Church leaders excited to gather for Easter after missing last year

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - For Christians, Easter is a time to gather together and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Last year the celebration happened in homes, with families watching computer screens. Faith leaders are excited to gather together this year.

Last Easter, Pastors like Bryan Wilson at Grace Church Knox had to find ways to reach their members online.

“We never imagined closing on a Sunday. Never imagined that. We hope to be that place of hope and life,” said Wilson.

This Easter, they’re hosting a drive-in service as well as reaching people online.

“Easter is a way of us celebrating the greatest comeback story ever. Jesus, who was dead, and everyone walked away, and then three days later he is alive. With that there’s hope. There’s joy. That means there are miracles, that there is restoration. That means my life is not over, there is new life,” said Wilson.

At Maryville College, Reverend Anne McKee is continuing a decades-long tradition of a sunrise service on campus. They’re asking people to RSVP this year.

“The irony is is I never get to see it because my back is to the sun, but everyone who attends the service is sitting on this hillside that overlooks the Chilhowie mountains,” said McKee.

Last year, the school couldn’t hold the event. This year the event is giving her hope.

“Easter is a promise of the life that overcomes deaths. Good things are on the horizon and we can take courage in some piece of hope. we have great hope because of vaccines and because of the numbers falling that the pandemic will be over, but we also know that there are tremendous numbers of people continuing to suffer, and it’s not over,” said McKee

Christ Community Church of Oak Ridge has been holding church outside at a city park every Sunday. Pastor Tom Job said they’ll gather again at the park for Easter.

“There were Sundays where we had an inch of snow on the ground. I told people you’re going to tell your grandkids about that. There’s so much hope right now and some people have said we’re going to miss this and I hope we can do this from time to time, remember the days we praised Jesus outside,” said Job.

The church is “overcoming hardships, growing with our faith,” Job said. All of them are praying and planning for a time when they can gather together again safely.

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