Easter services going digital

CLOVIS - The three biggest words one would expect to hear at area churches just days from now are "He is risen," the message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But most people will be hearing those messages not from wooden church benches but from home furniture and car seats. That's because of three other words - "stay at home," a new public health order from New Mexico in hopes to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Churches have been exempted from the state orders, but most locations have already gone online with sermons either broadcast live or prerecorded and posted when their communities would normally be strolling into the stained-glass buildings across eastern New Mexico.

There are difficulties, particularly for the less tech savvy, but area pastors have been impressed with their communities.

"I've been really pleased with the response of people tuning in, along with other folks that are catching it during the week," said Jeb Archey, who is months away from completing his sixth year as pastor at First United Methodist Church in Clovis. "I've seen people watching worship that haven't been to church in a while. It's helping us stay connected to our church family."

So far, FUMC has livestreamed three services, which are available at its website and Facebook page.

Rev. Michael Niemczak, who has been at Sacred Heart Catholic Church since October, said the early decision to move services to an online format was met with shock but quickly followed by overwhelming understanding and support.

Church staff remains on hand, and people can come into the church to simply pray on their own.

As far as Easter sermons go, the goal is to naturally apply biblical lessons to current times and a pandemic provides quite the canvas.

"We're talking about the stone being rolled away," Archey said, while noting references to different stones in everyday lives. "Obviously, the stone being rolled away is the message of Easter and the tomb being empty."

Archey noted parallels with the pandemic and the burial of Jesus. In the three days that passed from Jesus' burial to his resurrection, Archey said disciples were supportive but spread out because they didn't quite know what was going to happen. On Sunday, Archey said a main message is that "God meets us wherever we're at."

Niemczak said he planned similar messages, noting that miracles often follow the darkest hour, God will be with you even when you can't be in the church and a family's home can always be a holy place.

"God is not geographically bound," Niemczak said. "Where we live is also where we can worship."

Archey is looking forward to the Sunday he sees people back in the church seats, but he feels affirmed by the ways people are connecting while they keep their distance.

"I've been so impressed at the number of members who call and say they can grocery shop or run errands for other church members," Archey said. "I call people who I think might need that help and they say they've either got family or friends around, and they're already taken care of. It shows at our core, when things collapse around us, people are there for each other."