CAPTION: A socially-distant rendition of Jesus Christ Is Risen Today as neighbours sing together in Exeter
Celebrating Easter like never before
Churches across Devon celebrated Easter this year in new ways in response to the current coronavirus restrictions.
The Reverend Sheila Swarbrick, from the parish of Central Exeter, and some of her neighbours took to their doorsteps to sing the Easter hymns, Thine Be The Glory and Jesus Christ is Risen Today.
It was part of a national Churches Together in England initiative called Sing Resurrection.
Sheila said: “We began with the Easter greeting ‘He is risen. He is risen indeed!’ three times.
“Then we sang with tuba and tambourine.
Church Easter egg hunts this year took place online
“There were 21 of us ranging from the nearly 3 year old to the 101 year old.”
Sherford Community church, which serves the new town of Sherford, near Plymouth, live-streamed their Easter Service.
The Reverend Tom Brassil said “We had a great time. The service included a virtual Easter egg hunt set up by my children via video.
“We had nearly 50 people logged on (compared with our congregation of just over 30).
“It included some people we have spent many months building relationships with through things like our toddler group and school-gate connections.”
Telephone worship
The Bishop of Exeter led a recorded Easter service, which was broadcast on Youtube and Facebook and included readings and prayers from the Bishop of Plymouth and the Bishop of Crediton.
The Teign Valley and Haldon Mission Community held their service using a phone conference call facility.
“People are really linking into the ‘new monasticism’ idea and finding comfort in a shared daily practice as a new rule of life.” Cockington Parish Churches
The minister, the Reverend Ruth Frampton, said “Our Easter Day telephone worship began with “Jesus Christ is risen today” sung on the doorstep and continued with candles and flowers representing our Paschal (Easter) candles and Easter gardens.
“The service was enthusiastically attended by about 120 and featured a surreal seagull chorus somewhere in the middle!”
Cockington parish church, Torquay, broadcast a service via Youtube, which followed daily video reflections during Holy Week, as well as daily services of Day and Night prayer.
The vicar noted: “We are getting a lot of good feedback on the daily offices.
“People are really linking into the ‘new monasticism’ idea and finding comfort in a shared daily practice as a new rule of life.
“People have also expressed a wish for a post-service communal chat over coffee (phone and zoom) in their own homes every Sunday.
“We were really impressed by how well people unfamiliar with technology managed the phone-in.”
The choir of Holy Cross church in Crediton re-named themselves the “Social Isolation Choir” and recorded a new version of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, which was sent out to parishioners.
Zoom Stations of the Cross
The Reverend Andy Dodwell, from St John The Baptist church, Barnstaple, recorded a zoom Stations of the Cross service with 12 people from their homes.
This was then put on Youtube and Facebook, followed by a virtual Walk of Witness using Google Streetmap, Powerpoint and Facebook.
He said “On Easter morning we had a live-streamed family worship time from my garden.
“The ‘Sing Resurrection’ singing on the doorstep involved people across the parish, we were singing with eight households in our street, none of whom normally come to church.
Some churches shared photo galleries of Easter gardens
“The exciting things are that we know for sure people who don’t come to our usual services are watching and appreciating this, and it’s not just visitors from other congregations.
“We’re finding that Youtube and Zoom work really well for the ‘normal’ congregation while Facebook connects with those who’re just passing.
“Technically we’re still learning and it’s all quite clunky, but folk are really forgiving and it keeps us humble!”
Diocese of Exeter research
The Diocese of Exeter is currently conducting research to find out what technology different churches have been using since the lockdown began and what impact it is having.
It also has a Communications and Digital Facebook Group for anyone who has questions about using technology or useful tips to share.
You can find out more about different ways to do ‘church’ during the lockdown here.
