Not to be a downer, but for everyone thinking/hoping there will be one particular Sunday in the future when everyone returns to church and we can celebrate "Easter," I don't think it's going to work that way.

Once the okay is given for larger groups to gather, I foresee the community slowly returning over time. Some will remain fearful, some will remain vulnerable, some may even prefer online worship.

But I think we're looking at a gradual rebuilding of in-person community, not a switch being flipped where everything suddenly returns to the way it was. I'm afraid the repercussions of this time will be ongoing.

The good news is that a new reality will emerge. It will be faithful and hopeful and joyful. But it will be different in ways that we can't even imagine.