CLIFTON SPRINGS, N.Y. — The pandemic has changed public worship the past year. A small congregation in Clifton Springs is planning an Easter program to make Easter service special.

Music is an integral part of the Christian worship experience. Choir singing isn’t back just yet, but for the first time in about a year, the Wellspring Church band is back and its community theater group is rehearsing for a live play this weekend.

What You Need To Know

  • Wellspring Church is planning a free, live musical stage Easter performance this weekend

  • The event is Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

  • Wellspring Church is located at 22 Teft Avenue, in Clifton Springs

“How often do you get to do a Ernest Hemingway play that’s never been performed before," said Tommy Smith, director of the Wellspring Community Theater. "It is exciting at this time especially with what we’ve gone through the past year."

For Wellspring Church members music is a gift from God so the chance to perform in -person means a lot during what is the holiest time on the Christian calendar.

“It is amazing. It is such a blessing to be able to get back into live theater," said Michael Obit, from Wellspring Community Theater. "I haven’t done live theater in almost a year. COVID has really taken a toll on live theater and I feel like people are going to feel really excited about this."

Pastor Les Moore is so proud of his congregation. Wellspring Church operates a food distribution center. It provided 250 tons of food to 30,000 people this past year. The church also provides clothing and furniture assistance. They call it “Hearts of Gold."

"That is what we do, is serve" said Pastor Moore. "That is what we are supposed to be doing is helping one another and lifting one another up and encouraging one another and I think we were able to do that throughout the pandemic and the lockdown and we are going to continue to do that. We’ve done it before and we will continue to do it. So in that way church never stopped."

At Wellspring Church everyone is welcome. The Easter performance and worship is Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The church is located at 22 Teft Avenue in Clifton Springs. The event is free but donations to the Wellspring Community Care Ministry will be accepted.