Churches Prepare for Holy Week with Fewer Restrictions
Churches across the northwest metro are preparing for Holy Week. This comes after relaxed rules which allows religious organizations to fully open.
Ebenezer Community Church
For Rev. Francis Tabla of Ebenezer Community Church in Brooklyn Park, the loosened restrictions came just in time to observe Palm Sunday, which occurs one week before Easter
“Most of us in the church are from Africa, and Palm Sunday is very crucial. We celebrate it with palm branches and so forth,” explained Tabla.
Ebenezer Community Church.
Tabla said not everything will be back to normal despite the dial-back. This year, Ebenzer Church won’t be doing the washing of feet ceremony due to sanitary reasons.
The church will still observe the Last Supper and also the seven words on the cross.
“We’ll usually do baptism. But because of the virus again, we will not do baptism we’re going to skip that and push it to November,” said Tabla.
Ebenezer Church will still have two Easter Sunday services but it’s not without assigned seats, masks and social distancing.
Holy Nativity Lutheran Church
Holy Nativity Lutheran Church in New Hope also won’t look the same this year despite the relaxed rules.
“We’re still very much focused on online knowing a lot of people will be tuning into our live stream as well,” said Sr. Pastor Jason Wahlstrom.
Wahlstrom said Palm Sunday is always a huge Sunday for the church. The church typically has a big youth breakfast and silent auction fundraiser. However, for the second year in a row, the church can’t do that. The silent auction is moved online where people can participate.
Holy Nativity Lutheran Church.
Currently, Holy Nativity is only allowing 15 members for in-person church. Easter will be the first Sunday that the church will allow up to 75 people. Wahlstrom said signups are filling up quick.
“I feel like September. is the point where we’ll be completely back to normal,” said Wahlstrom.
The pastor said more people are willing to come to church due to vaccines. For those who are still worried, Holy Nativity has an online option.
“This fear and anxiety is real, the biggest answer to that is the community of faith,” said Wahlstrom.
