Easter and Christmas are two of the holiest Christian days, with people who aren’t regular worshippers even making the effort to attend church on these days. But thanks to the coronavirus (COVID-19), Easter Sunday services will be radically different for the first time in a long time for many Christians.
How COVID-19 Has Changed Christian Meetings
Christians view Easter as a time to celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, with some some dressing in their finest and brightest to mark the holy day. Furthermore, churches could rely on a surge in visitors on this holy day, often resulting in new converts and new members. However, the current coronavirus pandemic has dropped Christians and churches into a new normal. The biggest change for churches this Easter Sunday (April 12) is mandated lockdowns based on CDC recommendations aimed at flattening the COVID-19 infection rate, or the corona curve. So that means most churches have stopped physically meeting and started holding services online. The annual festivities worshippers look forward to on Resurrection Sunday will have to be translated virtually. https://twitter.com/kevunn/status/1247559324202872833 https://twitter.com/DakotahEuton/status/1247173217225244672 In March, LifeWay Research surveyed 400 pastors to gauge their meeting habits. The Nashville-based company discovered that a vast majority have complied with mandates to stop large in-person gatherings and stay at home. While 99 percent of pastors held in-person services on March 1, by March 15 that number had dropped to 64 percent. Just 7 percent said their congregations had physically gathered on March 29. 
Where to Watch Easter Services Online
Although the coronavirus (COVID-19) has disrupted what would have likely been some churches’ elaborate Easter plans and presentations, pastors were still looking to make a big impression this year. Some churches have even planned to broadcast several live services for an expected surge in online visitors. Since Googling “churches near me” isn’t an option this Easter Sunday, you can use the following list of virtual church services to plan where you’ll be worshipping this weekend.
Tye Tribbett and Dharius Daniels Team Up for a “One Church” Easter Service
Tye Tribbett and Dharius Daniels are teaming up for a special “kingdom collaboration” for Easter Sunday. The two Florida pastors will be doing a tag-team sermon, they announced in a promotional video. Their joint services will be livestreamed on YouTube. https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-rjF1BFnrx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Lakewood Church Adds Kanye West, Mariah Carey, and Tyler Perry for Easter
Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church has announced that their Easter worship plans will involve the church linking up again with Kanye West. Mariah Carey and Tyler Perry will also reportedly be involved. The megachurch offers numerous channels for those who want to watch live and on-demand, including YouTube, Facebook, Roku and Apple TV, and Sirius XM. https://twitter.com/lakewoodchurch/status/1246830081781219332
Harvest Christian Fellowship Welcomes Matt Redman, Michael Tait, and Phil Wickham
Harvest Christian Fellowship pastor Greg Laurie encouraged church leaders to avoid in-person gatherings on Palm Sunday, knowing that President Trump was also watching. Trump had stated that it was sad Christians would have to watch Palm Sunday and Easter online. The California church’s Easter Sunday sermon will start early (4 a.m. PST), as some churches kick off Resurrection Sunday with a “sunrise service”. Services were scheduled to run all the way through 10 p.m. PST. While visitors will hear a sermon from Laurie, Matt Redman, Michael Tait, and Phil Wickham will provide the music. Online worshippers can visit Harvest’s website. https://twitter.com/greglaurie/status/1247357596966641664
The Brooklyn Tabernacle With Phil Wickham, TaRanda Greene, Travis Cottrell, and Anthony Evans
The theme of The Brooklyn Tabernacle’s Easter Sunday service is “Hope Is Alive!” In addition to hearing a message from pastor Jim Cymbala, virtual attendees will hear special music from Phil Wickham, TaRanda Greene, Travis Cottrell, and Anthony Evans. Praise and worship will be led by The Collingsworth Family. The online service starts at 9 a.m. EST on the church’s website.
More Churches Offering Online Easter Worship Experiences
- Transformation Church – https://www.youtube.com/c/TransformChurchTV/live
- Saddleback Church – https://saddleback.com/events/easter/2020
- Fellowship Church – https://fellowshiplive.com/
- Church of the Highlands – https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/easter/
- The Potter’s House – https://www.thepottershouse.org/stream/
- Vous Church – https://www.vouschurch.com/easter
- Angelus Temple – https://angelustemple.org/watch/
- Bethany Baptist Church – http://www.go2bethany.com/media-home
- Christian Cultural Center – https://www.cccinfo.org/watchonline
- Mosaic Church – https://live.mosaic.org/
- North Point Community Church – https://northpoint.org/live
- First Baptist Atlanta – https://vimeo.com/firstbaptistatlanta
- Open Door Community Church – https://www.facebook.com/laopendoorchurch
- Rock Church – https://online.sdrock.com/
