How coronavirus affects Easter services around US
Many churches turning to online to fill the void
For U.S. churches, the Easter service has long been a springtime celebration that brings together the Christian faithful to rejoice in their belief in the resurrection of Christ, and to mingle in their Easter finery, often lingering outside in sparkling spring weather.
But the coronavirus crisis is forcing believers to scramble to maintain these traditions without bringing large numbers of people together.
A Harris Poll for Axios released Thursday found that 48% of Americans are not willing to attend church, up from 38% within just three days.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry of The Episcopal Church said in a statement this week that suspending in-person public worship “is generally the most prudent course of action at this time, even during Holy Week and on Easter Day,” which is April 12.
“It is important to emphasize that suspension of in-person gatherings is not a suspension of worship,” he added. “I very much encourage and support online worship.”
The changing circumstances – the White House recommends avoiding groups of 10 or more for about two weeks, meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended avoiding large gatherings of 50 or more for eight weeks – have prompted some churches to reorient themselves.
The guidance is also expected to affect those observing Passover, April 816; Orthodox Easter, April 19; and Ramadan, which is expected to start April 23.
“There’s been a little bit of chatter around whether churches, if they were really going to lead out of faith, not fear, shouldn’t we just meet together physically and trust God with the rest,” said Bryan Dunagan, pastor of Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas.
“An easy answer to that is that not having thousands of people in close quarters is one way we can seek the flourishing for our city,” the 40-year-old pastor told USA TODAY. “And it’s how we can show love for the most vulnerable.”
“In the meantime, we might be social distancing, but we don’t have to settle for spiritual distancing,” he said.
For many, canceling Easter services is unprecedented. In Cooksburg, Pennsylvania, the Cook Forest Easter Sunrise Service, presented in a camp amphitheater at a state park, will not be held for the first time in the 70-year tradition.
Nora Lawson has not attended mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Arlington, Virginia, for a couple of weeks because of the virus concerns, but plans to attend Easter vigil mass on Saturday if it is held.
“Easter is just one of the most special masses of the year, and I would be sad if they had to cancel it,” she said. “If they
“It is important to emphasize that suspension of in-person gatherings is not a suspension of worship. I very much encourage and support online worship.” Michael Curry Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church
did, I would understand. I don’t want to be sick.”
Lawson said her church has already taken precautionary measures in recent weeks by foregoing the chalice cup of wine for communion while continuing to offer the communion wafer.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a statement calling on parishes to use “common sense hygiene” practices and reminding Catholics they are not obligated to attend mass if they are sick.
While not mentioning Easter specifically, the statement said bishops may suspend the distribution of Holy Communion by the chalice and, in more serious circumstances, can suspend public liturgical celebrations outright.
The archbishops of New York and Chicago, meanwhile, canceled all masses last weekend for the foreseeable future.
“Let us pray for all who are sick, as well as doctors, nurses, caregivers and all those working hard to combat the disease,” Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, said in a statement that did not specifically mention Easter.
“We should also remember those whose lives have been otherwise disrupted, especially anyone who has lost income from a loss of work during this difficult time.”
Livestreaming church services
To fill the gap, many churches are rapidly shifting or expanding services online in time for Easter.
Last Sunday, when the church canceled in-person worship in favor of online service, Dunagan says, the church had its largest worship gathering of the year – 6,000 viewers – for a church that averages 2,000 for normal church services.
Bishop Kenneth Carter, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, notes that Easter is a busy time for many churches, with turnout in some churches four times the normal Sunday.
With most of its 30,000 churches shutting down on Easter, the Methodist church is turning online to fill the void.
“We are having to up our game on this,” Carter told USA TODAY, noting not only in offering “worship through technology” but in taking practical steps, such as keeping online sermons shorter.
He said the church is “trying to find an alternative way to get the message out, but really honoring the deep desire not to do harm to people by being in a larger gathering, even if that would be our first inclination.”
While the coronavirus crisis will keep the crowds away this Easter, Carter says he thinks the ordeal is “going to drive our culture into some kind of introspection just by the nature of people being alone and in solitude.”
The Easter shutdown is clearly putting heavy pressure on the technology side to get sermons online.
“Before, the livestream served a need,” said Pastor Aubrey Fenton, of the Abundant Life Fellowship Church in Delanco, New Jersey, which has been livestreaming for seven years. “But now it’s more of a necessity.”
For Easter, the national Episcopal church organization is looking for a church in New York City from which to livestream the Sunday service.