Remote Religion: Finding faith in a time of social isolation
Renwick Baptist Church pastor Rev. Shawn Geer (right) hands out palms from a safe distance while wearing protection on April 5, Palm Sunday. About two dozen vehicles, many with several family members, took palms and paraded through town, proclaiming their love for Christ Jesus. Humboldt Independent photo by Kent Thompson.
First in a Series
By KENT THOMPSON
Donned in a protective mask and gloves, Renwick Baptist Church Pastor Shawn Geer handed out palms and blessed parishioners as they formed a processional on Montgomery Street in front of the church last Sunday.
It was an unusual sight. But just as the palm branch was a Jewish symbol of triumph and victory when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the Palm Sunday ritual practiced in a different form was one sign of hope during dark times.
Baptist Church member Harold Trask came up with the idea, since church gatherings have been placed on hold since Gov. Kim Reynolds order on March 17, limiting any public gathering 10 persons or fewer.
“I just thought it was a good way to celebrate Christ and to show the community that even though our church members can’t gather for worship, we can do so from our cars in a safe distance from one another,” Trask said.
Getting palms wasn’t an easy task as several local greenhouses are closed. Trask was able to obtain the palms and helped Rev. Geer in handing them out.
Geer was thrown headfirst into a new way of worshiping, as he just accepted the pastorate at the Renwick Baptist Church on March 1. He previously served in Cedar Rapids, and before that was the minister at the First Baptist Church in Plainfield for more than a decade.
“We are all learning new ways,” Geer said. “It’s been a challenge, but we are finding our way,” he said.
Read more about how local congregations are celebrating Holy Week from remote distances in this week's Humboldt Independent.
