Church leaders marked the first major Christian holiday since the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions with Easter over the weekend.

As of April 1, the Government of the Northwest Territories rescinded Covid-19 restrictions that included indoor gathering limitations.

In Hay River, Christians marked Palm Sunday on April 10, which led into Good Friday to mark the death of Jesus Christ.

Easter Sunday, which celebrates the resurrection, drew some of the largest crowds to church since the pandemic took effect in March 2020.

Pastor Samuel Acey of the Hay River Pentecostal Chapel ministers to about 75 people in his congregation. He said that the weekend represented a turning point after two years under pandemic restrictions.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really the first really Christian holiday post-CovidSA国际影视传媒� where we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to worry about who is worried about certain restrictions or who is staying away,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hose who are free to come out are able to come out and so thatSA国际影视传媒檚 good. The last couple of Easters, weSA国际影视传媒檝e had a number of restrictions or social distancing rules but now weSA国际影视传媒檙e able to come together and not necessarily have to put that warning label on the door.SA国际影视传媒�

Acey said the church tries to build community in a number of ways, such as singing during services, sharing communal food, hosting meals and social gatherings and making home visits.

In most cases, these types of activities were either severely restricted or suspended over the last two years due to public health orders.

The pastor said some in his congregation are still reluctant to come out to services. Some wear masks or take other safety precautions out of personal choice.

Some of that hesitation will gradually evolve in the weeks and months ahead, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 going to take some time to kind of get people back in the mindset that weSA国际影视传媒檙e able to gather and that this is OK,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪ome people have not been coming out for a couple of years and while they havenSA国际影视传媒檛 left the church and have remained connected in various ways, at the same time they were staying away for their own reasons. SA国际影视传媒�

There is a sense of community that the church provides, according to Acey.

SA国际影视传媒淎s we come out of Covid, we are planning what we as a church have to do to help that hunger for social gathering and communal gathering together for people,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淣ot just for those who would call the church home but for the community in general.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e entering into a brand new season here, for sure.SA国际影视传媒�

Father Innocent Ukaegbu of Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church said he had about 80 people attend Easter Sunday service. He admitted that conducting church ministerial responsibilities has been challenging since Easter service was first shutdown in 2020.

He said many of his congregation of nearly 200 people are still taking public health precautions.

SA国际影视传媒淓ven though restrictions have been lifted, here in town a lot of people have Covid so a lot of people still have voluntarily stayed away from coming to church,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Of those that participated over the weekend, he said that there was a sense of relief of returning to a degree of normalcy.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think there was the emotional or psychological feeling of a return to normal life because those restrictions are no longer there. People feel good,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淔or the first time in almost two years, we were able to go to the hall and have our snacks or go through our Sunday routine of having a potlach.SA国际影视传媒�

Easter Sunday

Acey and Ukaegbu said they see the Easter message of the resurrection as being especially important this year as many people are struggling with uncertainty.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think especially in this present time, a lot of people are coming out of a time of just chaos SA国际影视传媒� a word I hear thrown around a lot,SA国际影视传媒� Acey said. SA国际影视传媒淧eople donSA国际影视传媒檛 know whatSA国际影视传媒檚 happening next week or next month or feel chaos because of whatever is happening in our world.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 hope for all people and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 hope for those of us who are feeling like weSA国际影视传媒檙e drained and that we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have anywhere else to turn, whether weSA国际影视传媒檙e feeling like we have been on the receiving end of wars or of persecution or of racism or that have been victims of abuse or addictions.SA国际影视传媒�

The resurrection represents that there is hope for all people, Acey added.

Ukaegbu said the return of gatherings at church adds positivity among the congregation, especially older people.

SA国际影视传媒淥f the few that go to church, what I have discovered is that the word of God makes them to be hopeful,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淵es, there are problems in our world and sometimes they can be complex, but sometimes what we hear and the encouragement we get from the church and when we read the Bible helps us to be resilient.SA国际影视传媒�