Bismarck Churches Forge Ahead with Easter Services Despite Winter Storm

Local pastors share plans to keep traditions alive while ensuring safety during heavy snowfall

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:06pm

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray and white, with a heavy snowstorm obscuring the view of a small church steeple in the distance. The scene conveys the overwhelming power of the winter weather, dwarfing the physical structures and emphasizing the sublime scale of the natural world.As a winter storm blankets Bismarck, local churches forge ahead with Easter services, finding ways to keep traditions alive while prioritizing safety.Bismarck Today

Despite heavy snowfall that has been ongoing since Friday afternoon in Bismarck, North Dakota, many local churches are determined to hold their traditional Easter Sunday services. Pastors at Trinity Lutheran Church and the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit say they will proceed with in-person worship, while also offering live-streamed options for those unable to safely travel.

Why it matters

Easter is one of the most important holidays for Christian congregations, and local faith leaders are working to balance honoring traditions with prioritizing public safety during the severe winter weather. The ability to live-stream services also helps ensure no one is left out of the Easter message.

The details

Pastor Mark Narum of Trinity Lutheran Church stated that their worship services will continue as normal, as they believe people will make wise choices about attending. The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit also plans to keep each Mass on schedule, with one member saying they will 'just plow through.' For those unable to make it in person, both churches are providing live-streams of their services so no one misses out.

  • The heavy snowfall began around noon on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • Easter Sunday falls on April 6, 2026.

The players

Pastor Mark Narum

The lead pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Cathedral of the Holy Spirit

A Catholic church in Bismarck that is also proceeding with Easter Sunday Masses despite the winter storm.

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What they’re saying

“Our worship services will go on as normal because we always believe that people will make wise choices.”

— Pastor Mark Narum, Lead Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church

“We live-stream our services, our evening, and our 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services so people who choose for safety reasons can still be involved.”

— Pastor Mark Narum, Lead Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church

“As I look at the weather forecast as they're moving through, Friday will be what Friday will be. And the way it looks to me, by Easter Sunday, we'll be in fine shape.”

— Pastor Mark Narum, Lead Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church

What’s next

Local residents should continue to monitor the weather forecast and road conditions leading up to Easter Sunday to determine if it is safe to travel to in-person services. The live-stream options provided by Trinity Lutheran Church and the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit will allow people to participate remotely if needed.

The takeaway

Despite the challenging winter weather, Bismarck's faith community is committed to celebrating Easter together, whether in person or virtually. This demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of local churches in ensuring their traditions and messages of hope can be shared, even in the face of unexpected obstacles.