Stay at Home on Easter

Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed is joining Bishop Elijah Hankerson, Church of God in Christ and St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, and Pastor B.T. Rice, New Horizon Seven Day Christian Church, in urging churchgoers to stay home and worship from home, especially this Easter Sunday.

“It is imperative that churches observe the ‘10 persons or less’ guidelines, for the safety of congregants. While Easter is the holiest day in the Christian calendar; there are innovative ways that congregations can worship together, even from home. We are people of faith. However, the Bible teaches that, ‘faith without works is dead.’ We must balance our faith, with love, care and compassion for the safety of our fellow parishioners,” said Hankerson. 

Reed warns local churches to follow the Stay at Home order for the health and well-being of their congregations. “As much as we all want to be together to celebrate Easter, it is not safe to join together this year. I am encouraging everyone to stay home so that we can all be together to celebrate later this year,” said Reed. “This is something we’ve never dealt with before. We have to be smart and stay safe.” 

Pastor B.T. Rice also appeals to pastors to encourage their congregations to stay home this Easter. “Staying at home on Easter is a way of fulfilling the other half of our commitment to ‘love for our neighbor.’ Staying at home on Easter is merely another way to help assure victory over our common enemy to human life. Unprecedented times demand unprecedented measures,” said Rice. 

Easter is Sunday, April 12.