Happy Easter – today is Good Friday, which marks both the end of Lent and the beginning of the Easter weekend.
In Christianity, Easter remembers the sacrifices Jesus made – when he was crucified on Good Friday – and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
It’s a special time for many, but with coronavirus closing churches and lockdown still in place, where can people turn to for prayer and Easter services?
Are there any Good Friday church services online?
Many churches turned to online Sunday services in the initial aftermath of coronavirus, and there are plans for several to host online special Good Friday services.
Typically, Good Friday will observe additional services to remember Jesus’ crucifixion, which is thought to have taken place between 12pm and 3pm on Good Friday.
You can use the online A Church Near You service to find parishes that will be offering live streams or online services you can join.
Will there be more online Easter church services?
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will host the first national digital Easter Sunday service from his kitchen.
The BBC reports that in a pre-recorded sermon, the Archbishop will praise the courage of front line workers in response to covid-19.
It is quoted the Archbishop will say: ‘After so much suffering, so much heroism from key workers and the NHS, we cannot be content to go back to what was before as if all is normal.
‘There needs to be a resurrection of our common life.’
There will also be Canterbury Cathedral and York Minster services shared online, with the Canterbury service including readings by Prince Charles and Joanna Lumley.
Normally, around 1500 people attend the Easter Sunday service at Canterbury Cathedral.
Will there be any Easter services on TV?
The Pope’s annual Easter Urbi et Orbi address will still go ahead.
The eighth Easter of his pontificate, Pope Francis will deliver his Easter message from the Altar of the Chair at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Like his Palm Sunday address, he will be presenting to an empty crowd.
It will be broadcast on BBC One live at 11am on Sunday, and available to stream on iPlayer shortly afterwards.
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Share your views in the comments below.
MORE: Lockdown to continue over Easter as we’ve not reached the peak yet
MORE: World to unite in prayer in hope for swift end to coronavirus
Coronavirus latest news and updates
- Visit our live blog for the latest updates: Coronavirus news live
- Read all new and breaking stories on our Covid-19 news page
- Coronavirus symptoms explained
- Find out the latest on which shops can stay open in a lockdown
- Who needs to go to work, who needs to stay at home and who is classed as a key worker?
source https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/10/online-church-services-easter-churches-close-coronavirus-12538263/?ITO=squid
0 Comments