Easter Sunday amid COVID-19 pandemic (April 12)

An Easter Sunday unlike any the world has seen before meant mostly empty churches instead of packed pews, as congregants celebrated through virtual services or worshiped privately. For those observing the holiday with eggs, chocolate and other pastel-colored keepsakes, families were forced to social distance instead of gather together. This is what Easter looked like in the morning and early afternoon around Spokane on April 12, 2020 during COVID-19.

Section:Gallery

Sun., April 12, 2020

What is typically celebrated as one of the biggest Christian holidays, the COVID-19 pandemic left churches empty on Easter Sunday on April 12, 2020, including Westminster Baptist Church in Spokane, Wash. The Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing, leaving people of faith all over the world to worship on their own or through virtual services. Westminster Pastor Andy CastroLang livestreamed a virtual service.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
A pansy is speckled with dew near Gaiser Conservatory on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
At one of the few local churches that appeared to have activity, Pastor Pat Ledlow (right) and congregants dance to music and wave to passing cars after worshiping for Easter Sunday at the Church of Berachah in Spokane, Wash. on April 12, 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Zaya McCain, age 9, practices social distancing by dropping off Easter baskets in a contactless manner to her friends down the block from the Church of Berachah on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Pastor Pat Ledlow dances to music after worshiping for Easter Sunday at the Church of Berachah near Manito Park on April 12, 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
What is typically celebrated as one of the biggest Christian holidays, the COVID-19 pandemic left churches empty on Easter Sunday on April 12, 2020, including St. Joseph's Catholic Church, pictured here with the sun directly behind the steeple and giving off a glowing effect in Spokane, Wash. The Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing, leaving people of faith all over the world to worship on their own or through virtual services.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
What is typically celebrated as one of the biggest Christian holidays, the COVID-19 pandemic left churches empty on Easter Sunday on April 12, 2020, including Central Lutheran Church in Spokane, Wash. The Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing, leaving people of faith all over the world to worship on their own or through virtual services.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
What is typically celebrated as one of the biggest Christian holidays, the COVID-19 pandemic left churches empty on Easter Sunday on April 12, 2020, including Central Lutheran Church in Spokane, Wash. The Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing, leaving people of faith all over the world to worship on their own or through virtual services.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Joe Stachofsky takes a photo of his four children Kate (top left), Emma (top right), Matthew (bottom left) and Isaac (bottom right) on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. Makeesha Stachofsky (not pictured), who is mother to the four kids, explained that the family goes to Manito near the rose garden every year to take photos because that area is of the first to bloom in the park. It is one Easter tradition that COVID-19 didn't affect.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Bright purple flowers bloom on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Brooklin Simpson, age 6, hunts for Easter eggs that her parents hid in Manito Park's Ferris Perennial Garden on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. Dad Charles Ray said that it only took about 15 minutes to set up the hunt, which contained 18 real eggs that his children dyed the day before, and 40 "fun" eggs that contained chocolate and coins. "As long as we can practice social distancing, we'd like to keep the tradition," explained mom Nicole Larson, as the holiday was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Brooklin Simpson, age 6 (left) and Mia Simposon, age 9, hunt for Easter eggs that her parents hid in Manito Park's Ferris Perennial Garden on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. Dad Charles Ray said that it only took about 15 minutes to set up the hunt, which contained 18 real eggs that his children dyed the day before, and 40 "fun" eggs that contained chocolate and coins. "As long as we can practice social distancing, we'd like to keep the tradition," explained mom Nicole Larson, as the holiday was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Mia Simposon, age 9, hunts for Easter eggs that her parents hid in Manito Park's Ferris Perennial Garden on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. Dad Charles Ray said that it only took about 15 minutes to set up the hunt, which contained 18 real eggs that his children dyed the day before, and 40 "fun" eggs that contained chocolate and coins. "As long as we can practice social distancing, we'd like to keep the tradition," explained mom Nicole Larson, as the holiday was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
What is typically celebrated as one of the biggest Christian holidays, the COVID-19 pandemic left churches empty on Easter Sunday on April 12, 2020, including Christ Our Hope Bible Church in Spokane, Wash. The Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing, leaving people of faith all over the world to worship on their own or through virtual services.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
What is typically celebrated as one of the biggest Christian holidays, the COVID-19 pandemic left churches empty on Easter Sunday on April 12, 2020, including Christ the Reedemer Evangelical church in Spokane, Wash. The Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing, leaving people of faith all over the world to worship on their own or through virtual services.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
One of around a dozen bright colored plastic eggs on Bob Fasbender's lawn is seen on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020 in the Audobon neighborhood. Fasbender, who is soon to be 99 years old and lives alone, said that he didn't know who decorated his lawn with the eggs. Multiple lawns in the neighborhood were scattered with the Easter eggs, and a note that was attached to one on Fasbender's front stoop did not leave a signature but explained that all eggs were handled with gloves and masks and wiped down in order to be safe from COVID-19, and was accompanied by well wishes.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Bob Fasbender, who is soon to be 99 years old, looks through the window on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. Fasbender's lawn in the Audobon neighborhood was scattered with Easter eggs, and a note that was attached to one on Fasbender's front stoop did not leave a signature but explained that all eggs were handled with gloves and masks and wiped down in order to be safe from COVID-19, and was accompanied by well wishes.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Some of around a dozen bright colored plastic eggs are seen around the front of Bob Fasbender's house ion Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020 in the Audobon neighborhood. Fasbender, who is soon to be 99 years old and lives alone, said that he didn't know who decorated his lawn with the eggs. Multiple lawns in the neighborhood were scattered with the Easter eggs, and a note that was attached to one on Fasbender's front stoop did not leave a signature but explained that all eggs were handled with gloves and masks and wiped down in order to be safe from COVID-19, and was accompanied by well wishes.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
What is typically celebrated as one of the biggest Christian holidays, the COVID-19 pandemic left churches empty on Easter Sunday on April 12, 2020, including Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Spokane, Wash. The Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing, leaving people of faith all over the world to worship on their own or through virtual services.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
What is typically celebrated as one of the biggest Christian holidays, the COVID-19 pandemic left churches empty on Easter Sunday on April 12, 2020, including the Garland Church in Spokane, Wash. The Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing, leaving people of faith all over the world to worship on their own or through virtual services.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Plastic Easter eggs hang from a tree in Manito Park on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
A house Bernard and 28th is seen with decorations for Easter Sunday on April 12, 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is still in effect in Washington state, meaning many who celebrate the Easter holiday had to adjust their traditions in order to maintain social distancing.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review