Churches across New England found creative ways to celebrate Easter Sunday services during the coronavirus pandemic.
The pandemic, which has sickened over 35,000 people in New England, has forced religious institutions to rethink worshiping practices as local health officials urge people to practice social distancing.
In Norwood, Massachusetts, the Grace Episcopal Church set up drive-thru Stations of the Cross and mass was streamed on Facebook live. The mass was followed by a drive-thru flowering of the cross.
“To have the eyes of the pandemic and use that to look at the gospel and all of a sudden we’re seeing things that we missed," said Father John Brockman of Grace Episcopal Church.
Vineyard Church in Hopkinton allowed parishioners to worship from the comfort of their cars with a weekly drive-thru prayer service.
Meanwhile, churches in the Boston-area livestreamed their Easter mass. This included Boston’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross, where mass was held in front of empty pews last night.
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The Lighthouse Baptist Church in Hudson, New Hampshire and First Baptist in Plaistow offered drive-in church services to emphasize social distancing.
While these are challenging times for everyone, Father John Brockman says there’s a lesson in this crisis.
“God has moved us here, so we get to see what’s important.”
