Easter is not canceled

This Sunday is Easter, it is a different kind of Easter than any of us could have imagined just a few short months ago.

Even here at the Northern Wyoming News we had plans for our regular Easter services page and we had weekend photographers scheduled for many traditional community Easter egg hunts.

Those Easter egg hunts have been canceled along with regular church services with a state order from the governor prohibiting gatherings of 10 or more people; and rightly so as we work to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

But what is not canceled is Easter itself. Easter will still be Sunday no matter what orders are in place, and you can celebrate Easter in your home listening or viewing a church service that may be livestreaming or with a few churches that are having drive-in services this Easter.

In the words of Shell Cowboy Church Pastor James Scott, the churches may be empty but that is OK, because the tomb is also empty, which is why we serve a Risen Savior and why we celebrate His resurrection this Sunday.

You can also have a home Easter egg hunt or participate in the Washakie Prevention Coalition Easter egg hunt (as long as you and your family adhere to proper social distancing guidelines if you run across other hunters).

Washakie Prevention has organized the Washakie County Paper Egg Hunt. The rules are simple. People are asked to decorate a paper egg by today (Thursday, April 9) and hang it in your window or door.

Then people can walk or drive around Worland and Ten Sleep from Friday through Sunday and share on social media how many eggs they have found and/or share a photo of their egg hunt on the Washakie Prevention Facebook page.

Or how about a drive-in movie. The Ten Sleep Recreation District is running free movies Friday and Saturday night starting at 8 p.m. at the Ten Sleep Rodeo Grounds. “Doctor Sleep” will be shown Friday night and “Jumanji 2” is on Saturday.

Viewers are being asked to be vigilant about social distancing and are reminded that no restroom facilities will be available. “This is a gathering we can offer to support each other during this difficult time and still be in compliance with the governor’s recommendation,” the district said in a Facebook post. “We would love to continue doing so as long as everyone can be responsible.”

Movie goers are asked to remain in their vehicles.

Admittedly, it has been a rough couple of weeks. We are all adjusting to a new COVID-19 normal at this time and we are all hoping that sooner rather than later we can adjust to another new normal where businesses re-open and we again can socialize like we wish.

In the meantime we must stay the course, stay home when we can, wear masks if in public and when you are unable to practice the six feet of social distancing, only have one person in your household go shopping, shop only for what you need and try and shop for up to two weeks to minimize your time in public.

And, of course, wash your hands and don’t touch your face.

So, as we adjust to the new normal, let us take this weekend to celebrate Easter.

Easter may not be what we intended or what we were planning but it can and should still be celebrated

Happy Easter!

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With Easter hunts canceled we are looking for Easter photos. Anyone wanting to share photos of their family egg hunts or family Easter celebrations, or even a photo of how you and your children are handling the new normal, please email them to [email protected]. We will choose some for publication in our print edition and share others on our website and Facebook page.