Preparing for crowds: Some churches tweaking Easter plans to accommodate worshippers

It sometimes can be challenging enough for area Christian churches to prepare for Easter weekend services, as they’re marked by some of the largest crowds of the year.

Consider this weekend, making similar preparations — right in the middle of a pandemic in which organizers still are working to encourage people to safely distance.

At St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Bartholomew County’s county’s single largest house of worship, attendance during recent months had been limited to 225 people in one of the largest local sanctuaries that normally seats 900. Now, Catholic leaders hope to have ample room for 300 people in the sanctuary per Mass today and tomorrow, said liturgy coordinator Connie Sandlin.

“That kind of depends upon the size of families (attending),” Sandlin said.

There is also room for 30 people in the narthex and for 60 people watching a video screen downstairs at the church. In addition, visitors can even watch from their phone or tablet in their car in the parking lot and come to the church door for communion, although very few have done that in recent months.

Last week, for the celebratory Palm Sunday, more than 400 people per service were in attendance, according to Sandlin.

At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, the largest service this weekend might be the 11 a.m. gathering outdoors, weather permitting, on the north lawn with more than enough room for distancing, said senior pastor Mark Teike. Part of the reason for that is that each of the indoor Easter services is being limited to 250 people who must sign up for a seat. By Monday, the 8 and 9:30 a.m. Sunday services were already full.

“We are taking a more cautious approach,” Teike said. “Right now, for us, we simply believe that that is the right thing to do. These are people that I obviously feel a real sense of responsibility for.”

In case of inclement weather early Sunday morning, the sunrise service will be moved into the congregation’s athletic facility across the street from the church.

At The Ridge church, where a total of 2,400 people attended in 2019 during the last “normal” Easter, organizers are expecting a total attendance of 1,500-plus people amid four services, two more than usual, “with safe and clean overflow areas available as needed,” said lead pastor Adam Johnson.

“Our main goal is to love people well by having a safe and friendly environment, especially for people who aren’t normally the church-going crowd,” Johnson said. “While all of this certainly poses some unique challenges like sanitation and distancing, I’m thankful that we are able to gather together in any capacity, online or in-person.”

Community Church of Columbus leaders have added an extra service at 6 p.m. April 3 to accommodate extra crowds that have grown steadily since the church opened up again to in-person worship in January.

Lead pastor Mike Mantooth said there is not a limit on the number attending the in-person gatherings.

“We are looking forward to celebrating our risen Lord and Savior this Sunday for Easter,” Mantooth said. “…Our hope is that this (extra service) will provide more capacity for Easter, and that it will provide an opportunity for those who work on Sunday to come and celebrate Easter on Saturday evening.”