The 2020 Easter celebration has come and gone without the usual Sunday services in churches across the state in obedience to government’s stay at home order as a measure to curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the state.
According to our reporter who monitored compliance in Asaba, no church opened for service as their gates were under lock and key.
The Bishop, Diocese of Asaba, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Justus Mogekwu, who spoke in a chat, said the church did not see the no worship order as s problem because it believed that worshipping God was not all about congregating in a building.
Bishop Mogekwu said the development occasioned by COVID – 19 only created an opportunity to explore other vistas of church worship, adding that Easter was not a concept, but a reality that mist begin from the heart of Christians.
He explained that the family unit was the first church, pointing out that the paradigm of worship necessitated by COVID – 19 was not an issue, but sharing and showing love to one another in commemoration of the risen Christ.
For his part, the Pastor in Charge, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Delta Province 3, Tomi Sodeinde, said as an organisation that believed in respect for constituted authority, the church had directed its members across the over 400 parishes in Delta state to remain at home in compliance with government’s directive, the Easter Sunday not withstanding.
Pastor Sodeinde told our reporter that the church conducted its service online and via satellite, adding that the church also had a WhatsApp group where all members could be reached on issues bordering on worships outside the church environment.
He said in support of the fight against COVID – 19, the RCCG in Delta state had donated food items to the state government and to indigent members of the church to cushion the effect of the stay at home order.
The clergyman called on Christians and Deltans in general to support government’s efforts at curtailing the spread of COVID – 19 and commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the success recorded so far in making the people stay safe.
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