A Message of Hope and an Invitation to Worship with Us This Easter Weekend

Apr 9, 2020

For weeks, we at The Salvation Army have been reassuring people that Hope Isn’t Cancelled. Most everything else might be, including many of our own regular programs. But thanks to our generous donors and dedicated staff, we are still running food pantries, providing rent and utility assistance, and doing our best to ensure that all our neighbors in need get through this coronavirus crisis.

This weekend we are comforted by another truth: Easter isn’t cancelled. Let the message below from our Divisional Commander grant you some perspective on this holiday weekend. And then consider attending one of our corps community centers’ online Good Friday and/or Easter services. Gather with us to celebrate that Hope is alive and well.

An Easter Message from Our Divisional Commander

Dear Friends:

For those who love worshiping Jesus, it's just hard to not be together on Easter. We miss the scent of lilies in the chapel and the communal breakfast waiting for us in the fellowship hall. Most of all we miss the warm hugs freely given without a thought of surgical masks and social distancing. While life has changed, we know God never changes! Can I get an "AMEN"?

This is an Easter we will never forget. Our children and their children will say "remember the year we couldn't go to church?" Present circumstances are forcing us to relearn something many have forgotten. Christians don't go to church. Christians are the church. We are the church everyday when we allow Jesus to live his life through us in our normal activities.

We are the church when we speak to the neighbor we have not taken the time to meet yet.

We are the church when we bake an extra batch of cookies for the family who has been quarantined.

We are the church when we call that fringe relative we haven't spoken to in years to see how they are doing.

We are the church when we share bread (or toilet paper) with someone who couldn't make it to the right store at the right time.

We are the church when we generously give what we can afford so that others might be blessed.

Don't be fooled. While you may not be going to church this Sunday, that does not stop you from being the church today and every day you have on this earth.

HE IS RISEN! (HE IS RISEN, INDEED!)

HALLELUJAH!

Commissioner Barry C. Swanson

Divisional Commander

Metropolitan Division

Metropolitan Division Online Good Friday and Easter Services

(Facebook live services can be watched at the time of the service or any time after.)

Aurora Corps Community Center

Easter service at 10:15 a.m.

Via Facebook live

The Salvation Army – Aurora, IL

Belvidere Corps Community Center

Easter service at 11:00 a.m. in English and noon in Spanish

Via Facebook live

The Salvation Army Belvidere Corps

Chicago Kroc Center

Easter service at 11:00 a.m.

Via Facebook live

Kroc Center Chicago

Chicago LaVillita Corps Community Center

Good Friday service at 7:00 p.m. (Spanish)

Easter service at 11:00 a.m. (Spanish)

Via Facebook live

The Salvation Army LaVillita Corps Community Center

Chicago Midway Citadel Corps Community Center

Good Friday service at 5:00 p.m.

Easter service at 11:15 a.m.

The Salvation Army Midway Citadel Corps Community Center

Chicago Midwest Corps Community Center

Good Friday service from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the church parking lot. Must remain in your car. Take a packet when entering the parking lot and follow instructions. The packet will also contain material for an Easter Sunday family reflection time to be done at home.

20 S. Campbell Ave, Chicago, IL 60612

Chicago Templo Laramie Corps Community Center

Easter service at 6:00 a.m. (Spanish)

Via Facebook live

The Salvation Army Templo Laramie Corps Community Center

Des Plaines Corps Community Center

Good Friday service at 6:00 p.m. (both English and Spanish)

Easter service at 9:30 a.m. (both English and Spanish)

English services available via Zoom

Spanish services available on Facebook

East Chicago Corps Community Center

Good Friday service (bilingual -- English and Spanish) available here: https://youtu.be/9ZfxcnH4kjI