On Tuesday, Pete Phillips, Premier's Head of Digital Theology spoke at a webinar for the St Padarn's Institute of the Church in Wales. He was asked to speak about why hybrid church remains a crucial missional opportunity for the local church and then to look at some resources for Easter.
Key points in the webinar talk included:
We're in the groove - we've all learnt so much about digital engagement this year
We know people are engaging more with online church
We've spent time with people online
Younger generations are keen to engage
The Church has been active in society helping people get through the pandemic
34% of non-Christians now appreciate the work of the local church
So how do we re-imagine Easter for an online congregation?
We need to reimagine Easter for an online experience:
An online march of witness on Palm Sunday? Google Maps or filmed solo walk
Stripping the Altar - do we ask people to strip the living room?
Maundy Thursday - foot-washing replaced with hand sanitizers?
Maundy Thursday - seder meals on zoom?
Good Friday Service/Tenebrae Service - in black and white?
Easter Sunday - decorating living room, floral crosses, stained glass windows?
Garden Gate Easter eggs and colouring
Messy Church Bags to takeaway or deliver?
Core question: How do we re-invent Easter celebrations for a digital age? How do we transfer the core themes and values from physical church to online church?
Three highlighted resources
1. Busted Halo Stations of the Cross. Station 1:
2. BibleGateway's Holy Week Timeline:
3. Lego Easter Story:
Here's the video of the full talk with Pete Phillips:
Here's the list of potential resources shared with those who attended the webinar.
General Resources
Mixed resources on http://energize.uk.net/pages/easter - see Holy Week Timeline\
Easter Resources: Diocese of Norwich: https://www.dioceseofnorwich.org/resource_category/easter/
Together At Home Resources: https://www.tath.co.uk/easter-resources
Messy Church: https://www.messychurch.org.uk/tags/easter
Resources at Easter for St Mark’s - http://smch.org.uk/lentandeaster
Easter Resources from Simon Rundell on http://www.agnusdei.org.uk – e.g. https://www.agnusdei.org.uk/?drawer1=Events%2AHoly%20Ground
Beer&Hymns event (like Greenbelt’s Jesus Arms) – contact @saintarnold on Twitter or http://fb.me/e/d4eZgGk7T
L R Hay’s “Easter Story by Jairus Daughter” http://youtu.be/YzKpBCkDsRc
Emma Major: A meditation for Good Friday afternoon: John 19:28-30 and http://youtu.be/tm4NIhPOFpA
Emma Major: Easter Poems: http://llmcalling.blogspot.com/2020/04/easter-poems.html
Steve Fogg, International Church Summit Seminars on Easter Resources: http://churchonlinesummit.com
Missional Generation's Augmented Reality Easter: https://www.missionalgen.co.uk/easter-interaction/
Christian Vision video resources: http://resources.cvglobal.co
(German) Gottesdienst Zeitglich Seminar: http://www.michaeliskloster.de
Highlights:
Holy Week Timeline: https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2011/04/holy-week-timeline-visualization/
Stations of the Cross:
Cafod: https://cafod.org.uk/Pray/Prayer-resources/Stations-of-the-Cross with powerpoint and leaders notes
All Hallows by the Tower: https://www.ahbtt.org.uk/lent-2021.php
Tenebrae Services
Tenebrae Online: https://www.rethinkworship.com/category/tenebraegood-friday/
Tenebrae Online: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=563753267582569 (Hills Church, Australia)
Tenebrae Online: https://www.trinitywallstreet.org/video/tenebrae-3 (Trinity Church, Wall St)