Hope and Prayer: Looking at religion during the COVID-19 pandemic

Jacob Wiegand and Ben Matthews

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Like many other aspects of life during the COVID-19 pandemic, religious observations have also been altered. Worshipers weren’t able to congregate inside local churches on Easter or other Sunday mornings, but many have been able to take part in services via the internet. People have gathered in vehicles for "park and pray" events outside local hospitals and Catholic confessions have been heard outdoors. “People want hope,” the Rev. Eric Coher, lead pastor at Cape Bible Chapel, said. “That’s the bottom line. They want something that they can latch onto that gives lasting hope.” The images seen here were captured by Southeast Missourian photojournalists who were on hand for many of the previously-mentioned happenings.

Empty pews surround Pastor Eric Coher as he speaks to his congregants via livestream on Sunday, March 22, 2020, at Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau. In accordance with federal and state regulations and suggested precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Cape Bible Chapel held its inaugural broadcast of a Sunday service March 22 at the church. Pastor Eric Coher said the church was already in the process of acquiring a system to provide its services via a livestreamed broadcast, but recently expedited the process of installing the system. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
The Rev. Allan Saunders, pastor at St. Mary Cathedral, meets with Jordan Huff of Cape Girardeau while hearing confessions Saturday, March 28, 2020, outside St. Mary Cathedral School in Cape Girardeau. Saunders, who was scheduled to be available to hear confessions from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m., said it was the normal time for the activity, but the first time doing so outside due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "We can't have churches open so we figure we can do social distancing outside," Saunders said. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Statler siblings Bella, 7, and Carter, 4, of Oak Ridge, take part in a "park and pray" event with their parents Paige and Rusty Statler, in passenger and driver seats respectively, on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, outside Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Christy Brey of Jackson, who organized the event, said people also gathered Monday at Saint Francis Medical Center. "Obviously there's a lot going on with the scares and the panic of COVID and just the fears of people," Brey said. She said she had the idea after seeing a post about a similar event on social media. "It's just to kind of rally the community," she said. Brey said people at the event were supposed to stay in their vehicles and "stay within the guidelines of safety." (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Lori Rubel of Scott City, Missouri, takes part in a "park and pray" event Tuesday, March 31, 2020, outside Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Christy Brey of Jackson, who organized the event, said people also gathered Monday at Saint Francis Medical Center. "Obviously, there's a lot going on with the scares and the panic of COVID and just the fears of people," Brey said. She said she had the idea after seeing a post on social media about a similar event. "It's just to kind of rally the community," she said. Brey said people at the event were supposed to stay in their vehicles and "stay within the guidelines of safety." (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Volunteers carry food to be loaded into vehicles during drive-true only mobile food pantry on Saturday, April 4, 2020, at New McKendree United Methodist Church's south campus in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Julie Ogles of Cape Girardeau and her daughter Caroline, 10, pose for a portrait Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at their Cape Girardeau home next to signs Caroline made. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian Victoria Bittle, 17, of Cobden, Illinois, rings a bell at the beginning of the Easter sunrise service Sunday, April 12, 2020, at Bald Knob Cross of Peace in Alto Pass, Illinois. Teresa Gilbert, executive director of Bald Knob Cross of Peace, said it's a tradition to start the service by ringing the old church bell. Worshipers flock to the cross most years for the annual service, but not during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there were a few people at the cross to conduct the service and share it with the masses. Gilbert said WSIL-TV live streamed and broadcast the service. "It's just been an amazing experience watching everybody pull together," Gilbert said. "Not one of us could have done it by ourselves."
The Rev. Steve McKeown speaks during the Easter sunrise service Sunday, April 12, 2020, at Bald Knob Cross of Peace in Alto Pass, Illinois. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
First Baptist Jackson senior pastor Troy Richards delivers a sermon to more than 50 vehicles in attendance at the church's drive-in service held Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020, in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Wanda Choate takes a photo on her phone while parked next to Margaret Tallent, bottom right, as they await the start of First Baptist Jackson's drive-in Easter service Sunday, April 12, 2020, in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
First Baptist Jackson senior pastor Troy Richards delivers a sermon to more than 50 vehicles in attendance at the church's drive-in service held Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020, in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
While the church remained closed, one churchgoer sat outside of St. Mary's Cathedral to pray the rosary Monday, April 13, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. The prayer asked to remain anonymous, but said her actions were "a non-violent protest against everything going on" as she prayed for the health of all. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)