship inside the church.

“We’d like to see more people coming back in and connecting more,” she said.

For Easter 2020, First Presbyterian Church of Palatka, 123 S. Second St., also moved to online services.

“This time a year ago, the COVID thing was a deep, dark mystery to us,” Pastor Cliff Lyda said.

He said First Presbyterian will host two in-person services Sunday. But signups were required in advance to practice social distancing and both services are full.

“But we have a good number of people for worship on Easter Sunday,” Lyda said.

Masks are required inside the church and people will enter and exit through separate areas. Lyda said he is excited about the services because it will be the first Sunday back to worship since renovations began during the pandemic.

“I think we’re going to have a wonderful day,” Lyda said.

The Rev. Karl Flagg was gearing up Thursday for Easter Sunday and said church services have been forever changed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“And when I say forever changed, that is not a negative statement,” Flagg said. “That is a statement of optimism because we’ve always proclaimed the church is not limited to the building, limited to the facility.”

He is the pastor of Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church and it has been using a hybrid model, in person and online, to reach people who don’t feel comfortable attending in person. Flagg said the pandemic is an uncertain time but working with other pastors, churches and community members is beneficial to everyone.

“It’s not mission impossible. It’s mission possible. That’s where we are,” Flagg said. “And, so, I think the network of churches, network of pastors, network of individuals, parishioners within the congregation have the gift, the skills and the talents to really make us better, stronger and wiser.”

He said Mt. Tabor has not missed a beat during the coronavirus pandemic and gained an audience online with people even out of state. Live-streamed services have created an opportunity to get reacquainted with members whose attendance may have been limited even before 2020, Flagg said.

“It’s not a fear factor. It’s a faith factor,” Flagg said. “… We’re using faith and wisdom to make decisions in the best interests of the congregants, as well as the community.”