For anyone who normally attends religious services, this Easter brings some changes in how we find that connection, while in isolation – and staying at home. 

A number of local churches are offering online services this weekend and The Lismore App had a look to see what was happening.

Anglican Church

The Anglican Church will celebrate Easter with a dawn service, beginning at 5.30am on Sunday, April 12.

Anglican Church Pastor Christian Ford said the service would be pre-recorded and then uploaded to be watched on Facebook and then made available on YouTube

“It’s an old tradition to have the Easter Sunday vigil of a dawn service,” Pastor Ford said. “We start in darkness and end in light as the sun rises.”

Pastor Ford said this Easter’s deviation from traditional gatherings was being felt by many people, who get comfort and meaning from being able to go to church.

“But Jesus was about the breaking of tradition,” he said. “He showed that death was the end of everything – that was the biggest break ever. We might feel uncomfortable, but we’ll get through it.

“We just need to remember we are a community and remember the wellbeing of others too.

“Today, Good Friday, we remember that sacrifice is involved with love – I’ll miss out on being with my mum and dad today, but we sacrifice that for a greater good.” 

Southern Cross Presbyterian Church

You can join the Presbyterian congregation online this Sunday at 10am: https://zoom.us/j/657139469?status=success

CentreChurch

CentreChurch will broadcast online on Facebook on Sunday morning at 9.45am: https://www.facebook.com/Centrechurch-Lismore-169646339912064/

Catholic Church

The Easter Triduum in the Cathedral will be live streamed on the Lismore Diocesan YouTube channel.

Mass times are:

Good Friday - Celebration of the Lord's Passion 6pm

Easter Saturday - Vigil Mass of Easter 6pm

Easter Sunday - Easter Mass 8am

Bishop of Lismore Reverend Greg Homeming said in a letter to parishioners "until the emergency is over, I will offer daily mass for each of you".

"I will also spend more time in prayer asking Our Heavenly Father to take all fear from your hearts, to fill you with gentleness and peace, to give you and your loved ones His protection and to bring healing to those who contract the virus. I would be very grateful if you would remember me in your prayers,” he said.

With regard to Confession, he said "the Church teaches that, when it is impossible to go to Confession, all that is required is an act of contrition and a promise to go to confession in the future".

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