COVID-19

Online scavenger hunts a lot like Pokémon Go, but for all things nature, a new university climate center, free tree giveaways, and making your own basket in the Coeur d’Alene tribal practice of twining with recycled plastic grocery store bags are just some of the exciting events planned over the next several days in honor of the 51st Earth Day on April 22.

About 35 miles west of the Kroc Church and on the other side of the state line, Whitworth Church will also be hosting Easter services this year, but within Washington’s tighter COVID restrictions, albeit at greater capacity now that Spokane County is in Phase 3 of the mitigation plan.

Like last year, Easter services look a little different for congregations across the Inland Northwest for one major reason: COVID-19 is still with us.

Americans are growing more confident they can attend in-person religious services, but many still want restrictions such as social distancing and masking.

One year of unoccupied houses of worship, of virtual services, of online community – I can’t help but wonder how this will forever impact U.S. congregations. I feel honored that I actually get to be part of a research team that gets to study this. It’s aptly called the EPIC project – Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations: Innovation Amidst and Beyond COVID-19.

As the COVID vaccine becomes more accessible to broad swaths of the population, faith leaders are finding ways to combat vaccine hesitancy, encourage a return to normalcy and reckon with the ways in which the vaccine fits into their faith.