In the midst of countless service and activity suspensions in Anglican churches across the country this weekend, Canadian Anglicans demonstrated their resilience, love for God and love for one another as they forged new pathways of prayer and community through online worship and gathering. While several parishes had previous expertise with livestreaming and digital publishing, many took on new technological challenges with humour and grace.
From the intimate invitation by the Diocese of Quebec’s Bishop Bruce Myers to join him in his home at Bishopthorpe for (bilingual) home prayers, to the heart-lifting aural gift of the Choral Mattins held at the Diocese of Toronto’s St. James Cathedral with Bishop Andrew Asbil, to the Morning Prayer service held by Bishop Michael Oulton at An Gorta Mor Park in Kingston (Diocese of Ontario)—many a bishop, clergy and lay embraced new and/or unfamiliar technology in an effort to maintain our collective connection in prayer and with the Holy Spirit.
The number of livestream videos and recordings from the weekend are too numerous to count. Here are a few additional links for your consideration:
- Bishop Susan Bell offering Sunday prayers in the Diocese of Niagara
- Bishop William Cliff’s Sunday sermon (Diocese of Brandon) — sermon begins at 26:55
- Morning Prayer at Holy Cross Calgary
- Virtual Church in the Fraser Valley — the first virtual church service produced in that parish
- Christ Church Cathedral Victoria’s Sunday Voluntary
- saint benedict’s table podcast with Bishop Geoff Woodcroft — “For a time like this: Facing a pandemic together” (podcast links are in the page sidebar)
Resources during suspension of physical gatherings
Several of the following resources exist perennially, while others have been produced specifically in response to accommodate recent social distancing measures in place as a result of COVID-19.
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- PDF version of the Book of Alternative Services (BAS)
- PDF version of the Book of Common Prayer (BCP)
- Online lectionary (list of daily readings for BAS and BCP)
- Daily email updates from General Synod
- Diocese of Edmonton: Online resources for prayer and support
- Diocese of New Westminster: COVID-19 can’t stop us from praying (apps to help us pray)
- Forward Movement offers resources for prayer and worship at home
- Lent Madness carries on
- Five ways to be the Church when church is cancelled
- 10 guidelines for pastoral care during the coronavirus outbreak
Upcoming virtual/livestream prayers and services
This list will be updated throughout the period of suspension for public gatherings. If you know of a free/accessible-to-all upcoming webcast or recording that should be added to this list, please email the broadcast time(s)/date(s), diocese, parish name, link and title to [email protected].
Various parishes will continue to record and/or stream various services, classes, workshops and prayer sessions for congregations across the Communion.
- Daily, 5pm CT/6pm ET: saint benedict’s table will broadcast Evening Prayer to their Facebook page
- Monday, March 16, 7pm PT/10pm ET: St. Paul’s Anglican Church (Diocese of New Westminster) will be livestreaming their Lenten course on their Facebook page. This week’s topic will focus on the third mark of the Marks of Mission: ‘To respond to human need by loving service’.
- March 16-20 (possibly longer?): Montreal Dio will pray the Daily Office at St. Luke’s Chapel via their Facebook page
- 9am ET Morning Prayer
- 12:30pm ET Mid-day Prayer
- 5pm ET Evening Prayer
- 9:30pm ET Compline
- Wednesday, March 18, 11am MT/1pm ET: Holy Cross Calgary will post recording of Morning Prayer service to Facebook page
- Wednesday, March 18, 7pm MT/9pm ET: The Diocese of Athabasca will host a live Prayer Time event on their Facebook page
Keep the Church going
The national office, aka “Church House”, continues the work of its ministries amidst the world’s public health realities. Consider supporting your national church to ensure the important work of our Church continues.
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